When I was in the Army, I woke up at 4 am (my clock no longer has two fours), and I would just get to running eight miles. Then go back to bed. No stretching. No warm-up. No cool down. It was never a problem. I am no longer twenty; I am sorry to say. And that means my body needs more. As a matter of fact, it needed more way back then too. I got an opportunity to sit down with chiropractor and recovery expert Dr. Jason Wersland, the man behind that percussive massage gun you have seen at every gym, every yoga studio, and even a lot of office buildings. What was it about his creation under his company, Therabody, that took over the wellness and recovery industries? I asked him. And I dug into why us guys have a hard time accepting that we’re getting older and need to spend more time in prep and recovery.
Just do something. The small decisions you make every day – moving your body, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, taking a few minutes to recover – they compound over time. That’s where real change happens. – Dr. Jason Wersland, Founder, Therabody
Stop ‘manning up’
Long before I served in the Army, I played baseball with a coach who would yell at us from the dugout when we didn’t lay out for a ground ball. “Diiive! Sacrifice the body! Blood makes the grass grow!” Then, when I got in the Army, the sergeants would tell us to drink water and drive on. There was nothing that could stop you. Mind over body. Control your mind and your body will be fine. The point is, men all over are taught to ‘man up’ when we have pain. To push through the pain. Pain is temporary; glory lasts forever. Dr. Wersland is here to tell you one simple truth. That is all bullsh*t.
“I think a lot of men are taught to see taking care of themselves as something they can put off. We grow up hearing things like ‘push through it,’ ‘don’t complain,’ or ‘you’re fine.’ That mindset might get you through the day, but it doesn’t set you up for long-term health. What I’ve learned is that your body is always talking to you. Pain, fatigue, stress, poor sleep – those aren’t weaknesses; they’re signals. It’s your body talking to you through your nervous system. The earlier you start paying attention, the better your quality of life is going to be. Wellness isn’t something you do when you need to. It’s making it a part of your everyday routine, a practice.”
Replace ‘more’ with ‘better’
Look, take any time on the internet, and you can find a dozen conflicting sources of information on your health. There are always ways to take better care of yourself, but which information do you trust?
“I think we have to stop making health feel so overwhelming. Men don’t need more information. They need better information that’s grounded in science, easy to understand, and practical enough to apply in everyday life. That’s always been my mission: helping people think differently about wellness. It shouldn’t feel intimidating or reserved for elite athletes. It should feel accessible to everyone, no matter where they’re starting. Make your health a daily practice. Prioritize movement, recovery, sleep, and stress management in ways that work for your life. It’s the small, consistent choices you make every day that add up to lasting change.”
Making sense of the hype
I spent some time diving into health and wellness a while back (before I discovered NYC pizza and bourbon), and I felt like every corner was a bait and switch. I had a hard time figuring out what devices and technologies were legit and what was a sham. I did fad diets. Devices that made promises. But, at the end of the day, I was clueless and shooting 50/50.
“Follow the science, not the hype. At Therabody, we’ve built the company around science-backed wellness because people deserve to know what actually works. That means investing in research, partnering with scientists and clinicians, and continually testing and validating our technology. When I invented the Theragun ten years ago, the goal wasn’t to create another wellness gadget – it was to solve my own problem. Percussive massage therapy wasn’t a known solution at the time. Today, there’s a growing body of research supporting percussive therapy’s role in reducing muscle soreness, improving mobility, enhancing warm-ups and recovery, and helping you move more comfortably. Red light therapy is one of the areas where we’re seeing a growing body of promising research around recovery, muscle performance, skin health, and overall wellness. But the key is using technology that’s designed with the right wavelengths, dosing, and protocols. We’ve spent years investing in it and developing products that can actually hold these claims to be true. If something sounds too good to be true or promises a miracle, be skeptical. Look for transparent research, clinical validation, and brands that are committed to educating people.”
Dr. Wersland’s magic wand
Dr. Wersland is a wealth of knowledge, and his passion for helping people get the best out of themselves was inspiring. There is a reason that so many legendary athletes trusted this man with their careers. So, what does a man like this want to see change?
“Health and wellness shouldn’t be something you only think about when something goes wrong. Too often, we wait until we’re in pain or dealing with an injury before we start paying attention to our bodies. I’d love to see that mindset change. Wellness should be a practice, something you invest in consistently throughout your life. The body responds to consistency. Five or ten minutes of movement or recovery, getting better sleep, or finding ways to manage stress will do more for you over time than going all in for a month and then stopping. Those small, intentional habits add up, and that’s what creates lasting health. That’s how I think about recovery, too. Recovery isn’t a reward for working hard. It’s part of what allows you to keep showing up. That could mean using percussive massage therapy to prepare your muscles for movement or help them recover afterward, taking a walk, getting enough sleep, or simply giving yourself a few minutes to reset. The goal is to give your body what it needs consistently so it can keep doing what you ask of it.”
