Laird Hamilton

“Walking in softer substances like sand and grass forces the feet to work to stabilize the body and really strengthens them.”

“Dogs put their paws out in front of them to arch their backs when they wake up and so should we. It stretches the chest, the hip flexors, the whole front of the body.”

“Most people don't stretch, because, in a way, it's one of the activities that hurts us the most. It's instantly uncomfortable, which isn't true when you work out intensely and can build up to that pain, or when you have sore muscles from a tough session the day before.”

“Maca root, which comes from the Andes and was used by the Incas for energy and endurance, helps balance hormone levels and may boost testosterone. I love it.”

“Recovery days are critical to my training, and that holds true for any athlete.”

“I ask a lot of my body.”

“Standing on golf or lacrosse balls and rolling them through the arches is a painful but seriously effective way to warm up and strengthen the feet.”

“I subscribe to the idea that energy perpetuates energy, and nothing makes you more tired than sleeping in or sleeping too much.”

“Paddle boarding is like walking on water. Standing atop a board in the middle of the ocean, you see everything from sea life to the coastline and across the channel. Having that sweeping expanse in front of you, you just want to go exploring.”

“When it comes to risk, a good rule of thumb is: 'Would you do it if no one was watching?'”

“Omega-3s may be the single best supplement you can take on a regular basis.”

“Don’t be afraid to really use your imagination. Let it run wild. It’s one of the most powerful tools you’ve got.”

“Usually, working out is about aesthetics - six-pack abs and biceps and pecs - instead of true functionality. True function has a different aesthetic appeal.”

“People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's our main source of life and energy.”

“I'll go out in the morning in the dark and sauna to start the day, a really hot one. I'll do something really hot, or you could also just jump in an ice tub and get the opposite of that. Either one of those kind of extreme thermal exposures is gonna boost the system. It's gonna rev you up.”

“The first time you do some new exercise, you're sore and tired in a way that you hadn't been before. But do that same exercise for three or four months, and you have to do twice as many reps and with more weight to feel as though you've accomplished anything.”

“The biggest mistake anyone can make is being too strict. That stress far outweighs the value of what you're doing. There's a disciplined way to do things.”

“I'd rather eat fish eyes than a manufactured substance whose name I can't pronounce.”

“I normally have a calorie-packed mushroom coffee for breakfast and a big lunch and dinner. But when I'm resting, I'll make a point to eat more than usual, adding in an extra meal or a few nutritious snacks.”

“When I've helped out-of-shape friends get back into shape, the first thing we do is get them more accustomed to struggle. You train hard, which is uncomfortable, and then you get sore - and then you're uncomfortable because you're sore. But you have to keep going.”