What I Learned About Holistic Athlete Recovery Methods at Altis

In April this year, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a week at Altis in Phoenix, Arizona, an elite training environment for track and field athletes and a global leader in performance education. As a practitioner focused on holistic healing and performance, I was excited to observe how they support athletes to stay injury-free and perform at their best.

What I found was deeply affirming. At Altis, holistic athlete recovery methods are not just an afterthought—they’re at the core of the program. Coaches, therapists, and athletes work together in a highly integrated way. Collaboration and communication are everything. And most importantly, egos are left at the door.

Each day, performance therapists (including the lead therapist, a chiropractor) worked alongside head coach Dan Pfaff, with everyone involved in athlete treatment and training. There were no silos. Therapists observed athletes in motion—pre, during, and post-training. Every morning and evening, they met with coaches to review the athletes’ status and progress toward goals.

Here are a few key takeaways from my time there:

1. Every body is unique.
No two people move the same way. Factors like body structure, injury history, and even emotional holding patterns affect how an athlete performs and heals. That’s why protocols must be individualised rather than textbook.

2. We don’t “fix”—we manage.
The idea of fixing someone can be misleading. Recovery often involves adapting to how a body is currently functioning. For elite athletes, structural change could actually diminish their competitive edge. A good therapist knows when to help manage, not over-correct.

3. Intuition matters.
Some of the most effective decisions come from deep listening and instinct. Holistic practitioners who trust their intuitive sense often notice patterns and restrictions that may not show up on scans or in assessments.

4. Communication is everything.
Therapists at Altis know that the best recovery outcomes come from open communication with athletes and coaches. This ongoing dialogue helps align treatment with training demands and goals.

As someone who once worked in a more isolated clinical setting, I couldn’t help but reflect on how limited we can be when we only see clients briefly and without full context. Holistic athlete recovery requires connection—to the person, their environment, and their team.

Although I don’t work with athletes daily, my work in biodynamic craniosacral therapy and energy healing carries the same principles—deep listening, individualised treatment, and recognising that optimal performance isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, energetic, and spiritual too.

I’m grateful to have witnessed a model where body, mind and team all work in harmony to support the athlete. It’s a powerful reminder that true recovery doesn’t happen in isolation.