If you’ve ever felt “tight,” stiff, or like your body just isn’t responding the way it used to—there’s a good chance your fascia is part of the story.
In this episode of Inside the Method, Heidi sits down with Dr. Leo Kormanik, a sports chiropractor, former elite runner, and volunteer physician with USA Track & Field. Dr. Kormanik treats 80–100 patients a week—mostly endurance athletes—and focuses almost exclusively on fascial injuries. He breaks down what fascia actually is (in real-world terms), what healthy vs. unhealthy fascia feels like, and why simply being “strong” is not enough if your fascial system isn’t functioning well.
They dive into practical ways to support healthy fascia—hydration and electrolytes, heat and sauna, movement in multiple planes (not just running in a straight line), and why a simple foam roller still beats most trendy tools. Dr. Kormanik also shares what really happens during treatments like ART, cupping, scraping, Stecco techniques, and shockwave therapy, plus why consistent bodywork can literally help you age better from the inside out.
They round out the conversation with Leo’s “superpowers” as a therapist, his top three wellness tools he’d replace first if everything was stolen, and the supplements he believes are truly worth your time and money.
KEY MOMENTS:
00:00 – Opening: Welcome to Inside the Method & Heidi’s intro
01:10 – Meet Dr. Leo Kormanik: sports chiropractor, elite runner & USA Track & Field physician
04:00 – From exercise physiology to hands-on care: how Leo moved from lab work to chiropractic
06:30 – What is fascia, really? A simple explanation using steak, chicken & “cobwebs”
09:00 – Healthy vs. unhealthy fascia: silk vs. leather & how it actually feels on the table
11:20 – Why some athletes feel “pristine” and others feel restricted (even at the pro level)
13:10 – Fascia, joint stability & performance: Simone Biles, Patrick Mahomes & offensive linemen
16:00 – How to tell if tight fascia is protective vs. problematic (and why it’s tricky)
17:30 – Three pillars of fascial health: hydration, electrolytes & moving in multiple planes
20:10 – Why water alone isn’t enough: sodium, potassium, magnesium & retaining what you drink
22:00 – Heat as medicine: aging, stiffness & why warm climates and sauna feel so good
24:10 – Tools at home: foam rollers vs. massage guns, “the stick,” and why dead pressure wins
27:00 – Soft vs. hard foam rollers: why gentler pressure often works better than pain
29:00 – Voodoo floss / rock floss: pinning superficial fascia while deeper layers glide
31:10 – In-clinic care: ART, cupping, scraping & the rise of Stecco fascial release
34:30 – Stecco methods & how Italian fascia research is reshaping treatment approaches
36:20 – Shockwave therapy 101: what it is, how it works & why it’s not a massage gun
39:00 – From kidney stones to scar tissue: using shockwave to remodel fascia & stubborn tissue
41:30 – Snake oil vs. evidence: how to evaluate new treatments & trust what your body feels
44:00 – Fascia turnover: how fast it renews & why consistent bodywork can slow visible aging
46:10 – The power of good therapists: why feeling better matters more than fancy language
48:00 – Leo’s “superpowers” as a clinician: endless curiosity & leaving no stone unturned
51:00 – The mindset of mastery: why he’s not afraid to fail, iterate, and keep learning
53:00 – If everything was stolen: Leo’s top 3 wellness tools he’d replace first
54:00 – Sauna talk: traditional vs. infrared & how he uses each (and why)
57:00 – BrainTap: guided meditation, light stimulation & training the nervous system
59:00 – Supplements that matter: Vitamin D, creatine, iron, sodium & glutathione
1:03:00 – How much Vitamin D? Dosage, labs, K2 & why “high dose” is often misunderstood
1:06:00 – Creatine for brain & body, and why sodium counts as a supplement in his world
1:08:30 – Glutathione, travel & protecting your cells when you’re flying frequently
1:10:00 – Faster Without Fail, Leo’s book, and his mission to make fascia science practical
1:11:30 – Closing reflections: simple, consistent habits for better fascia & better aging
STAY CONNECTED:
Connect with Heidi & Inside the Method:
● Instagram: @hjogreenwood
● Website: HeidiGreenMethod.com
Connect with Dr. Leo Kormanik:
● Book: Faster Without Fail (running, performance & recovery)
● Podcast: Educational episodes on fascia, performance, and athlete care
● Practice: Sports chiropractic clinic serving endurance athletes in Ohio
If something in today’s episode helped you understand your body a little better, please share it with a friend, training partner, or client who might benefit—or leave a quick review so more listeners can find Inside the Method.
Your presence here truly means so much.
Remember, balance isn’t something you find. It’s something you create—one intentional breath, one small choice, and one simple habit at a time.
