In this episode, we welcome Dr. Nikole MacLellan aka “Dr. Kokes”, a naturopathic doctor and fellow member of the Designs For Sport advisory board. We talk about the dance between sympathetic and parasympathetic states for athletes, strategies for getting back into a parasympathetic state after an event, how to balance a playful approach in stressful situations, and using breathwork as a tool to build your CO2 tolerance. Dr. Nikole also dives into the tradeoffs that often occur between performance and longevity, why you should build a support team of different professionals you trust, and how to endure the darker periods as an athlete.   Dr. Nikole on socials @sportsdockokes Check out her podcast “The Off Season Podcast” on all platforms   Episode Overview: 2:30 - What athletes should be doing less of    7:00 - Parasympathetic recovery tools    14:00 - Managing your lifestyle as an athlete     18:00 - Changing your beliefs about performance   21:00 - Breathwork as a tool for building CO2 tolerance // breathwork as a powerful tool   30:00 - Building your foundation before adding external factors   32:00 - Performance and longevity   38:00 - Importance of building a support team   42:00 - Navigating dark periods as an athlete   45:00 - Developing phrases to improve performance   To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com  TOLOS BAREFOOT SHOES - Use Code “CC” for 10% Off Your Order - https://weartolos.com/ Follow Connor’s Instagram or Twitter Visit our YouTube for additional content