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Peak Performance Through Science-Based Athletic Optimization

Combining elite athletics, finance & analytics training, and naturopathic wellness to help athletes master sleep, recovery, mindset, nutrition, and personal discipline.

Modern, science-backed strategies tailored for competitive athletes
Sasha Teleguine, holistic athlete performance coach
10+
Years Experience
About Sasha

Meet Sasha Teleguine

With over a decade of experience in athletic performance optimization, I've dedicated my career to helping athletes unlock their full potential through science-based strategies and holistic approaches.

Education & Certifications

Advanced degrees in Sports Science and Exercise Physiology, certified in nutrition and performance coaching

Proven Track Record

Worked with competitive athletes, aspiring professionals, and fitness enthusiasts to achieve breakthrough results

Science-Based Approach

Every strategy is backed by the latest research in sports medicine, nutrition science, and human performance

Holistic Philosophy

I believe in optimizing every aspect of an athlete's life—from nutrition and training to recovery and mindset

A Unique Approach to Athletic Excellence

Bridging high-level athletics, analytical precision, and holistic wellness for complete performance optimization

Elite Athletic Experience

Real-world experience competing at the highest levels. I understand the physical and mental demands of peak performance firsthand.

Finance & Analytics Expertise

Data-driven approach using analytical frameworks to measure, track, and optimize every aspect of your athletic performance.

Naturopathic Wellness

Holistic strategies rooted in natural wellness principles, emphasizing sustainable health practices for long-term athletic success.

Five Pillars of Performance Optimization

Transform your athletic performance through science-backed strategies that address every critical dimension of peak performance.

Sleep Optimization

Master restorative sleep patterns for maximum recovery and cognitive function

Recovery Strategies

Advanced recovery protocols to reduce injury risk and accelerate adaptation

Mindset Development

Build mental resilience and competitive focus for high-pressure situations

Nutritional Guidance

Personalized nutrition plans to fuel performance and support recovery

Personal Discipline

Develop consistent habits and routines that compound into elite performance

Who This Is For

Athletes serious about taking their performance to the next level through comprehensive optimization

Competitive Athletes

Looking to gain a competitive edge through optimized recovery, sleep, and mental preparation

Aspiring Professionals

Building the foundation for a professional athletic career with sustainable practices

Serious Fitness Enthusiasts

Committed to maximizing their physical and mental performance in all areas of life

START YOUR JOURNEY

Ready to Optimize Your Performance?

Start your journey toward peak athletic performance with a personalized consultation

Personalized strategies
Science-backed approach
Recommended Products

Sasha's Top Picks

Premium supplements and products I personally use and recommend to optimize your athletic performance and overall health.

Relyte Electrolytes

Premium electrolyte formula for optimal hydration and performance during training.

Hydration Support
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Equip Protein Powder

Clean, grass-fed protein to support muscle recovery and growth after workouts.

Muscle Recovery
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Danger Coffee

High-quality, low-toxin coffee for clean energy and enhanced focus throughout the day.

Energy & Focus
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Garden of Life Vitamin C

Whole food vitamin C to boost immune function and support recovery from intense training.

Immune Support
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HumanN SuperBeets

Nitric oxide support for improved blood flow, endurance, and cardiovascular health.

Circulation & Endurance
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Thorne Creatine

Pure creatine monohydrate to enhance strength, power output, and muscle mass.

Strength & Power
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MVMT Blue Light Glasses

Protect your eyes and improve sleep quality by blocking harmful blue light from screens.

Sleep Optimization
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BioOptimizers Magnesium

Full-spectrum magnesium for better sleep, muscle relaxation, and stress management.

Recovery & Relaxation
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Thorne Vitamin D + K2

Essential vitamin combination for bone health, immune function, and hormone optimization.

Bone & Hormone Health
View Product

Important Note

These are my personal recommendations based on years of research and experience. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. Individual needs may vary, and what works for one athlete may not work for another.

Featured Articles

My Journey to Peak Performance

Real insights from my experience as a Division I athlete—what I wish I knew earlier

Important Note

This comprehensive guide represents years of learning and implementation. Don't try to do everything at once—implement these strategies gradually, in phases. Find what works for YOUR body and YOUR goals. Remember: this is about sustainable, long-term optimization, not quick fixes.

Article 1 of 4

Morning Routines: Sunlight & Hydration

Start your day right: Set your circadian rhythm and fuel your body properly

Sunlight: Your Built-In Alarm Clock

Our circadian rhythm is like a built-in clock, and the better we treat it, the better it treats us. First thing in the morning, try to wake up and go outside, get some sun, get some air.

Keep in mind, even if it's cloudy outside, that doesn't mean the sun is not there—it still is, you just don't see it. Stay away from your phone in the morning and go get some air outside. Aim for 10-30 minutes first thing in the morning.

Science-Backed Benefits

  • 20–50% lower risk of seasonal affective disorder (Kerr et al., 2015)
  • Lower all-cause mortality (Garland et al., 2014)
  • Higher testosterone in men (Pilz et al., 2011)
  • Strong morning light → larger day-night contrast → higher melatonin amplitude → deeper slow-wave sleep (Wams et al., 2023, Sleep Medicine Reviews)

💡 Key Insight: Even on cloudy days, outdoor light is 10–100× brighter than indoor lighting and contains the full spectrum your retina needs to set a strong circadian signal. No phone, no blue-light glasses, and no 10,000-lux lightbox fully replicates this effect.

Morning Hydration: What I Wish I Knew

One of the things that I would change if I could go back in time to my developmental years (high school/juniors): I would hydrate myself better.

Ditch the Gatorade, ditch the gas station drinks, and look into a legitimate electrolyte powder or a good, clean salt.

Post-Practice: Relyte Electrolytes

Why I use this after workouts:

  • Bioavailable forms: Magnesium malate, sodium citrate, potassium chloride
  • Better absorption, less GI distress, faster hydration
  • Zero sugar, no artificial ingredients
  • Perfect for fasting, training, avoiding insulin spikes

Morning: Baja Gold Salt + Lemon

My morning ritual on an empty stomach:

  • 80+ trace minerals naturally occurring
  • Sun-dried, unrefined, no additives
  • Higher magnesium & potassium vs table salt
  • Lemon boosts detox pathways & liver support

Why Natural Nutrients Beat Pills & Powders

Natural nutrients are ALWAYS better than any pill, powder, or supplement you can ever buy. Whole foods contain hundreds to thousands of bioactive compounds that interact in ways supplements can't replicate.

Sure, you can add certain supplements to optimize recovery and mitigate inflammation—especially since we're constantly straining our bodies. BUT, eat nutrient-dense animal and plant foods first (liver, eggs, seafood, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds). Use supplements only when bloodwork proves you're deficient or you have a specific medical reason.

Action Steps to Implement This Week

  1. Tomorrow morning: Get outside within 30 minutes of waking (10-30 min, no phone)
  2. Before breakfast: Try salt water with lemon on an empty stomach
  3. Post-workout: Switch from sugary drinks to a clean electrolyte powder
  4. Track it: Notice how your energy, sleep, and recovery change over 2 weeks
Article 2 of 4

The Athlete's Nutrition Guide

What I wish I knew earlier about fueling performance on a college budget

Everything that enters your body should be organic, bioavailable food. The simpler, the better. And trust me, I was in college for 4 years on a college budget, so I understand that you might not be able to shop at Whole Foods or get ribeye steaks or top-quality chicken.

Here's my grocery list that I've used throughout college that has kept me fueled and feeling good.

Carbs

  • Sweet potato
  • Regular potatoes
  • Rice
  • Sourdough bread
  • Pasta
  • Fruits & Vegetables

Protein

  • Lean beef (steak, ground)
  • Chicken
  • Eggs
  • Yogurt
  • Wild fish
  • Cottage cheese
  • Bonus: bison/venison/elk

Healthy Fats

  • Nuts (Brazil, almonds, hazelnuts)
  • Avocado
  • Olive oil
  • Grass-fed butter/ghee
  • Beef tallow
  • Wild fatty fish

Fruits

  • Berries
  • Bananas
  • Kiwis
  • Oranges
  • Apples
  • Lemons
  • Tip: Frozen berries work great!

Vegetables

  • Spinach
  • Beets
  • Garlic & Onions
  • Peppers & Carrots
  • Bonus: sauerkraut & kimchi

Beverages

  • SPRING water
  • Grass-fed milk (A2 preferred)
  • Tart cherry juice
  • Kombucha & Kefir
  • Coconut water
  • Bonus: goat kefir

Additional Staples

Organic peanut butter & jelly
Raw honey
Dark chocolate
Bone broth

THE CHALLENGE

The food industry is another billion-dollar industry, profiting from filling our food and produce supply with artificial ingredients to alter taste and make products last longer. These artificial ingredients are NOT HEALTHY and add to inflammation in our bodies.

Athletes, your body is your vehicle—TAKE CARE OF IT AND PROTECT IT!

When shopping:

Pick up something packaged → Read the ingredients list. If there's an unnecessarily long list or complex names, they're probably scientifically-formulated ingredients that are NOT organic and probably not good for us.

Supplements That Actually Work

⚠️ Important: I highly recommend focusing on hitting your nutritional goals through FOOD first! Your body absorbs foods much quicker and easier. That said, there are certain elements that can help sustain our bodies through long sports seasons.

My Science-Backed Supplement Stack

Between supplements that are science-backed and have helped me in my journey as a Division I athlete:

  • Creatine – Strength, power output, cognitive function
  • Magnesium – Sleep quality, muscle recovery, stress management
  • Beet powder – Nitric oxide production, blood flow, endurance
  • Vitamin C & D – Immune support (during fall & winter)
  • Relyte electrolytes – Hydration without sugar or fillers

Protein Powders: Choose Wisely

I've been on and off with protein powders. I personally try to hit my protein goals through whole foods, but that's not to say protein powders aren't important. In busy schedules, crushing protein shakes is a great way to fuel your body's needs.

🚨 The Challenge:

Look at the ingredient lists! A lot of protein powder companies hide behind marketing schemes. Artificial ingredients are just as bad whether they're in a bag of chips or whey protein. Find CLEAN protein powders with zero artificial ingredients.

Bonus points for: Beef protein isolate (sounds gross but you do NOT taste it, I promise)

Energy Drinks: The Truth

You wanna talk about artificial ingredients and putting god knows what in your body? Energy drinks are the holy grail in this category.

I know, you might not want to hear this. I myself was an energy drink advocate for a while, but good news: we have natural sources of caffeine that are actually good for us!

High-Quality Coffee

Finding good quality coffee grounds and making coffee at home is probably the best investment I've added into my life. Coffee contains polyphenols and is an antioxidant powerhouse.

Yerba Mate

A niche but excellent natural caffeine source used by star athletes worldwide. They make canned beverages that sell at your local Walmart.

Article 3 of 4

Mental Toughness & Core Values

Building the mindset that separates average from elite

As athletes, we need to have core values: Perseverance, Integrity, Humility, and Grit.

Not only have these core values been adopted by teams across all levels, but their purpose is to get the best out of everyone individually—which collectively compounds success for teams as a whole.

Perseverance

  • • Training through fatigue, soreness, and adversity
  • • Showing up consistently, not just when you feel good
  • • Recovering from setbacks without letting them define you
  • • Trusting the long-term process even when results aren't immediate

High-performance sports are a marathon disguised as a sprint. Perseverance creates separation.

Integrity

  • • Not cheating reps, cutting corners, or sacrificing values
  • • Holding yourself accountable before anyone else has to
  • • Doing the right thing for your team even when it doesn't benefit you personally

Teams trust athletes with integrity. Coaches rely on them. Without integrity, talent collapses under pressure.

Humility

  • • Being hungry to learn every practice, every game
  • • Accepting criticism and applying it without ego
  • • Staying grateful for opportunities instead of acting entitled

Humility keeps you improving. Athletes who think they've "arrived" stop growing.

Grit

  • • Mental toughness during double-overtime and losing streaks
  • • Resilience after being knocked down physically or emotionally
  • • Commitment to long-term goals despite pain, doubt, or obstacles
  • • Choosing effort over excuses—every single day

Grit is what opponents feel when they play you: they know you won't break.

Don't Wait for It—BE IT

Be the one that pushes the pace each day
Be consistent and do the little things right
Make right decisions in times of temptation
Sacrifice self for the team
Push the limit on the ice and in the weight room
Stay after practice for more reps
Pick teammates up when they're down
Get momentum back after a goal against
Keep the locker room morale high
Keep the energy up when it gets quiet
Article 4 of 4

Clean Living: Product Choices Matter

Why what you expose yourself to daily impacts long-term performance

We spend so much time optimizing our nutrition, training, and recovery—but what about the products we use every single day? The truth is, what touches your skin, what you cook with, and what you clean with all matter for long-term athletic performance and health.

Cookware

Stay away from "forever chemicals" like PFAS found in non-stick coatings (Teflon).

✅ Better Options:

  • • Cast iron
  • • Stainless steel
  • • Ceramic-coated
  • • Carbon steel

Soaps & Body Care

Dish soaps, body wash, shampoo—many contain harsh chemicals that disrupt hormones and skin health.

✅ Look For:

  • • Natural ingredients
  • • No sulfates/parabens
  • • No synthetic fragrances
  • • Plant-based formulas

Toothpaste

Consider fluoride-free options. While fluoride strengthens enamel, some prefer natural alternatives.

✅ Alternatives:

  • • Hydroxyapatite toothpaste
  • • Natural mineral-based
  • • Activated charcoal options

Why This Matters for Athletes

Hormone Disruption: Chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and parabens can interfere with testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid hormones—critical for performance and recovery.

Inflammation: Synthetic chemicals increase systemic inflammation, slowing recovery and increasing injury risk.

Toxin Accumulation: Your body works overtime to detoxify—energy that could be spent on performance and adaptation.

Long-Term Health: Athletes have longer careers when they protect their bodies from cumulative toxic exposure.

Start Making Changes This Week

  1. 1
    Audit your kitchen: Check your pots, pans, and plastic containers. Replace non-stick with cast iron or stainless steel.
  2. 2
    Read labels: Look at your body wash, shampoo, and dish soap. Swap one product at a time for cleaner alternatives.
  3. 3
    Switch toothpaste: Try a fluoride-free or hydroxyapatite option for 30 days and see how you feel.
  4. 4
    Research brands: Companies like Branch Basics (cleaning), Dr. Bronner's (soap), and Boka (toothpaste) are good starting points.

Remember: Small Changes Compound

You don't have to overhaul everything overnight. Start with one product, one swap at a time. Your body is your vehicle—protect it from unnecessary toxins so it can perform at its peak for years to come.

Final Thoughts

Your Journey Starts Today

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

This represents YEARS of learning and implementation. Don't try everything at once—implement these strategies gradually, in phases. Find what works for YOU and your goals.

"People are okay with seeing you get by, but they are not okay with seeing you get by them"

How to Actually Implement This

1

Month 1-2

  • Morning sunlight routine
  • Salt water + lemon hydration
  • Start journaling 3x/week
2

Month 3-4

  • Clean up grocery list
  • Add core supplements
  • Replace energy drinks with coffee
3

Month 5-6

  • Practice mental reset techniques
  • Live core values daily
  • Track your performance improvements
4

Month 7+

  • Audit household products
  • Upgrade cookware & kitchen
  • Fine-tune based on what works

Ready to Start Your Optimization Journey?

Let's work together to create a personalized plan that fits YOUR goals, YOUR schedule, and YOUR body. No cookie-cutter solutions—just science-backed strategies tailored to you.