Recovery Done Right: Why Harley Doesn’t Believe in One-Size-Fits-All
Harley Laing is a competitive powerlifter, Jiu-Jitsu athlete, and the founder of The Muscle Clinic, a space built to help people overcome injury, reclaim their strength, and return to the sport or lifestyle they love.
He understands better than most how injury impacts not just your body, but your identity. That’s why his approach goes beyond symptoms. Harley treats the whole person, identifying root causes and tailoring rehab strategies to the individual. Whether it’s deep tissue work, myofascial scraping, or heat and cold therapy, no two programs are the same.
His goal? To help people move well, live strong, and stay active long after 70. Because real performance is about longevity and living pain-free, with purpose.
We sat down to have a chat with Harley.
What made you commit to building fitness into your home routine—and why is it non-negotiable?
I’ve been around sport my whole life. Training was just part of the lifestyle, and it stuck. Now as a dad and business owner, it’s less about aesthetics and more about being grounded, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I want my kids to see that strength isn’t just about muscle. It’s discipline. It’s resilience. And those qualities build real depth—the kind that carries you through life.
What’s one recovery ritual you’ve dialled in?
Hydration. Simple, but it’s the one thing I always prioritise. I could eat poorly, miss sleep, skip the sauna or stretching, but if I stay hydrated, I can still function. The moment I drop the ball on water intake, everything else suffers. It’s that foundational.
You clearly perform at a high level in multiple areas. What keeps you sharp long-term?
It comes back to basics: nutrient-dense food, good sleep, hydration, and smart programming. People chase hacks, but most of the time they’re majoring in the minors. Ice baths, saunas, massage—they’re great. But without the fundamentals, your recovery’s still going to suck.
What’s a common myth in fitness or recovery you wish more people would ditch?
That recovery starts with the shiny stuff supplements, cryo, yoga retreats. The truth? Most people ignore the big three: sleep, nutrition, and hydration. Those are non-negotiables.
What does “high performance” mean to you today?
It means showing up and doing the hard things, especially when you don’t feel like it. It’s about knowing what your edge is and pushing past it, not to impress anyone, but to sharpen who you are.
As for success? I don’t think I’m there yet. Success will be when I know I’ve taught my kids to value physical, mental, and spiritual strength and to live with godly morals. If they speak highly of me when I’m gone, that’ll be real success. I won’t be around to hear it, but that’s the point.
Cool humans doing cool sh*t.