How Neurology Unlocks Better Movement, Sleep, And Recovery

Your walk is a window into your brain. We sit down with Danny Davis of Atlas Custom Health to break down how gait, balance, vision, and breath reveal which parts of the nervous system need more activation or less noise—and how the right drill can create instant, measurable change. Instead of chasing tight muscles, we follow the signals your body gives in real time, using test-retest methods to confirm what actually improves range, stability, and coordination.

Danny explains the cross-talk between movement and cognition, why the right frontal lobe can be trained with complex left-side patterns, and how cerebellar signs show up as specific postural and rotation tendencies. We talk about timelines for neuroplastic change, why consistency matters more than intensity, and how reflexive posture beats “sit up straight” reminders every time. The message is empowering: when your brain feels safe, it grants more motion, strength, and control—and those gains last because you learned them, not because someone did something to you.

Breath takes the spotlight with a simple high-payoff drill called air hunger, a CO2 tolerance practice that calms the system and sharpens performance. You’ll hear how to assess your own response, improve quickly, and stack that progress over weeks. We also explore how clubs and teams can plug in practical workshops on sleep, recovery, and vision to elevate results without overhauling current programs. Whether you’re chasing a PR or lifting a grandchild with confidence, this brain-first approach shows you how to move better, feel safer, and keep the gains you earn.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow Spandex and Wine, share the episode with a friend who needs a smarter path to performance, and leave a quick review to help more listeners discover the show.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:20

And along the way, know you're not alone on the ready to jump in. Or something in your glass that makes you happy because it's time for Spandex and Wine. Hey Danny, it is so nice to meet you, and thanks for being on the Spandex and Wine podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

Oh, sure, no problem, Rob. It's nice to meet you too.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Yeah, I know that we are going to talk about everything that you offer and bringing you here to the Country Club of Leewood. But once I was reading more about what you do, I'm like, I have to have you on the podcast. So I'd love to start there. And then once we're done recording, we will hop into a conversation. So all listeners out there that are members of the club, he's coming to you. So listen up. Okay. So share a little bit more about what you do.

A Brain-Based Approach To Health

Turning Up Or Down Brain Regions

SPEAKER_00 1:08

Sure. Um, so uh I own a company called Atlas Custom Health, and uh we help people get or stay and perform, stay healthy and perform better through uh neurology. And what that means is that uh instead of so like you're more than than muscle and bone and tissue, like our our our brain controls everything that we do and also controls how we function. And so no matter what the goal or the problem is, uh we take a brain-based approach to it. And so how we do that is we uh watch how you walk, how you balance, uh test your vision, look at how you breathe, because all of that matters to how your brain functions. And all of those things are controlled by different regions of your brain. And so we use those those uh drills to either turn up under functioning areas of the brain or turn down overactive areas of the brain. And that's a very high-level view of it, but but yeah, that's what we do.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

Okay, so when you say you turn up or turn down, what does that look like? Like that to me.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

Yeah, so so the front part of our our brain is called the frontal lobe. I'm sure that a lot of people have heard of that. Um, and so our uh our our brain is cross-connected. So so to move my left hand, that idea comes from my right frontal lobe. Uh my right frontal lobe is also where executive function lives. So, like um, you know, how I make decisions or or and like if someone had ADHD, like that that ability to control, you know, conscious thought um uh can also be activated through movement too. And so um uh so like let's say that I you know was working with someone that I knew had a right frontal lobe problem. One of the ways that I might say, you know, their right frontal lobe is under functioning is I might have them do complex movement on their left, which would be like an elbow circle or a wrist figure eight or a shoulder figure eight, but it's less about what the movement looks like and what the purpose of it is. So, like to the outside, it might look like someone is just moving their shoulder, but to me, the reason I'm having them do it is I want activity on the right side. Does that make sense?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

It does make sense, it makes sense, and um, it kind of almost sounds like like physical therapy, but on a much deeper level.

SPEAKER_00 4:02

Yeah, yeah. Um, and again, it's just looking at our function and our body, not from a from a biomechanical point of view, but from a neural point of view.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Yes. And every time I talk to someone about neurology, I'm just always blown away, but also fascinated.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Yeah, it's super interesting.

Assessing Gait, Vision, And Breath

SPEAKER_01 4:19

It is so interesting, yes. So, like I said, I was excited to have you on and impressed. But okay, so let's just say you are watching someone, you recognize something in their left side. Like, how long will that take to work with that person? I mean, I know everyone's different, but is it like and done, and here you go do these exercises, or do you see them on a regular basis like um a chiropractor would?

SPEAKER_00 4:43

Yeah, so um we so it takes about 87 days for a neuroplastic change to stick. Um, but but a lot of that is dependent on how long have they had the problem, how old they are, how are they taking care of their body. Because a healthy person, no matter the age, like if someone is active and fit and eats well, those changes can happen pretty quickly. But um on average, like I would say that our our average person's with us for about three months, but their problem is solved before that, and then they just like like the goals change, and so um as they get better and as their problem resolves, then they want to do something else, and so that's what's nice about the time frame is that you know if it's a motivated person that they're gonna continue to improve their whole life, and so what I do what's fun about working for people with or like like or for me is is that like I love being with them, but I always tell them like this will work for the rest of your life. So even when I'm not there, you know how to do this, and so like I'm giving you knowledge that like you'll be able to keep for the rest of your life.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

I love that. That is so cool. Okay, too. Like, I know for me, when I see someone out and they're like walking or jogging, I can I can identify, oh, they have a hip issue or something happened here. So constantly looking around at people, and you're like, oh, I could really help that person.

Timelines And Lasting Neuroplastic Change

SPEAKER_00 6:22

Something's here, or they yeah, yes, yeah, and so like that's why walking is a big part of the assessment. And I'll just kind of go through like the big three things that I look at. But like when someone is walking and like I'm looking for like uh ways that I can help, uh, I'm looking so everything about the way we move is an insight to your brain. So um if someone has if someone is walking and they have like what a what's called a bobble head, so like if they're walking and their head is kind of moving around, um that that leads me to think that they need more more like midline work, uh, which would be like you know, core work or spinal mobility or breath work, well uh or like it like a huge thing for midline is vision, so like using our eyes in certain ways. Um I also look at shoulders, and so if you've ever seen someone with a lower shoulder than the other, not always, but that can mean a sign of decreased brain function. So again, frontal lobe, um, there can be less going on on that side than the other. Uh internal and external rotation at the shoulder and at the hip, that's also an indicator of tone. And so um those are all patterns. So, like if someone has like if someone's walking and I can see more of their palm and less pinky toe, so more shoulder internal rotation and more hip internal rotation, um, that is what I would call a cerebellar pattern, which a cerebellum sits at the back of your brain and it controls accuracy and balance and coordination on the same side. And so if someone had that pattern, I might say, What can I do to drive activity to the left cerebellum? And again, that could be movement on the left side, that could be head movement to the left, that could be eye movement to the right, um all of that stuff would drive tone, but um, in activity to the cerebellum, but it's less, but these assessments and these tests are less pass-fail and more looking at what is their overall pattern and what can I do to help that pattern.

SPEAKER_01 8:47

Okay. I mean, it sounds like it's all about getting everything in alignment in your brain. Yeah, like not just strengthening one side, it is it's here. And if you don't do it here, then that's never going to happen. It might a little, but yeah, yeah, it yes.

Reading Movement Patterns For The Brain

SPEAKER_00 9:06

And so, like uh, like like a good analogy of that is posture, right? Like we're always told that like like to stand or to sit a certain way. Um, and it and if we're mindful about it, we might notice that we feel better, but it's impossible to be mindful about your posture all the time, right? And and and and so posture it is reflexive. And so the main difference between me and a chiropractor is a chiropractor is doing something to you, they're they're adjusting your body or the patient's body, and so though those changes are going to last for uh a relatively short amount of time, um, unless they show their body how to move with that newfound freedom of motion. What what I do is because I teach the person how to how to how to create change in their own body, so they're doing it, uh that allows those changes to stick. Because our uh our brain is governed on survival. Um our our brain's number one job is to keep us alive, and so if it doesn't understand or feel comfortable with putting you in certain ranges of motion or doing certain activities, it's not going to allow you to do those things well. Because that's its way of protecting you.

SPEAKER_01 10:40

Yes, yes, and it makes perfect sense um for an athlete to work with you, but it also makes sense in my mind for a grandma to work with you. So I not injure myself when I'm, you know, picking up my grandson or um, which that kind of happened. And so so you and I are going to have a discussion about you coming here to the club, but people listening that they're probably like, oh my gosh, I want to know how to do this. I want him to come to my place of work or to our country club. Yeah. What does that look like? The services that you offer, is there packages? Do you come here and work at the facility? What does that look like?

Posture, Autopilot, And Lasting Change

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Yeah. So uh so what I have based our our program on is is a tailored white white club approach. So I want to be customizable to the customer that needs me. And so um, like for some clubs, like for your club, that it looks like you've got like a great facility and like things are going well and you've got good programming. I I want to come in and I want to fill in the gaps. So like I want to uh teach people, you know, how to recover better, how to sleep better, and like how to do these things that like that are little but but will help you feel and move and like and live the life that you want to on a consistent basis. Because everyone knows that sleep is important, that that that that like breathing correctly is important, that recovery is important. But I found that that that's where it stops, that people just know that these things are important, and if they you know suffer with poor sleep or or are fatigued all the time, they know it's a problem, but they don't know what to do about it. And so um that's kind of my approach is that I want to come in and I want to take advantage of what the country clubs or the client is doing well, and then I want to add like value to the members and to the club, because if people are you know recovered better and and and feeling good, then they know that movement's important and you know, and being active at the club is important, so they're gonna take advantage of their membership more.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

Yes, yeah, that makes sense too. And you had mentioned sleep. Oh my gosh, you just like so many people just zoned in and listened, like, what, what, I can improve myself by doing something? Um, are there like simple drills that all of us should be doing every day?

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yeah, totally. So um I I mentioned uh like so like I think the breathing is one of the number one most powerful tools that I show somebody. So when I assess, I go through like so you know, I watch how they walk, how they bounce, how they move, and then um because uh changes happen in an instant, um those that initial assessment will be our baseline, and then I will show them things to do, like whether it's breath or movement or vision, and then we'll retest. And if I pick the right thing, the retest will be a lot better because I've improved the function of the brain in an instant, and then and over time those changes will hold, it's just up to the person to be consistent in doing their drills, right? Yeah, so one of the easiest things to do on your own is uh like are are like reading drills, and these are the two most high payoff, I would say, for for like the most people.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Okay.

Club Partnerships And Filling Gaps

SPEAKER_00 14:29

So one of them has a scary name, but it's not, it's called air hunger. Um, and um that's because uh I think one in three people in our country are chronic hyperventilators, which means that they are taking shons of short, shallow breaths. So they're over oxygenated, and so air hunger is real simple. All it is is you take a full inhale, a full exhale, and then once your air is out, you're gonna hold your breath, and you can do any kind of movement. It can be as simple as swinging your arms back and forth, you can do it with squats or with push-ups, but the movement that you're doing is building up carbon dioxide in your body. And you're gonna do that until you feel the need to breathe. Once you feel the need to breathe, you're going to stop. And your goal is to get your heart rate and the way that you feel under control in one to two breaths. So I don't want you holding your breath so long that when you stop, you huff and puff, because again, that's hyperventilating. Um, but that but that would be something that I'm gonna encourage you know, your listeners to try at home is uh, you know, uh test your balance um or test your range of motion. Um, and then you know, try your hunger and then retest. And if that is a positive thing for you, you'll feel better on your retest.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

That's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Yeah, yeah. So that's one of the easiest, most effective drills that I give people.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Okay, okay. And it's interesting that you would say breathing because um another lady that I interviewed recently, she is a pelvic floor physical therapist.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Oh, nice, yeah.

Simple Daily Drills: Air Hunger

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Oh my gosh. And that was the one thing that she said too is breathing. And when I go back to my yoga training, it's breath work and it's so simple that I think people overlook it.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

Yeah, it is. It's so simple because we have to breathe to be alive. Yeah, and so and so people think, hey, as long as I'm conscious and moving, like I must be breathing okay. But uh, like again, like I would say like one of the like the biggest rocks that I help you know people move out of the way in the course of feeling better is learning how to breathe. Whether that's you know, you know, trying to limit mouth breathing or improve you know function of the diaphragm or lung capacity. I mean, that is one of the most key changes that I can make for somebody is to teach them how to breathe correctly.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

That's cool. That is so cool. I can't wait to have you come out. Whether we just do a workshop, you do one-on-ones, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

I'm super excited.

SPEAKER_01 17:23

We'll talk about that in just a moment, but is there anything that I didn't ask you that you would just want the general population and the listeners to know?

Why Breathing Shapes Performance

SPEAKER_00 17:30

Uh uh no, but uh, but I am passionate about people uh knowing that that that they are capable of way more than they think they are, and that like no matter, you know, if it's a performance goal or a pain problem, like you can uh you know get better and do more than you think you can, no matter what anybody says. You just have to do it the right way. And um, that is kind of my mission is that like I want to show people that we're resilient, we're made to move, we're made to perform, and you can hold that as long as you know you take good care of your body no matter what your age is.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

Yes. Uh Danny, thank you so much. Now, how how can the listeners find you?

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Yep. Um, so they can find me in two ways. Uh, or um, they can go online. Uh, my website is www.atlascustomhealth solutions.com. Um, there is a form uh to fill out um and an inquiry, like where I would get an email and get your contact information. Um or uh you can contact me directly, which um I can get my cell phone out. Uh, but I don't know if that would be a good thing for me to do or not.

SPEAKER_01 18:47

That's okay. That's up to you if you want to give it up.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

Or uh send me a text at 913-787-4838.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Okay, perfect. Well, thank you so much for being here. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 18:58

Yeah, thank you, Robin. I I I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you.

Resilience, Mission, And How To Reach Danny

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SPEAKER_01 19:04

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