Whole Health Matters: Nexigen CEO Jon Salisbury sees exercise as form of love

Jon Salisbury radiates energy: He talks at a rapid clip and moves constantly during our conversation. It’s a good thing he bikes, runs and swims up to 200 miles a week. All that energy needs an outlet.

Salisbury was an athlete in his 20s and 30s, but a decade of focusing on business took a toll. “Work became more important than myself,” he said, “and I fell into a rut. My body wasn’t in good shape. I was 40 years old, and I had to start all over.” These days he exercises about 15 hours a week. “I’m in tech so I’m constantly on the screen, but when I go to the park and get on the bike, I have to focus. For that whole hour or so, I don’t think about email.”

You told me you show love through mountain biking, trail running, etc. What do you mean? I require running to be loving, I require running to be happy, so I think of it as a way to express my love.

What do you get out of physical activity? For me, working out and getting close to nature is what humans are born for. Our body-mind connections are incredible. When I’ve had mental health issues in my life it’s always because I was neglecting my body. With a steady dose of exercise, you become your own drug.

Any favorite trails or road routes? Devou Park, for sure. I like climbing the hills and grinding it out. My favorite road ride is out to Rabbit Hash from Hebron; it’s all beautiful farmland. I do that at least once a week.

What do you feel when you’re out on the bike or on foot? I’m very intentional. I focus on my heart first and then on my ankles and where my feet are landing. That’ll tell me my cadence and how I’m feeling. When I get really dialed in I’ll let go, and it’s just about being open and flowing. It’s meditation.

How does it fuel how you perform at work? As a leader, I understand my own stress levels and emotions, and I understand that other people feel those things too. We all have a million balls coming at us, and we need to stay calm and measured. Exercise helps me understand I can get to a non-calm state physically but still stay calm mentally. It helps me make good decisions in moments of distress.

Jon Salisbury