Recovery has emerged as a major priority in elite sports, with athletes placing equal emphasis on rest and regeneration as they do on training. Beyond physical conditioning, professionals are increasingly focusing on quality sleep, mental well-being, and stress management to maintain peak performance.

Capitalizing on this growing focus, Pulsetto has unveiled its most ambitious brand campaign yet, featuring NBA players Jonas Valančiūnas and Matas Buzelis. The initiative introduces the concept of Stress Fitness, promoting the belief that the nervous system can be strengthened through regular practice, much like muscles. Titled "Calm Is a Habit. Train For It.", the campaign debuts during the NBA offseason—a period when athletes dedicate themselves to recovery, conditioning, and preparation for the upcoming season.

Different Careers, Shared Challenges
Pulsetto began collaborating with NBA talent in 2025, initially partnering with All-Star Domantas Sabonis before extending long-term relationships with Valančiūnas and Buzelis. Although the two players are at very different stages of their careers—Valančiūnas as a seasoned veteran and Buzelis as one of the league's promising young talents—they both experience similar pressures related to competition, recovery, sleep, and mental readiness.

Rather than simply promoting the product, both athletes discuss how Pulsetto fits into their personal recovery routines, helping them relax, improve sleep quality, and prepare mentally for the demands of professional basketball.

Matas Buzelis describes pressure as an opportunity, explaining that the excitement after games often makes it difficult to unwind. He says using Pulsetto before bedtime helps him relax, fall asleep more easily, and make recovery a consistent part of his daily routine.

Jonas Valančiūnas shares that his biggest challenge is an active mind filled with thoughts about upcoming games and responsibilities. He uses Pulsetto before sleeping to quiet those thoughts, emphasizing that quality rest has a direct impact on how he performs the following day.

Their experiences reinforce Pulsetto's philosophy that recovery should be viewed as an active process. Just as athletes build physical strength through consistent training, the company believes resilience and stress management can also improve with regular practice.

The Research Behind Stress Fitness
Pulsetto's technology uses non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation to help strengthen the body's natural ability to cope with stress over time, rather than simply addressing stress after it builds up. According to a peer-reviewed study indexed on PubMed and published in the American Journal of Physiology, participants who used the device for four weeks experienced notable improvements, including a 56% reduction in depressive symptoms, a 45% decrease in anxiety, a 41% improvement in sleep disturbances, and a 36.7% reduction in cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone.

Dr. Jone Pukėnaitė, Pulsetto's Medical & Science Lead, explains that while athletes have long recognized recovery as essential to high performance, emerging research into vagus nerve stimulation suggests the nervous system itself can become more resilient through consistent training. Better sleep, stress regulation, and recovery, she says, are not fixed traits but abilities that can be developed over time.

Recovery Beyond Professional Sports
Although the campaign features professional basketball players, Pulsetto says its message is intended for everyone. Whether someone is preparing for a championship game, an important business presentation, a major exam, or simply navigating everyday responsibilities, the body's response to stress follows similar patterns. The company believes that regular nervous system training can help anyone recover more effectively and build greater resilience.

The "Calm Is a Habit. Train For It." campaign spans multiple platforms and includes a flagship promotional film, athlete interviews, social media videos, and a collection of campaign photography. Through these efforts, Pulsetto aims to introduce the concept of Stress Fitness to a wider audience and encourage a broader discussion about recovery as a skill that can be strengthened through consistent practice.

Our team at Kohler Mira Ltd. marked Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK by emphasizing the significance of mental wellbeing and exchanging tips for maintaining good mental health. Activities ranged from enjoyable sing-a-longs and lunchtime walks to calming breathing exercises and insights into our global Employee Assistance Program. Throughout these engagements, our teams fostered camaraderie, collaboration, and open dialogues about mental health, stress management, and self-care.
 
Aligned with Kohler's mission to promote gracious, healthy, and sustainable living, our team of 30,000 members worldwide shares a common purpose. We are driven by ambition, recognizing the urgency in creating more sustainable products and enhancing experiences. Addressing issues such as access to safe water and sanitation, which millions lack, is a fundamental human right. Furthermore, we believe that designing a more equitable and inclusive world not only fosters innovation but also promotes shared success. At Kohler, we are dedicated to turning bold visions into tangible realities, striving for the betterment of all.

Click here to know more.