Thom Salo’s approach to wellness was shaped by three forces over a lifetime: long-term military service, years of endurance sport, and watching his parents live long lives without the health to fully enjoy them.

Raised with stories of his Finnish great-grandparents who emigrated to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to work the copper mines, Thom grew up understanding “sisu” not as a catchphrase, but as quiet perseverance—showing up when things get hard. Three days after his 17th birthday, still in high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with his parents’ consent. He went on to serve for 31 years, retiring as a Colonel in 2013 after assignments across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Korea.

Decades of military leadership came with a cost. Long hours, sustained stress, disrupted sleep, and physical wear were simply part of the job. After leaving the Army, Thom carried those same demands into the private sector, helping grow a cybersecurity company and running operations for an aerospace startup—while remaining rooted in Colorado, where he and his wife Kris raised their family.

Outside of work, Thom pushed his body further through endurance sports, completing multiple Ironman races, marathons, and Ragnar relays. While the training built resilience, it also made one reality impossible to ignore: without intentional recovery, even the strongest bodies break down.

At the same time, Thom watched his parents live well into their 80s—but with declining health that limited their independence and quality of life in later years. They had longevity, but not healthspan. That contrast left a lasting impression and reframed how Thom thought about aging. Living longer wasn’t the goal. Living better, longer was.

As he studied longevity science, recovery protocols, and Nordic wellness traditions, Thom noticed something missing in the Colorado Springs area. There were gyms focused on performance and spas focused on relaxation—but no place centered on recovery, resilience, and extending healthspan. So, he built it.

Sisu is a veteran-owned recovery and longevity studio designed for people who want more than short-term results. Through sauna, contrast therapy, and evidence-based recovery practices, Sisu supports veterans, athletes, busy parents, and anyone committed to staying strong, mobile, and energized for decades—not just years.

For Thom, Sisu isn’t about chasing trends or extremes. It’s about building a place grounded in experience, discipline, and the belief that how you live matters just as much as how long you live.