What if longevity is less biohack and more beautiful state?
The Mountain Before the Metrics
Craig DeMarco starts with a confession: the mountain came before the metrics.
He’s not counting hikes to brag about fitness. Since 1988, Camelback has been his daily reset—a place to drop baggage and get quiet before the day begins.
He jokes the mountain must be taller now from all that baggage he’s left behind. But there’s truth in it. Hiking became his meditation. The win before the chaos. A way to turn the world into steps, breath, and skyline.
That mindset shows up everywhere—in his parenting, his marriage, and his work. His restaurants aren’t just places to eat. They’re neighborhood hubs. His rule is simple: build the routine, then build the identity. The practice makes the person.
From Force to Flow
Craig admits he’s wired for speed. He likes pressure and quick wins. But lately, he’s learning to live in second gear. To trade force for flow.
His hikes slowed down. His playlists softened. Meditation went deeper. Two retreats with Joe Dispenza helped him train his brain to shift from high-beta into calmer states. Most mornings, he sits in the dark with headphones and a mask, dropping into focus before the day starts.
When he can’t, he makes time later. Even walking meditations count. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.
Family as Daily Practice
Family sits at the center. The message to his kids was simple: win the morning, and the day gets easier. He and his wife kept balance—healthy but not obsessed, active but not rigid. Sports over screens. Chick-fil-A still allowed.
Now, one son is planning a restaurant. The others live fit by choice.
Marriage follows the same rhythm. He credits his wife for improving their communication. He values therapy. He’s learning to let adrenaline pass without adding fuel. Respect and appreciation are daily habits. Everything, he says, is practice.
Building Neighborhoods, Not Just Restaurants
Postino started after a trip to Italy. Simple wine bars, flip-flops, conversation, and low prices. Back home, Craig and his wife found an old building, pitched the landlord, and worked 16-hour days.
Postino Arcadia opened just before 9/11. Le Grande Orange followed soon after. Now, there are nearly 40 Postinos in seven states.
But Craig still talks about the stories from that first corner—first dates that became marriages, families that grew up there, neighbors who called it theirs.
His new project, Air Guitar, mixes convenience, design, music, and hospitality. It’s not about transactions. It’s about connection.
Health as Maintenance, Not Optimization
Health, for Craig, is about staying mobile and aware. He swims because an 88-year-old once showed him what endurance looks like. He hikes slower now. He lifts to protect against falls and bone loss.
He tracks sleep with Whoop and Oura. He gets annual full-body scans at Health Nucleus. He tweaks only when patterns show up. It’s not biohacking—it’s maintenance.
The Rest System
Sleep is part of the system too. Blackout shades. White noise. Cool air. CPAP for apnea. Mouth guard for grinding. Even oxygen tubing from a tank in the closet.
He experiments, he adapts, and he keeps moving.
Because for Craig DeMarco, the practice—whatever it is—always comes first.
