Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025
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In this episode, Katy Bowman and Jeannette Loram have a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with neuro-optometrist Dr. Bryce Appelbaum.
Dr. Appelbaum breaks down the crucial difference between eyesight—what you can see—and vision—how your brain interprets what you see and turns it into action. Together, they explore the striking parallels between physical and visual health, highlighting how prolonged screen time and visual inactivity can stiffen our eye muscles just like sedentary habits stiffen our joints. Focusing on screens all day is like clenching your fist nonstop—leading to eye strain, headaches, and long-term issues like poor eye coordination, which can affect depth perception, balance, and even increase the risk of falls.
The conversation covers everything from visual tics and dry eyes to how vision is connected to musculoskeletal alignment and behavior—and even offers a glimpse into the future of eye health in our tech-heavy world. Dr. Appelbaum also shares how anyone can improve visual stamina and flexibility, and Katy and Jeannette reflect on their personal experience with his online program ScreenFit—a movement program for your eyes!
Dr Appelbaum is offering our listeners $200 off ScreenFit using code MOVEYOURDNA: https://bit.ly/moveyourdnaSF
CHAPTERS
00:03:10 - Introducing Dr. Appelbaum
00:09:30 - Impacts of Screens on Vision
00:25:30 - Unlocking Vision Potential Through Exercise - ScreenFit
00:41:00 - Listener Question on Dry Eyes brought to you by Earth Runners
00:50:40 - The Future of the Screen Time/Vision Connection
BOOKS MENTIONED
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS:
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 20% off with code Movement20
Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities. Take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk about rucking—walking with weight on your back—and other modes of carrying. They touch on the evolutionary history of carrying, carrying in modern Hunter Gatherer populations, rucking in the military and the benefits of fitness rucking.
Jeannette and Katy focus on the challenges associated with rucking particularly pain and discomfort. They explain how different body adjustments—like leaning forward, arching the back, or shifting the hips forward—are responses to offset the backward-pulling force of a heavy load. These shifts help accommodate the extra mass, but if a single adjustment is done repetitively or without muscular support through the core, pain can be the result.
Listen in to discover a more varied and mindful approach to managing your ruck; your low back will thank you!
CHAPTERS
00:06:00 - The Dynamic Collective
00:07:00 - Are Humans Born to Carry?
00:13:00 - Phases of Life and Issues with Fitness Rucking and Carrying in General
00:26:00 - What's Holding You Up? Mindfulness in Rucking
00:38:45 - Listener Question about broken bones, brought to you by Ikaria Design
00:49:00 - A Conversation Between Katy and Jeannette: What Is the Big Movement Question?
BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
Pain-Free Baby Holding by Katy Bowman
Trunk Muscle Activity In Different Modes of Carrying by Motmans et al 2006
Bone Density and Intramedullary Rods by Kroger et al 2002
MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS:
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 20% off with code Movement20
Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities. Take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Try Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 Days!
This Episode's Show Notes
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram get into a nuanced discussion about clothing, specifically the idea that how you get dressed might be impacting the way that you move or the movement choices you are able to make.
Katy and Jeannette highlight how stiff or excessively baggy clothing might be ‘casting’ movement. On the flip side ‘stabilizing’ wear like well-designed bras and compressive garments can make movement more comfortable for certain activities. Katy offers advice on how to dress for multiple scenarios: the movement that you plan to do, the spontaneous movements that you might want to do, as well as all the other things you need to do in a day.
Also in this episode Katy speaks with Mira Fannin of Sweet Skins. Sweet Skins produce beautiful hemp-cotton organic clothing. Katy and Mira talk about the origin of Sweet Skins and how Mira’s goal to make cute and liveable clothes for busy women has created the perfect movement-friendly clothing line. They also talk about the famous Bike Time pants and the new Sweet Skins styles coming out very soon. Mira is offering our listeners 20% off all clothes with code Movement20
CHAPTERS
00:06:00 - The Dynamic Collective
00:07:09 - Definitions and Categories of Clothing
00:17:30 - Compressive Garments
00:25:23 - Listener Question brought to you by Venn Design
00:31:23 - How do you get dressed in the morning
00:40:31 - Interview with Mira from Sweet Skins
BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED
Influence of Compression Garments on Proprioception by Ghai et al 2024
Grow Wild by Katy Bowman
RESOURCES
Minimal Shoes, The List
Movement Matters: Clothes
MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SPONSORS:
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10
Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 20% off with code Movement20
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities. Take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Try Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 Days!
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
If you have heard about eccentric exercise but are unsure of the benefits, what it is or how to do it, this episode is your primer!
Eccentric muscle contractions generate more force with less energy than other types of muscle contraction and are therefore one of the best ways to get stronger. The mechanism of eccentric contraction within the muscle is a little complicated but Katy offers a simple analogy involving two hair combs!
Katy and Jeannette offer some examples of how you can incorporate eccentrics into your movement plan with the empowering message that you can get a lot stronger doing only half an exercise. Can’t do a pull-up? Not a problem, train the eccentric half of the movement—lowering down from the pull-up bar—and you will reap the strength rewards.
Also in this episode, Katy speaks with Pack Matthews of Ikaria Design and creator of the Soul Seat®, the original and adjustable cross-legged chair. Katy is using one for her podcast set up and she and Pack talk about the origin of the chair, how the design has changed over time and Katy’s experience with it.
CHAPTERS
(0:07:08) - Muscle Contraction: Three types
(0:15:56) - Sarcomere: Actin, Myosin, and Titin
(0:26:57) - Get Stronger Doing Half of an Exercise
(0:41:00) - Listener Question: 'use it or lose it' brought to you by Earth Runners
(0:47:40) - Interview with Pack Matthews of Ikaria Design
BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED
Want to Get Stronger and Avoid Injury, Try This, New York Times article on eccentrics
Eccentrics: Get Stronger Doing Half Of An Exercise, Katy Bowman
The Chair by Galen Cranz
MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SPONSORS:
Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10
Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15
Try Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 Days!
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram take a deeper look into three recent headlines in the body-nerd world.
First up, recent research has shown that our skeletal muscles remember training at the protein level - no brain required! This is exciting research and Katy and Jeannette discuss the implications for exercise over the lifespan. Second, they dig into a recent study of uphill walking; the research suggests it is cheaper to take the steeper route, but energy efficiency might not be the only consideration. Finally in response to the online noise about recent changes to the CDC developmental guidelines, Katy and Jeannette explain what has really changed and whether it should have caused such an upset.
CHAPTERS
02:50 - Muscle Memory
17:12 - Steeper is Cheaper
28:02 - Changes in the CDC milestones
43:22 - Listener Question sponsored by Peluva: Is it inevitable that our body and parts wear out?
ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED
New Explanation of Muscle Memory in Science Daily
Skeletal Muscle Proteomic Memory by Hulmi et al (2025)
Steeper is Cheaper in Outside Magazine
Graded Walking Energetics by Looney et al (2025)
CDC Developmental Guidelines
Evidence Informed Milestones by Zubler et al (2022)
MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SPONSORS:
Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15
Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10
Try Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 Days!
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram continue their discussion about the skeleton. In this episode, they break down the best approach to taking care of your bones using a government framework: Strong, Steady and Straight. They use this framework to discuss exercise and bone loading at three life-stages: a growing skeleton, a mature skeleton and a vulnerable skeleton. Listen to this episode to design a movement plan for your bones.
Also in this episode, Katy talks to Mike Dally, founder of Earth Runners, minimalist earthing sandals. Katy has walked more miles in Earth Runners than in any other shoe and Katy and Mike talk about her favourite features; from the non-slip foot bed to the replaceable straps and laces. Mike explains earthing technology and testing and describes their latest product that can ground any minimal shoe.
Books Mentioned:
Grow Wild by Katy Bowman
Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
Research Mentioned:
LIFTMOR Randomized Controlled Trial by Watson et al (2018)
Aquatic Jump Training Review by Mullenax et al (2021)
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; Sweet Skins, beautiful organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15; Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10; Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10 and; Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10.
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio - Try it Free for 7 Days!
This is the first of two episodes on bone. There is lots of discussion in the media about bone health and in this first episode biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram place bone tissue health into a wider context; what really matters is how well the entire skeleton is working—as a system—to support our bodies and our movement.
Katy and Jeannette explain how the status of the bone in different parts of your skeleton is a record of the movement you have—and have not done—in the past. They outline Wolff's law, the idea that bone adapts and changes according to the stress and load it experiences throughout a lifetime. They bring this concept to life using examples from populations with distinct movement and bone loading histories ranging from ancient human archers and farmers, through different sporting populations to astronauts.
Books Mentioned:
Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Rethink Your Position by Katy Bowman
Research Mentioned:
Neolithic Women, Manual Labour and Bone
Cycling and Bone Health
Multidirectional Sport and Running: bone strength
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10; Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10; Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT; Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10; Sweet Skins, beautiful organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15 and Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office;
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio - Try it Free for 7 Days!
Inspired by a listener's letter, biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk about exercise and sport and how these relate to natural movement. They discuss how Katy’s message has sometimes been reduced to exercise is ‘bad’ and natural movement is ‘better’.
Katy explains that this has never been her position; rather her aim has been to challenge the assumption that the only way to move our bodies is through exercise. Her work has been to expand our framework of human movement and provide a broader understanding of the shapes and volumes of movement required for human health.
Katy and Jeannette also address issues raised in the listener's letter about gym culture and sports, noting that many of the negatives are perceived rather than actual or are to do with commercialization. They discuss the ubiquity of team sports across human cultures and the many positives that sport can provide, including natural movements—like throwing and catching—that are hard to get elsewhere in life.
Also in this episode Katy interviews Anna Yona, co-founder of the barefoot shoe company Wildling. Anna shares the origin story of Wildling and their expansion from children’s shoes into the adult market. Katy and Anna talk about favourite customer stories, teenage shoe choices and Wildling’s most recent venture—a rain boot—filling a much needed niche in the minimal shoe market.
Books Mentioned:
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
I Know I Should Exercise, But... by Diana Hill & Katy Bowman
Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
Hunter-Gatherer Childhoods Edited by Barry Hewlett & Michael Lamb
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:
Movemate, dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow; Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities; Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials; Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes and Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home;
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio - Try it Free for 7 Days!
Katy Bowman and Jeannette Loram kick this episode off with a conversation about British walking idioms and nature-based language. They are then joined by Mark Sisson, author, former distance runner and founder of the minimal shoe company Peluva. Mark, Katy and Jeannette talk about human evolutionary history, walking, health and Mark’s latest book Born to Walk. They discuss how running has become the iconic fitness activity but Mark explains how most people would be better served by abundant walking—combined with some strength training and a small amount of higher intensity exercise—to create a more nourishing and less physically stressful movement diet.
Katy also has a conversation with Karri Bowen-Poole, founder of Smart Playrooms and one of the Move Your DNA sponsors. Smart Playrooms offer equipment and design services for indoor play and activity spaces. Katy and Karri discuss the ethos behind Smart Playrooms, the design process and Karri offers her genius recommendations for equipment to add to every home. Katy and Karri explain how to plan flexible and adjustable spaces so that your movement and play areas stay interesting and grow with your family.
Books Mentioned:
Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane
Born to Run by Mark Sisson & Brad Kearns
The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson
Born to Run by Mark McDougall
I Know I Should Exercise, But... by Diana Hill & Katy Bowman
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home; Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials; Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes; Movemate, dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow and Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities.
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio - Try it Free for 7 Days!
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram discuss movement for the bendy body with their guest Dr Libby Hinsley, a doctor of physical therapy specializing in the treatment of hypermobility syndromes and chronic pain. Libby shares her personal and professional journey with hypermobility explaining what hypermobility is and the associated symptoms. Libby, Katy and Jeannette discuss the paradox that bendy bodies have large ranges of motion yet tense muscles and how a sedentary lifestyle is even more of a liability for people with hypermobility syndromes. Libby and Katy outline the ABCs of a movement program for bendy bodies that often struggle with proprioception and are easily fatigued. They emphasize the importance of higher load activities performed with very mindful attention to exercise form. They caution that smaller and slower movements are key whatever the exercise modality.
Also in this episode, Katy has a conversation with Sohail Shariff of Movemate, creator of segmented active standing boards designed to be used while you work. Sohail explains the personal stories behind the product and its design. Katy shares her appreciation of the boards particularly how these boards foster dynamic movement of the foot and ankle, something missing with traditional balance boards. Sohail and Katy also discuss the board's segmented design; the multiple articulations create a flowing but stable motion which means Katy can move and focus on work at the same time. Finally they discuss the value of the board in the therapeutic space particularly for those with a need for movement that soothes the nervous system.
Books Mentioned:
Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility by Libby Hinsley
I Know I Should Exercise, But... by Diana Hill & Katy Bowman
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home; Movemate, dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow; Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes; Peluva Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities; Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office and Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials.
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
Online Course March 13th 2025 "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio - Try it Free for 7 Days!
Are you confused by all the social media messaging about muscle mass and strength training? Join us for this beefy episode all about muscle!
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram discuss the clinical term sarcopenia– age-related muscle decline–and distinguish it from muscle atrophy due to disuse and sedentary lifestyles. Katy and Jeannette tease apart the different elements of muscle decline; mass, strength and function. They debate how each of these can be measured and their importance. Their discussion centers on a listener's question seeking to understand what we should be doing physically to prevent muscle loss.
Also in this episode, Katy has a conversation with Tyler Benner of Venn Design, a company creating dynamic seating for homes and offices. Tyler explains how his background in physics and sport have contributed to his creativity in product design. Tyler highlights his solar and sports series of Air Chairs and explains how he has created designs that look exactly like a planet or a basketball! He also introduces his latest venture; Strong Feet Athletics, creator of the first barefoot cycling shoe.
Books Mentioned
Dynamic Aging by Katy Bowman
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors
Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials; Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home; Venn Design: beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; Peluva Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities, and Movemate; dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow.
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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View This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio
This is a special episode with two features and several guests!
In the first feature, biomechanist Katy Bowman is joined by psychologists Dr Diana Hill and Dr Kelly McGonigal. Katy and Diana have co-written a new book I know I should Exercise But… 44 Reasons We Don’t Move and How to Get Over Them and they came together with Kelly, author of the The Joy of Movement, to talk about personal obstacles to movement, movement frameworks & vocabulary and how to find your ‘movement genius’.
In our second feature Katy welcomes author and masters athlete Brad Kearns, to talk about the minimalist five-toed shoe company Peluva, one of our podcast sponsors. Brad shares the early history of the company and how you go about making a minimalist shoe. Katy and Brad discuss the niche that Peluva fills in the minimal shoe market and Brad shares his favourite customer success stories.
Books & Articles Mentioned
I Know I Should Exercise But…44 Reasons We Don’t Move and How to Get Over Them by Diana Hill & Katy Bowman
The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal
Born to Walk by Mark Sisson with Brad Kearns
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors
Peluva Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities, Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials; Venn Design: beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; Movemate; dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home; and Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes;
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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View This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
Katy’s Virtual Studio
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram discuss Matters of the Heart. They cover the anatomy, tissues and function of the cardiovascular system, highlighting key concepts of heart health that are underappreciated. They discuss the importance of the flexibility of red blood cells, arterial walls and the heart muscle itself. They also explain the vital role of skeletal muscle contraction in healthy circulation. Muscle contraction during exercise not only assists the return of blood to the heart from the extremities, it is also the signal for blood vessels near working muscles to dilate or widen ‘pulling’ blood from arteries into the tissues.
Katy and Jeannette talk about a movement diet to support the cardiovascular system. They emphasize the importance of higher intensity activity for taking the heart and arteries through their full ranges of motion. Their discussion also offers up a much larger buffet of exercise options than you might have previously considered. Strength training, big body work and stress-reducing movement all have complementary benefits for the cardiovascular system.
Also in this episode Katy interviews podiatrist Dr Ray McClanahan, founder of Correct Toes and one of our podcast sponsors. Correct Toes are a toe orthotic designed to return toes to their natural alignment as the widest part of the foot. Ray explains the functional benefits of aligned toes, including improved balance, circulation and strength. Katy and Ray chat about how and why Correct Toes came about and they also discuss the future, with an introduction to some of Correct Toes latest products.
Books & Articles Mentioned
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors
Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes; Peluva Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities, Movemate; dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep your kids engaged and active at home; Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials and Venn Design: beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office.
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
--
View This Episode’s Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses
In recent years there has been significant backlash against the idea that posture is related to good health. Join biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram for a philosophical, historical and biological journey into the controversies around posture.
Katy and Jeannette discuss whether posture is really a thing; is ‘good’ posture important or does your body work just fine regardless of how you hold it? Have we simply inherited postural ideals that are remnants of cultural, social and political baggage?
Katy and Jeannette tease this out by discussing definitions of posture, the history of postural ideals and the difficulty in relating pain to posture. They turn to extreme examples of posture and Katy’s work in alignment to offer a more nuanced perspective on posture and physical experience in terms of load to tissues over time.
Books & Articles Mentioned
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn
The Rise and Fall of American Posture by David Yosifon & Peter N. Stearns
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors
Movemate; dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflow; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep your kids engaged and active at home; Correct Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoes; Wildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materials; Venn Design: beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; and Peluva Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities.
Thoughts/questions email us at podcast@nutritiousmovement.com
Your Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram, discusses a recent study on sitting time, standing time and circulatory risk. They cut through the media hype and explain what the study shows and why any prolonged static position might have health consequences.
Katy and Jeannette contrast our cultural norm of being in the same position for many hours a day with the diverse resting positions of the Hadza, a hunter-gatherer group with low cardiovascular risk but also a large amount of rest time. Katy explains how repetitive positioning generates higher pressure in specific locations in our circulatory system setting us up for injury, whereas varied positioning and light movement keeps the cardiovascular system supple and the pressure distributed throughout our system.
Jeannette and Katy touch on other issues to do with repetitive positioning including mobility and discomfort and offer practical suggestions for supporting your mobility and cardiovascular health while stationary. Finally don’t miss Katy answering a listener's question on hyperkyphosis via bananas and semi-permanent hair dye!
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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On this episode Katy and Jeannette continue the Move Your DNA annual tradition of reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next. Through a series of questions Katy and Jeannette reflect on 2024, discuss movement goals for 2025, and invite you to play along. They explore moving through injury, menopause and how to keep progressing with age. They share their plans for 2025 and Katy provides novel strategies to help us all MOVE towards the goals we have for ourselves and our families.
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman talks to biologist Jeannette Loram about the importance of head and neck movement. This year, Katy’s annual exercise advent offers 24 moves for the head and neck and Katy explains her personal and professional reasons for choosing this theme.
Jeannette and Katy discuss the head and neck as a hub for our sensory, nervous, immune, digestive and vestibular systems, all of which require movement to support their functions. They discuss common issues of the head and neck region, as well as how repetitive head positioning and neck immobility can relate to broader experiences in the body, such as Katy’s discovery of a decrease in her height that she is working to reverse.
They discuss the basic movements of the head and neck and also cover the structures of the region including a neck anatomy lesson provided by their favourite 1970s musical ‘Grease’ and a third-grade attempt to mimic the album cover!
They share their own head and neck care practices and suggest strategies for listeners to add more daily movement for this part of the body; from changing their sleep set-up to pairing specific neck movements with a daily cue.
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman talks to biologist Jeannette Loram about dog movement. This discussion stemmed from witnessing a balance ball therapy session for dogs. Just like modern humans, modern dogs now require physical therapy. In this episode, Katy and Jeannette discuss how to use Katy’s ‘movement nutrition’ framework and apply it to your furry friends.
Katy and Jeannette discuss the evolution of dogs and the difference in movement experience between free-ranging ancestral dogs compared with today’s urban canines. They discuss how human-chosen pacing is not necessarily the most comfortable for dogs since their most efficient gait pattern is a trot, not a walk. They discuss the importance of meaningful movement for a dog, emphasizing the importance of smell and play as ‘command-free’ movement. They also talk about the importance of mentoring movement for dogs, especially safety skills such as swimming.
Finally, they talk about their own dogs and their favourite —and often quirky—activities from climbing trees to log dragging and how dogs and humans can enhance each other’s movement diets.
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman talks to biologist Jeannette Loram about a recent New York Times article “ Why Sitting All Day May Shorten Your Life”. Katy was a source for this article and she talks with Jeannette about the journalistic process, and why the short-form might be letting us down.
Katy and Jeannette talk about the benefits of sitting as well as the risks associated with uninterrupted hours in a chair. They discuss sitting as a two-part issue; first the inactivity and second the fixed body geometry. Katy and Jeannette discuss recent research showing that long hours of sitting are associated with a more rapid rate of cellular aging and how many experiences we put down to aging: muscle and bone loss, low energy levels and low back pain are really influenced by how much we sit.
Katy and Jeannette critique the recommendation to offset hours in a chair by increasing exercise time, noting that this is not really how biology works. Katy suggests that this approach is a bit like flossing your teeth diligently while not brushing them.
SPONSORS: THE DYNAMIC COLLECTIVE
This episode of The Move Your DNA podcast is brought to you by The Dynamic Collective, a group of six companies that create products and services helping you to move more. The Dynamic Collective is:
- Peluva: reimagining minimalist footwear
- Movemate: Dynamic active standing board
- Smart Playrooms: design and products for active living indoors
- Correct Toes: anatomic silicone toe spacers
- WIldling: minimal footwear made with natural and sustainable materials
- Venn Design: Functional furniture for a balanced life - sit still less and move more
For more information on online courses in March 2025:
Click here for "Is That Yoga Move Right For You?"
And here for "Diastasis Recti and Beyond"
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman talks to biologist Jeannette Loram about her recent multi-day hike across England. Katy, with her sister Mary, walked from east coast to west coast along the length of Hadrian’s Wall.
Katy and Jeannette talk about Katy’s physical preparation for the walk; the (four pairs!) of shoes Katy selected and when she used them; the changing terrain and gait patterns she adopted and how she felt over the course of the trip. Finally Katy shares her physical and philosophical insights after many days of walking.
