Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman

Biologist Jeannette Loram and Biomechanist Katy Bowman discuss movement “as nutrition”. Using familiar dietary terms, Katy and Jeannette unpack the concept of movement macronutrients, micronutrients and calories. They discuss how simply getting enough physical activity, or "movement calories", does not guarantee you are nourishing your whole body; we also need to consider the general shape you take when moving - the macronutrients- and which parts of you are moving - the micronutrients. They discuss the movement patterns of heart-healthy hunter-gatherer tribes and how Katy has used these to create a ‘movement pyramid’ that can be used, similarly to a food pyramid, to guide a more optimal movement diet.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Diana Hill joins biomechanist Katy Bowman for an enlightening episode about the delicate balance between setting high expectations and practicing self-compassion, particularly in the realms of movement and mindfulness. Discover how recognizing the constant movements in our lives can lead to intentional responses and holistic well-being. From debunking misconceptions to exploring practical exercises, Katy and Diana offer valuable insights into embracing self-compassion in movement and daily life.

Dr. Andrea Graves, an animal behavior expert, illuminates the profound significance of movement for animals and humans alike. Through personal anecdotes and scientific insights, Katy and Andrea delve into the essential role of providing enriching environments for animals to express their natural behaviors authentically. From discussing innovative approaches like creating "chicken jungle gyms" to exploring the ethical considerations surrounding AI integration in animal welfare, the conversation underscores the interconnectedness between movement, animal welfare, and environmental enrichment.

On this episode of the Move Your DNA podcast, Katy and her special guest Dani Alexander reflect on the past year, discuss movement goals for 2024, and emphasize the importance of choosing a guiding word. They also explore personal experiences with living in walkable communities, navigating perimenopause, and general aging. Looking ahead, they share specific goals and strategies for incorporating more movement into their life - plus they select their new movement theme words for the year.

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and her occasional co-host, Dani Alexander (an occupational therapist), explore the importance of grip strength for people of all ages. They discuss therapeutic interventions, such as weighted pencils and play-dough, to improve hand strength and sensory input. They also touch on the impact of weak grip strength on daily tasks and emphasize the need to incorporate grip-strengthening activities into everyday routines. Join Katy and Dani as they delve into the connection between grip strength, overall well-being, and maximizing our physical abilities.Episode Overview:0:00:01 Introduction and mention of previous New York Times features0:03:31 Recap of a previous podcast episode on grip strength0:06:18 Concerns about grip strength from a professional perspective0:08:26 Therapeutic Interventions for Children0:10:40 Play-Doh for Increasing Intrinsic Hand Strength0:13:20 Thera Putty as a Therapy Tool for Adults0:16:04 Importance of Hand Strength in Everyday Life0:24:05 Creating Playgrounds with Obstacle Courses for Kids0:27:04 Importance of diversity in hand use and overuse injuries.0:29:30 The technicality of different hand grips and their importance.0:30:39 Nourishing the Hands and Feet0:32:08 Wondering about the absence of someone in the bathroom0:34:30 Exploring the use of Therapuddy for hand strengthening0:36:54 Multiple approaches to hand training and arm strength development0:39:05 Assessing daily hand movements and seeking inspiration from others0:41:09 Grip Translates to All Finger and Hand Movement0:42:10 The Importance of Grip Strength in Daily Tasks0:44:16 Decline in Strength and Its Impact on Therapy Norms0:45:40 Lowering the Norms: A Frightening Shift in Fitness0:48:51 The Transcendence of Movement: Beyond Individual Body Parts0:49:41 A Salute to an Amazing Friendship

Biomechanist, Katy Bowman and her husband Michael discuss foot injuries as a natural part of life. Sharing their own experiences, they emphasize the need for adjustments in movement patterns and highlight the importance of staying active as we age. They also address the psychological aspects of injury and provide strategies for avoiding future injuries. Overall, the message is to embrace change, prioritize healing, and always listen to your body.Episode Overview:0:00:01 Welcome to the Move Your DNA podcast0:00:26 Introduction: Focus on Foot Injuries0:03:05 Injury as an Adjustment Period in Life Stages0:10:35 Injury during a sprinting race on the sand0:20:10 Aging and Decreased Cardiovascular Capability0:24:12 The Importance of Maintaining Joyful Movement Amidst Injury0:29:14 Embracing the Valleys: Optimizing for Surviving, Not Just Thriving0:32:19 Finding Alternatives: Adapting to Injury and Changing Gait0:37:43 Embracing Change and Moving Forward0:39:53 The Framework for Troubleshooting Injuries

In this episode, Katy is talking about technology. Specifically where technology meets your head. No, not how technology affects mental health or how you think, but how it could be affecting the actual structure of your skull. Katy and her guests get into headphone dents, tech neck, and bone horns. Episode Overview:0:00:01 Welcome to the Move Your DNA podcast!0:00:31 Tech and Mental Health: How It Affects Your Head0:07:58 Discussing Head Dents0:11:56 The Dent Mystery: Seeking the Truth0:21:12 Importance of varied positioning for babies' development0:31:52 Strengthening tissues to handle increased load and shape changes0:32:33 The Horns Phenomenon and Click-Bait Headlines0:43:01 Natural selection and the success of sickle-shaped cells0:53:15 Navigating the Challenges of Screens in Schools0:57:56 Skeletal Development and Surgical Solutions0:59:20 The Addictive Nature of Handheld Devices1:00:40 Introduction and Background of the Conversation1:03:36 The Nuance of Phone Use and Posture1:09:20 Introduction and Greetings from Lynn Dung, Melbourne, Australia

Katy Bowman talks with Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett about their paths to becoming leaders in physical health to share their ideas on how to make movement more joyful and relevant to you, the mover. Not just in the distant future but here and now.

Katy reveals another group of very important muscles that probably are not on your list of body parts which need movement - the muscles in your face. Just like any other parts of your body, when these muscles don’t get movement, it causes problems now and later in life. In this episode, Katy explains why this matters and gives you some fun exercises that you can do at home.

There is an old (and hopefully becoming obsolete) idea that getting your body “vacation ready” means you need to exercise ahead of time to get your body looking "fit" so you can enjoy your vacation. In this episode, Katy flips this idea on its head and invites you to take a different approach. An approach that involves getting your body “vacation ready” by making sure it is moving well enough to enjoy the things you want to do on your vacation.

It will surprise nobody that Katy spends a lot of time considering the mechanics of breathing movement—the way the levers and pulleys work throughout your breathing anatomy—to facilitate breath. But there are also other things to consider when it comes to breath and breathing. So, Katy invited her friend and author of the new book, Body by Breath, Jill Miller to talk about how the way we breathe can be showing up and affecting our bodies in ways we might not be aware of.

In this episode, Katy explores the way all the “move more” messages we hear and read are framed and how they could be a lot more helpful and effective. It turns out that simply telling people to “exercise now to not die later” isn't working the way we might want it to.

In this episode, Katy and Dr. Barbara L Reiss are talking about Myopia (the medical term for nearsightedness), which is being able to see up close but not far away. This is important because your muscles are not only for moving, but they are also creating physiological states in the body - which includes your eyesight.

At the very beginning of this year, Katy wrote an article: Focus Your Movement Resolution. She did that because she thinks a lot of people gravitate toward resolutions at the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. So, let Katy share with you how to make those resolutions more focused - and therefore more helpful and effective.

2022 is nearly over and we will soon be moving on to 2023! This means it is time for Katy to do her "annual" end-of-the-year health recap with special guest co-host Dani Hemmat. The two of them reflect together on what they did to MOVE toward a better version of themselves in 2022. And then, they look forward at their goals and plans for 2023. And don't be fooled, they go way deeper than which trail they want to hike.

For the next few months, many of us will be gathering with friends and family, sitting cozied up around a fireplace or a TV. And while there is nothing wrong with getting cozy, we already spend a whole lotta time sitting around pretty much the rest of the entire year. So, in this episode, Katy shares tips from an article she wrote all about the ways we can create dynamic celebrations. Put on your headphones and walk with Katy while she shares eleven ways you can layer movement back into your holidays.

In this episode, Katy is talking foot pain and minimal shoes with podiatrist Dr. Ray McClanahan. Dr. Ray attended Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine and completed a two-year podiatric, surgical residency training in Portland, Oregon, at Legacy Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente as a Podiatric Physician and Surgeon.We've got all these moving parts called feet--parts that need regular movement in order to keep being able to move--stacked beneath the weight of the entire body. That means we ask a lot of our feet because our feet bear the brunt of our body weight. And whether you’re new to movement, an athlete, a young adult or a goldener you must prioritize keeping your feet as strong as you can (perhaps through the use of minimal footwear). Why? Because a significant portion of your lived experience depends on them!

Kids are dynamic learning machines, but they have been placed in an ever-increasing sedentary educational environment. In this episode, Katy shares the small adjustments--to clothing, backpacks, and before and after school time---you can make that will help your kids get the movement they need.

If you have been listening to and following Katy's work for a while now and want to share what you have learned with the ones you love, this is the podcast episode for you. Big picture of movement in a world made for the sedentary can be tricky stuff to distill and explain to others. So this episode is for those folks who may be asking you why you’re wearing funny shoes, or how come you like to stand at meetings, or sit on the floor when hanging out.

Since that first walk in 2017, Ken continues to balance a daytime desk job with his on-foot passion: experiencing, illuminating, and preserving the numerous Black Heritage Trails in the USA so others do not forget the many steps that have been taken.Support Johnston’s current Walk to Freedom project: gofundme.com/f/walk-to-freedom-new-york-to-canadaLearn more about Ken Johnston and his walks at ourwalktofreedom.com

Katy and a special guest (her husband) outline some furniture-free lifestyle steps to transitioning your body to less supportive sleep surfaces and also how to get more sleeping movements without going mattress-free or pillow-free.

The definition of health is tricky but hopefully can agree on many elements of what it looks and feels like. On that note, in this episode, Katy and Pilar talk about why health is becoming more and more elusive and why our society is becoming synonymous with behaviors that lead to those deviations away from our physiological or biological needs that result in disease.

Diana Hill, Ph.D. is a modern psychologist, mother, and co-author of ACT Daily Journal: Get unstuck and live fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She is the host of the podcast show Your Life in Process, blogs for Psychology Today, is on the clinical advisory board of Lightfully Behavioral Health, and offers regular meditations on Insight Timer Meditation.

For some context, this was how Katy's talk was written up by the presenters at the library: Biomechanist, author, and movement expert, Katy Bowman, M.S., will provide an engaging and interactive presentation on how to age dynamically. Katy will cover the difference between movement and exercise, why both the whole body and each body part needs its own dose of movement, and how to fit more movement throughout each day. Katy’s books, including Dynamic Aging, can be found in print and eBook at the library.

Most of what we want to do in life uses our body as a tool, and many don’t realize how to maintain the tool of our physicality. But it’s possible, by investing a little time, to maintain your body better not only for longevity’s sake, but so the things you want to do stay available to you, or even develop into greater capability and experience. Yes, even physical challenges. And yes, even with advancing age.

In this episode, Katy shares an old blog post from her first long trail walk in minimalist shoes (back in 2008) as an example of how we need to pay attention to what we wear on our feet as well as what we are putting those feet on while we walk. Katy says that having a blog is sort of like having a diary. But, since she doesn’t have a journal or a diary, what she writes, you get to see, and in this case, revisit in podcast audio form. Enjoy!

Katy is sharing a portion of this live talk that she recorded on Orcas Island so more of you could benefit from straightforward and joyful tips to get kids on the move. Many of these tips were mentioned in her latest book Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family, Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More, but she has expanded on each tip or trick in the hopes that you can turn these tips into the movement you’ve been looking for.We hope you enjoy this live recording of this outdoor playground talk, where there are trucks driving by, birds chirping, and we think a toddler walking off with Katy's microphone at one point, because... these are the sounds of life.

Right now, “sedentary culture” is part of the broader and overarching culture. But subcultures—including our individual culture—can also be sedentary. These sedentary subcultures end up reinforcing the overarching culture, and around we go. So what can we do? Find out in this episode. Hint: this isn't all about running. Find the original post at: nutritiousmovement.com/changing-a-sedentary-cultureAnd the full post about pacing at: nutritiousmovement.com/the-best-walking-pace

Katy loves walking in groups. Both small and large groups, because she gets to know people. There are very few interruptions during a long walk and fewer transitions. You’re on a walk, all day, and there’s time for everyone to get their stories out and to share some of their personal point of view. In this episode, Katy is sharing a bit of what some of her walking partners had to say about the importance of walking or moving outside has for them, personally. So, join in, if you can, on the move in some way, as you have a listen to what some of Katy's friends had to say.Find previous descriptions about Katy birthday walks at NutritiousMovement.com

OVERVIEW00:03:10 - Grow Wild, Podcast guest staring 00:04:40 - Exercise Advent and more00:05:40 - Three Ways to Move Your DNA 00:10:50 - What’s Ahead on the Podcast front

There are activity trackers that measure your steps, mileage, or jolts of your entire body, but is this good enough?Biomechanist Katy Bowman weighs in on a new non-digital, non-analog activity tracker—a chart!—that helps you become better aware of how your activities are moving not only your whole body, but how they move each part of it.Download the tracker at nutritiousmovement.com.

In this show, biomechanist and author, Katy Bowman introduces her new book on kid and family movement, Grow Wild, with some publishing industry dialogue on what makes a coffee table book. Katy also answers an important gait question while on foot.Pre-order your copy of Grow Wild at www.growwildbook.com.As always, you can find the transcript and supporting links under PODCAST TRANSCRIPTS at NutritiousMovement.com.

We received so many questions during “Gait Week” on our social media channels, Katy decided to answer a bunch of them in one show.This program covers a lot—heel strike and hip strength, footwear to anatomy. A great listen for laypersons and professionals alike!Find episode transcript and links under PODCAST TRANSCRIPTS at NutritiousMovement.com.

We're used to thinking we need to exercise off our food, but what if we thought differently -- that food was where movement comes from? Did you know you can grow your own movement? Are COVID gardens a thing? Katy Bowman talks with Victory Garden historian Dr. Rose Hayden-Smith about the rising gardening movement and how these times compare and contrast with WW1 and 2-era gardening, as well as offers ways to cross-train in the garden! Find episode transcript and links under PODCAST TRANSCRIPTS at NutritiousMovement.com.

On today’s show, biomechanist and author, Katy Bowman talks about a movement on the minds of many folks, and that is breathing. If you haven’t listened to Episode 121: Move Your Breathing Parts Better, or if you haven’t read the article by the same name, you can start with that first. This episode teases out this main idea: Breathing is the most important movement, but the movement of your whole body is what sets the potential for your breathing movement.As always, you can find the transcript and supporting links under PODCAST TRANSCRIPTS at NutritiousMovement.com.

In this episode of Move Your DNA, biomechanist and author Katy Bowman starts off with a lesson on breathing mechanics. Then she walks you through some exercises that you can do as you listen.If you like what you hear and would like to see photos and videos of everything she describes, you can find them linked in the transcript for this podcast, and in the original post on the blog at NutritiousMovement.comTo help you keep moving, Nutritious Movement has dropped the price of their Virtual Studio Membership to just $9/month for three months. Find out more at https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/virtual-studio-membership/

In this episode of the Move Your DNA podcast, Katy Bowman reads through her recent blog post, How & Why I Walked 440 Miles for My 44th Birthday. She invites you to grab your walking shoes and follow along!

Get ready for a deep dive on scientific studies and how to read and understand them. This episode of Move Your DNA will accompany you through a five-mile walk at a 3mph pace, and along the way, you’ll hear biomechanist and author Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram offer their perspective on a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports and its coverage. You know the one—the Washington Post headlined its story: “Horns are growing on young people’s skulls. Phone use is to blame, research suggests.” They also delve into definitions of evolution and adaption--concepts anyone interested in movement, natural movement, and body shapes will find beneficial to understand.

In this special edition of the Move Your DNA podcast, Katy Bowman writes a Dear John letter to social media—and revisits her past social media breaks, with lots of advice for your own time-out, if you’re planning one.

In her annual end-of-year “how did we move” podcast Katy Bowman hosts myriad guests to share their stories as a way to celebrates more than three million downloads of Move Your DNA. We’re talking health goals at this party—what were they in 2018, how well did you meet your goals, what did you learn, and what do you want to take forward into 2019. Special guests at this party include some Move Your DNA listeners, along with Dani Hemmat and Stephanie Domet. Plus, Katy has a little more information for you on the next phase for the Move Your DNA podcast.

Katy Bowman answers every question she’s ever received on how to breathe. Plus, she issues an invitation to a PODCAST PARTY—one that’s focused on health and movement, and that celebrates THREE MILLION DOWNLOADS! Plus, Pack Matthews of Soul Seat drops by to talk about how he came to develop his transitional seating product, and what difference it’s making to kids in schools who are trying it out. And, an important update on how Move Your DNA will move into 2019 and beyond.Learn more about Soul Seat: https://mysoulseat.com

Katy and Arthur Haines talk about re-wilding, and ancestral actions that have largely fallen by the wayside in a sedentary culture, with tips you can use right now to revive some for your health and fitness. Plus, Katy answers a listener question on her cold plunge practice. And Eva Nemcik of Happy Feet blows Katy’s mind with an alternative use for her alignment socks.Katy’s Instagram for a rockin’ advent: https://www.instagram.com/nutritiousmovement/Find Arthur Haines: www.arthurhaines.comhttps://www.facebook.com/arthur.haines.5https://www.instagram.com/wilderwaterscommunity Find Happy Feet: https://www.my-happyfeet.com

Gardening is more than just a fun pastime. In this episode, Katy Bowman and Rose Hayden-Smith talk about historical victory gardens circa World War II and what they still have to teach us. Rose provides three tips to those who want to start gardening right now, and Katy supplements with three movement-based tips to help you on your way. Turns out the garden is the perfect place to put your movement rich lifestyle to the test. If you loved Movement Matters, you’ll love this episode—and if you love this episode and haven’t read Movement Matters yet, you’ll totally want to! Plus, Katy answers a question on how to carry a bag, and Terral Fox of Unshoes drops by to talk about how his minimal footwear company came to be, why growth too soon almost took it down, and how Unshoes emerged from that stronger than ever. #varyyourcarry https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/varyyourcarry/Carrying a bag on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BLeG86SBQnT/On bending well using your hips: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/forward-bend-modified/Rose Hayden-Smith: www.ucfoodobserver.comFacebook and Twitter @ucfoodobserverYou can find Rose’s book "Sowing the Seeds of Victory: American Gardening Programs During World War I" at your local library. If it's a keeper for you, buy a copy from McFarland (publisher) or on Amazon.Unshoes: http://www.unshoesusa.com

Lose Your Age on the Trail author Dami Roelse drops by to talk long distance walking and how to prepare for it. Katy reminds listeners that long distance is a relative term—three miles might be your version of long distance right now, and that’s okay. Walkers seasoned and brand new will find lots of tips for moving well. Plus, Katy answers a listener question on back bends, and whether they’re likely found in nature. Plus, Mike Dally from Earth Runners drops by to talk about how he started his minimal shoe company, and what drives him over the long haul.Dami Roelse’s website http://transformation-travel.comFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/walkingwomen50plus/Twitter: @dami97520EarthRunners.com IG: @earthrunnersKaty’s events: https://nutritiousmovement.pike13.com/categories/64332

Katy Bowman and Jill Miller (The Roll Model®, Yoga Tune Up®) talk about hips and how to keep them healthy. Katy and Jill share tons of tips and moves for those with hip pain, and for those who want to keep their hips—and all their joints—strong and mobile. Some advice for pre- and post-operative hip replacement patients as well. Plus, Katy talks with Tyler Benner at Venn Design about his company’s products and philosophy, and how changing his body led to changing his mind, as well.

It's not just adults who need to move their DNA, kids do too. Katy Bowman welcomes Timbernook's Angela Hanscom to the podcast to talk about what parents can do right now to help kids also have a movement-rich life—and why it matters to their development. Plus, Katy answers questions on massage and hair loss and growth, and Suzanne Solsona of MyMayu talks about why her company makes minimal boots for kids, why its expanding to making boots for adults, too—and what MyMayu means!

Sleep expert Shawn Stevenson helps kick off a new season of Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman, delivering three great tips you can use to improve your sleep life. Katy offers three tips of her own for better sleep. And Tricia Salcido of Dynamic Collective member Soft Star Shoes shares a little of the minimal shoe company’s history and current mission.

Words Matter: In which Katy Bowman reads three more of the essays that appear in Alignment Matters— Science of Wellness, Immunity Boost, and Correcting Anatomy Misconceptions. Through these three essays, Katy examines why definitions matter—and how tough it is to communicate ideas with language instead of math, equations, and physical relativity. You’ll hear lots of updates in these essays of Katy’s current thinking about these matters, and you’ll find out that you have TMJ and carpal tunnel… and, spoiler alert, that the Adams’s Apple is… not an apple.

Katy Bowman reads three more essays from her book Alignment Matters: Your Position in Life, Varus and Valgus, and Hidden Doubts, and riffs on the connections among them. Essentially, change your mind, and your body will follow. Plus, get a free audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial with Audible—and find out what’s next for the Move Your DNA podcast.

With three essays from her book Alignment Matters, Katy Bowman delivers some movement motivation that’s as close as the floor, as thrilling to reach for as a mountain top, and as incrementally awesome as a walk with a bunch of kids. Plus! Katy’s kids deliver a little motivation of their own, with some hiking tips for kids their age.