Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman

How you get dressed might be impacting the way that you move or the movement choices you are able to make.  Katy Bowman and Jeannette Loram 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 fo...

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...

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 st...

In this episode, we break down the best approach to taking care of your bones using a government framework: Strong, Steady and Straight . We 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 Bowman talks to Mike D...

This is the first of two episodes on bone. 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...

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...

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...

We discuss movement for the bendy body with 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...

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 mu...

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 ou...

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 contrac...

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...

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 position...

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 pro...

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 w...

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...

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...

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 an...

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk about coughing.  Katy and Jeannette discuss coughing as a life-saving movement; both in the immediate, to prevent choking, and also in the longer term for adequate clearance of the lungs and the health of our airways. They discuss the anatomy and mechanics of a cough, explaining how the mobility, strength and coordination of our core musc...

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram discuss gait and question whether there is a ‘right’ way to walk.  They explain the mechanics of walking gait, outlining the phases and shapes that each leg and foot should move through during the gait cycle. They propose that an ‘abnormal’ gait would be one that is missing one of these phases or shapes. They also suggest a framework for asses...

In this episode, biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk about menopause and movement. They discuss menopause as a natural developmental phase that humans share with only a few other highly social marine mammals. They explain the evolution of menopause in relation to the role of grandmothers within human—and whale—societies and also explore the movement diet of postmenopausal w...

Biomechanist Katy Bowman talks with biologist Jeannette Loram about lung movement. Katy and Jeannette debate whether the lung surfaces are actually outside the body, similar to the tubes of the gut, and discuss how lung movement is not only important for breathing but also for immunity. They discuss the anatomy of our lungs and the mechanics of lung movement and explain how our lungs, just like ou...

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk all about swimming. They discuss the history of human swimming; whether humans are natural-born swimmers, evidence for swimming in the past and physiological adaptations found in swimming and diving cultures. They discuss the four classic swimming strokes as well as other ways to move in the water and explore the movement macro-and micro-...

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk with English professor Vybarr Cregan-Reid about books and the body. Katy, Jeannette and Vybarr discuss being ‘rescued’ by books, the value of fiction in developing empathy, reading as a workout for the brain, how literacy may have changed our brain and the current denigration of fiction within education. They debate ideas about the evolut...

Following on from our Hiking Poles episode, biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram answer all your other questions about hiking. Katy and Jeannette discuss how to prepare for hiking, walking with a backpack, hiking gear and clothing and how to manage fatigue or pain. They flesh out the functional movements involved in hiking, why downhill can be so hard on the knees and calves and...