Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman

Japanese walking alternates comfortable and challenging three-minute intervals to add intensity without extending your walk. Katy Bowman and Dr. Jeannette Loram explore the research behind its fitness benefits, how music and hills can make it more enjoyable, and ways to adapt the pace to any ability. They also discuss walking form, warm-ups, power, and why relaxed rambles still matter.

Jim Leuty, a foot-care advocate with My Happy Feet, joins a deep dive into plantar fasciitis. Explore how underuse may overload the plantar fascia, the roles of calves and the Achilles tendon, and why painful feet can affect the whole body. Jim discusses toe-spacing socks and everyday foot care, followed by practical exercises for stronger, more mobile feet.

Frozen shoulder (also known as adhesive capsulitis) can cause pain, stiffness and a significant loss of shoulder range of motion. In this episode, biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Dr Jeannette Loram explain what’s actually happening inside the shoulder capsule during frozen shoulder. They discuss the different stages of the condition — including the freezing, frozen and thawing phases — as well as its connections with inflammation, menopause and diabetes.They also explore why movement matters for shoulder health, and during recovery from frozen shoulder. To understand how movement can affect the shoulder capsule, it’s important to distinguish between movement in the shoulder and movement of the shoulder. Katy and Jeannette also look at everyday habits that may limit capsule movement and share some practical daily movements for maintaining shoulder mobility. Plus, they answer a listener's question about using hand paddles when swimming.Enhanced Show Notes and Full Transcript00:00 Why we're talking about frozen shoulder02:45 Dynamic Collective sponsors05:05 What is frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)?14:28 Frozen shoulder, inflammation, menopause & other risk factors24:37 The freezing, frozen & thawing stages — and treatment29:16 Movement as prevention: moving in the shoulder vs movement of the shoulder33:00 Daily prehab & rehab movements37:22 Why, in this case, pain might be the way through40:58 Everyday shoulder habits: bags, carrying & asymmetry43:13 Should you swim with hand paddles? — listener question sponsored by ScreenFit™51:00 Your shoulder movement diet: climbing & clambering, hanging & “paint the globe”Research Mentioned Millar, N. L. et al. (2022). Frozen shoulder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 8, 59. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00386-2Navarro-Ledesma, S. (2025). Frozen Shoulder as a Systemic Immunometabolic Disorder: The Roles of Estrogen, Thyroid Dysfunction, Endothelial Health, Lifestyle, and Clinical Implications. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(20), 7315. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207315Salamh, P. et al. (2025). An International Consensus on the Etiology, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Management for Individuals with Frozen Shoulder: a Delphi study. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 33(4), 309–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2025.2470461Podcasts mentioned Ep 187: Diabetes and Exercise: How Exactly Muscle Movement Manages Blood SugarEp 208: Too Much Sitting, Spiky Cholesterol and Heart DiseaseConnect, Move & Learn with Katy Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesFollow Katy on SubstackFind a shoulder class in Katy's Virtual Studio: Try it  free for 7 days! Made Possible By Our Wonderful Sponsors:Venn Design: Beautifully upholstered ball-shaped Air Chairs and floor cushions that encourage dynamic sittingFreet Barefoot: creators of comfortable barefoot shoes built for natural movement, flexibility, and durability— use code DNA10 for 10% off.ScreenFit™: a complete online vision training program —take $200 off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTIkaria Design: The Soul Seat® offers height-adjustable, multi-position sitting—get 10% off new chairs and desks with code DNA10Movemate: Active standing boards with smoothly articulating wooden slats. Designed to keep you moving without interrupting your focus.My Happy Feet: Toe-spacing socks that gently realign toes for comfortable shoe recovery—take 20% off with code MYDNAEarth Runners:  makers of minimalist earthing sandals designed for natural foot movement and connection to the ground— use code DNA10 for 10% off.

You hear the Move Your DNA message: you need more movement spread throughout your day, not just more exercise. But how is that possible if you work a conventional 9–5 office job?Join biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Dr. Jeannette Loram as they walk through a typical day for an office worker, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., looking at ways to find more movement both during and beyond the workday. They share practical ideas for building movement into how you get dressed, shower, eat, commute, work, do chores, relax and spend time with family and friends — without needing to carve out more hours for exercise.At 9 a.m., Katy is joined by Sohail Shariff, co-founder of Movemate, to explore how to bring more movement into your workstation while staying productive. They discuss why simply switching from sitting to standing isn't necessarily the answer, and how varying your position is both “cyclical movement” and “cyclical rest,” allowing different parts of the body to take turns being moved and loaded. Your low back will thank you!Katy and Jeannette also discuss getting away from your workstation to move and tackle a common concern: won't taking movement breaks make me less productive? Katy suggests that stepping away can actually support productivity and shares some of her own “tells” that she's no longer doing focused work — like jumping between tasks — explaining how recognising these moments can become a cue to move and then return to the task refreshed.Whether you're tied to a desk for 8 hours or simply spend too much of your day sitting, this episode offers practical ways to find more movement throughout the whole day.Enhanced Show Notes and Full Transcript00:00:00 – Getting more movement when you have an office job00:03:43 – Dynamic Collective sponsors00:06:15 – Start with the most flexible hours of your day: moving more outside work hours00:06:58 – 6am to 9am: opportunities for movement in how you shower, eat breakfast and commute00:15:50 – 9am: dynamic workstation with Sohail Shariff of Movemate00:35:34 – 10am to 5pm: upper-body office moves, eye exercises, roaming meetings and active lunch breaks00:49:36 – 5pm to 10pm: everyday movement around food, family time and sleep01:03:17 – Listener question: how do I move more and still be productiveConnect with Movemate™Find out more about the board · Movemate on InstagramBooks mentioned I Know I Should Exercise But… by Diana Hill and Katy BowmanMy Perfect Movement Plan by Katy BowmanDiastasis Recti by Katy BowmanHow to Get More Movement in a 9–5 by Katy BowmanSlow Productivity by Cal NewportDeep Work by Cal NewportWalk When the Moon Is Full by Frances HamerstromPodcasts mentioned Ep 184: Dynamic Wardrobes: How Clothes Can Restrict, Encourage or Stabilize MovementEp 212: Use Your Eyes and Ears to Improve the Way You MoveConnect, Move & Learn with KatyJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesFollow Katy on SubstackTry Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 days!Made Possible By Our Wonderful Sponsors:Ikaria Design: The Soul Seat® offers height-adjustable, multi-position sitting—get 10% off new chairs and desks with code DNA10My Happy Feet: Toe-spacing socks that gently realign toes for comfortable shoe recovery—take 20% off with code MYDNAEarth Runners:  makers of minimalist earthing sandals designed for natural foot movement and connection to the ground— use code DNA10 for 10% off.ScreenFit™: a complete online vision training program —take $200 off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTFreet Barefoot: creators of comfortable barefoot shoes built for natural movement, flexibility, and durability— use code DNA10 for 10% off.Movemate: Active standing boards with smoothly articulating wooden slats. Designed to keep you moving without interrupting your focus.Venn Design: Beautifully upholstered ball-shaped Air Chairs and floor cushions that encourage dynamic sitting

Bryce Appelbaum, a neuro-optometrist and founder of My Vision First, explores how vision shapes balance, posture, spatial awareness, and confident movement. The conversation covers screen-driven tunnel vision, peripheral awareness, menopause-related sensory overload, and exercises for training the eye-brain connection. Sound also becomes a movement tool, revealing gait, swimming form, rowing rhythm, and athletic reactions.

Katy talks to kids raised in a dynamic, "low-furniture" home that swapped conventional couches for indoor monkey bars and balance toys. How did it go?Katy and Jeannette also talk about raising dynamic kids as they grow up, including family movement, getting teenagers to participate, and navigating phones and screen time. Then Katy talks to Pack Matthews, creator of the Soul Seat, about his new Fidget Seat designed for children, and how flexible seating can give kids more opportunities to move while they learn and can also help with focus and attention.Enhanced Show Notes and Full Transcript0:00 — Katy’s dynamic home2:50 — The Dynamic Collective5:00 — Katy talks to kids raised in a “low-furniture” home28:19 — Listener question: Family movement and screen time, sponsored by Earth Runners44:00 — The Fidget Seat: Helping kids not sit stillBooks, Links and Resources:Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More by Katy BowmanGrow WildA Video Tour of Katy’s Movement-Rich HomeA Home With No Furniture: Interview with Katy BowmanThe Fidget SeatThe Fidget Seat — a movement-first chair for kids designed to let them keep moving while they learnUse code DNA10 for 10% discount on the Fidget Seat Connect, Move & Learn:Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesFollow Katy on SubstackTry Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 days!Made Possible By Our Wonderful Sponsors:My Happy Feet: Toe-spacing socks that gently realign toes for comfortable shoe recovery—take 20% off with code MYDNAMovemate: Active standing boards with smoothly articulating wooden slats. Designed to keep you moving without interrupting your focus.Freet Barefoot: creators of comfortable barefoot shoes built for natural movement, flexibility, and durability— use code DNA10 for 10% off.ScreenFit™: a complete online vision training program —take $200 off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTVenn Design: Beautifully upholstered ball-shaped Air Chairs and floor cushions that encourage dynamic sittingEarth Runners:  makers of minimalist earthing sandals designed for natural foot movement and connection to the ground— use code DNA10 for 10% off.Ikaria Design: The Soul Seat® offers height-adjustable, multi-position sitting—get 10% off new chairs and desks with code DNA10

Tyler Benner, founder of Strong Feet Athletics and creator of the Leviathan foot-shaped cycling shoe, pioneers minimalist cycling footwear to preserve foot function. He discusses how shoes and pedal contact shape toe splay, balance, and numbness. The conversation covers designing a foot-shaped cycling shoe, customer reports of reduced pain, and practical foot care tips for riders.

Freet Barefoot Representatives, makers of minimalist UK walking and hiking shoes, join to talk product design and walking culture. They discuss barefoot-style choices for multi-day hikes, transitioning to minimal footwear, waterproofing, and how terrain and routes shape shoes. Short takes on balancing protection, toe room, and durability for long-distance walking.

A lively unpacking of inflammation’s central role in heart disease and how cholesterol can form sharp, crystalline plaque. They explore why plaque shows up at artery bends and how blood flow and vessel geometry matter. The conversation highlights how too much sitting and static positions can harm arteries and why varied movement and prevention matter for vascular health.

A deep dive into health issues more common in male bodies, from abdominal aortic aneurysms to gout. They link prolonged sitting, pelvic posture, and torso stiffness to vascular and pelvic problems. Conversation covers male risk factors for type 2 diabetes and how muscle loss matters. Practical movement and chair alternatives are explored alongside why men often differ in flexibility.