Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman

Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025This Episode's Show NotesJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesIn this episode, Katy Bowman and Jeannette Loram dive into the fascinating relationship between blood sugar, diet, and movement. They unpack how the body regulates blood sugar, what happens when this process breaks down in Type I and Type II diabetes, and why different kinds of activity play such a big role in prevention and management.Katy and Jeannette explain how contracting muscles can pull glucose directly into working cells during exercise—a powerful but site-specific effect—and how long-term training reshapes muscle to take up glucose more efficiently.They also compare the blood sugar benefits of endurance exercise, resistance training, HIIT, stretching, and even light daily movement. Along the way, they highlight two key scenarios: insulin resistance linked to excess weight and inflammation, versus insulin resistance driven by low muscle mass in people with normal weight. For the latter, they stress why resistance training—or “big body work”—is especially essential.CHAPTERS 0:06:00 - Definitions 0:16:00 - The Dynamic Collective 0:17:00 - You Can’t Exercise Off Diabetes 0:20:00 - Muscle is the Key Tissue (and the Liver)0:36:30 - Stretching & Light Activity 0:47:00 - Exercise Modality for Blood Sugar Regulation0:54:25 - Listener Question on Lupus brought to you by Peluva 1:09:09 - Blood Sugar Spikes During Exercise BOOKS & RESEARCH PAPERS My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy BowmanI know I should Exercise, But... by Diana Hill & Katy BowmanExercise and GLUT4 by Flores-Opazo et al (2020) Mechanisms of endurance and resistance exercise in type 2 diabetes by Zhao et al (2025)  Sedentary behaviour as a mediator of type 2 diabetes by Hamilton et al (2015) Impact of reduced sitting time or increasing sit-to-stand transitions on blood pressure and glucose regulation in Postmenopausal women by Hartman et al (2025) The impact of standing desks on cardiometabolic and vascular health by Bodker et al (2021) 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 Movement20Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities. Take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTIkaria 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 DNA10Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the officeEarth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10Smart 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 2025This Episode's Show NotesJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesIn 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/moveyourdnaSFCHAPTERS00:03:10 - 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 MENTIONEDMy Perfect Movement Plan by Katy BowmanMADE POSSIBLE BY OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS:Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 20% off with code Movement20Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities. Take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTIkaria 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 DNA10Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the officeSmart 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

Explore the fascinating evolution of rucking and the cultural significance of carrying heavy loads. Discover how body adjustments can prevent discomfort while managing the challenges of rucking. Insights on integrating weights into yoga for fitness enhancement are also discussed. Plus, learn about the impact of medical hardware on bone health and the significance of mindful movement practices. This engaging conversation encourages a more thoughtful approach to fitness and personal health.

Mira Fannin, founder of Sweet Skins and expert in movement-friendly fashion, joins the conversation about the intersection of clothing and movement. They dive into how various fabrics, from compressive to loose fits, can influence physical activity. Mira shares the philosophy behind her hemp-cotton designs, promoting comfort and style for busy women. They also explore the famous Bike Time pants and how to dress for both planned and spontaneous activities, emphasizing that thoughtful clothing choices can enhance mobility and comfort in everyday life.

Pack Matthews, founder of Ikaria Design and creator of the innovative Soul Seat, joins to discuss eccentric exercise, a method that enables you to gain strength efficiently. He and Katy explore how focusing on just the lowering phase of an exercise can lead to significant strength gains without the energy drain of full movements. They also dive into the design evolution of the Soul Seat, highlighting its role in promoting movement in daily life. This conversation blends biomechanics with practical advice, making strength training accessible for everyone.

Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025This Episode's Show NotesJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesBiomechanist 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.CHAPTERS02:50 - 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 MENTIONEDNew 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 GuidelinesEvidence 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 NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTSmart 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 DNA10Venn 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 DNA10Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10

Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025This Episode's Show NotesJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesBiomechanist 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 BowmanMove Your DNA by Katy BowmanMy Perfect Movement Plan by Katy BowmanResearch 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.

Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025This Episode's Show NotesJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesKaty’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 BowmanOrbital by Samantha Harvey Rethink Your Position by Katy Bowman Research Mentioned: Neolithic Women, Manual Labour and Bone  Cycling and Bone HealthMultidirectional 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.comYour Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits 

Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025This Episode's Show NotesJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesKaty’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 BowmanI 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 LambMade 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.comYour Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits 

Mark Sisson, author and founder of Primal Kitchen, dives into human evolutionary history and the importance of walking in this engaging conversation. He argues that walking should be prioritized over running for health benefits, promoting a balanced 'movement diet.' The discussion highlights the joy and cultural significance of walking, along with insights from Sisson's book, Born to Walk. Katy Bowman also chats with Karri Bowen-Poole about designing inspiring play and movement spaces at home, ensuring children thrive through creativity and active lifestyles.