Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Greg Nuckols to discuss whether stretching can make you strong. Greg has an M.A. in exercise and sports science and is the co-founder of Stronger by Science and MacroFactor (the best nutrition app on the market). He’s held three all-time world records in powerlifting, is an international speaker, and is the author of multiple books. He’s also the co-host of the Stronger by Science podcast.Points of discussion include:8:50 What is strength?12:25 When muscles grow in size, is it because individual muscle fibers grow larger (hypertrophy), or is it because we gain more muscle fibers (hyperplasia)?19:08 What does evidence from animal research suggest about whether stretching can lead to muscle growth?36:20 What is the current scientific perspective on the mechanism(s) of hypertrophy / muscle growth?39:22 What is blood flow restriction training?44:37 Is muscle damage a driver of muscle growth?50:10 What role does tension play in causing muscle growth?50:30 The anatomical continuity between muscle, intramuscular connective tissue, tendon, and bone55:36 The tendency to take a “tension reductionist” point of view on muscle growth / hypertrophy58:15 What’s the difference between active tension and passive tension in a muscle?1:05:03 What is the length-tension relationship?1:12:26 Why does strength training at longer muscle lengths produces greater muscle growth / hypertrophy?1:20:26 Does research suggest that stretching can lead to muscle growth in the human body?1:37:28 Do we know what the mechanism is for *why* long duration, intense stretching can cause muscle growth?1:48:23 Do we have a natural propensity to seek explanations for phenomena even when no science-based explanation exists yet?…And much more!Resources mentioned in this episode:Stronger by Science website (free articles by Greg Nuckols)Stronger by Science Facebook group (ask Greg Nuckols questions here)Stronger by Science podcast (free audio learning with Greg Nuckols)MacroFactor nutrition app (the best nutrition app on the market)Follow Stronger by Science / Greg Nuckols on InstagramJenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisArticle: Influence of Long-Lasting Static Stretching on Maximal Strength, Muscle Thickness and FlexibilityArticle: Stretch training induces unequal adaptation in muscle fascicles and thickness in Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the anatomy, biomechanics, and cueing of hip rotation.Points of discussion include:A brief intro to hip joint anatomyOpen vs. closed chain hip rotationWhat is the average ROM of hip external & internal rotation?What are hip anteversion and retroversion?What does research suggest about the connection between lack of hip rotation and hip pain?The difference between alignment/position and muscular action in a yoga pose or movementWhat’s the hip rotation alignment in warrior 1?What’s the hip rotation alignment in warrior 2?What’s the hip rotation alignment in gomukhasana?What’s the hip rotation alignment in the 90/90 position?What’s the hip rotation alignment in half moon?How could you work on hip internal rotation in yoga?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Resources mentioned in this episode:Jenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterPodcast episode: “Posture is Overrated” w/ Todd Hargrove (Yoga Meets Movement Science episode 25)Blog Post: End-Range Training: Does Closing the Gap Between Active and Passive ROM Prevent Injuries?Research study: Is lower hip range of motion a risk factor for groin pain in athletes? A systematic review with clinical applicationsYouTube video: Warrior 1 vs. High Lunge: What’s the Difference?YouTube video: Hip Anatomy Lesson in Warrior 2Podcast episode: “Pigeon Pose: Friend or Foe?” (Yoga Meets Movement Science episode 18)Instagram post on the 90/90 positionPodcast episode: “Yoga Alignment Rules That Don’t Make Sense” (Yoga Meets Movement Science episode 33)To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss what research suggests about whether we should truly “always listen to our body”.Points of discussion include:A review of interoceptionDo yoga & mindfulness practices actually improve interoception?What’s the connection between interoception and anxiety?Does what we feel in our body necessarily reflect what is actually taking place in our body?Do feelings of back stiffness correlate to actual biomechanical back stiffness?The conundrum of treating pain in a rehab context when pain does not necessarily correlate with tissue damageShould rehab exercises be painful or not painful?Is the sensation we feel at the end of a stretch an accurate reflection of the mechanical end range of our tissue’s length?What role does interoception play in athletic performance?Do elite runners have better interoception than non-runners?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Resources mentioned in this episode:Jenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisResearch study: Feeling stiffness in the back: a protective perceptual inference in chronic back painResearch study: Interoceptive differences in elite sprint and long-distance runners: A multidimensional investigationOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterTo find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the phenomenon of “magic muscles”: the tendency in the yoga, fitness, and rehab worlds to treat some muscles as more important or more special than other muscles.Points of discussion include:What is a magic muscle?Muscle-based approaches in strength training & bodybuildingTeaching yoga with a  “teach movement, not muscles” approachWhat research suggests about these specific magic muscles:Quadratus Lumborum (QL)Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO)Transverse Abdominis (TvA)PsoasGlutesPiriformisWhat do all magic muscles have in common?Is the practice of labelling certain muscles as “stabilizers” and others as “movers” somewhat outdated?The trend in evidence-based rehab to use non-specific vs. specific diagnoses for persistent pain conditionsWhat are “corrective exercises”, and are they evidence-based?How well does yoga, specifically, help with low back pain?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast! Starting at $3/month.Resources mentioned in this episode:Jenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisTake Jenni’s course: “When to Be Anatomically Specific in Yoga” for free!Podcast episodes referenced in this episode (in order of appearance on the show):Ep 35: Nasal vs. Mouth Breathing: Does it Matter:Ep 6: Is Ashtanga Yoga a Cult? And the Value of StrengthEp 4: The Truth About Core TrainingEp 9: Do We Store Emotions in Our Hips?Ep 13: The Glutes: Peachy Keen or Not All They Seem?Ep 18: Pigeon Pose: Friend or Foe?Online yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterTo find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Special guest Joe Miller, a yoga teacher and exercise science professor, joins hosts Jenni Rawlings and Travis Pollen to discuss the physiology of breathing in a yoga context. They explore topics such as the integration of science into yoga, the importance of understanding the body in yoga practice, the role of breathing in exercise, and debunk common myths about deep breathing in yoga. The discussion also touches on breath-holding, factors influencing breathing, and increasing movement options through conscious connection.

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss what scientific research suggests about nasal vs. mouth breathing.In addition to nasal vs. mouth breathing as a general topic, Jenni and Travis also take a closer look at the Buteyko Breathing Method, as well as and 2 popular books on breathing: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor (2020) and The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown (2015).This episode features a special guest interview at the end specifically about the book Breath by James Nestor. Jenni and Travis are joined by the amazing science communicator Dr. Rachel David to discuss this book. Rachel has a PhD in immunology and a master’s degree in science communication, and she’s also a yoga teacher.Points of discussion include:What claims are commonly made about nasal vs. mouth breathing?Outlining the difference between *breathing practices* (acute) vs. day-to-day breathing (chronic)What type of research would need to be done in order to investigate a possible causal link between mouth breathing and negative health effects?What does research suggest about the health effects of nasal breathing techniques or practices (i.e. pranayama)?Day-to-day breathing is autonomic (unconscious)What percentage of people breathe 100% nasally?What are the benefits of nasal breathing?When our mouth is open, do we still breathe through our nose?Does an open mouth indicate that someone is a “mouth breather”?What does the research on the effects of mouth breathing suggest?A closer look at the Buteyko Breathing Method and 2 books: The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown (2015) and Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor (2020)How popular is the book Breath by James Nestor in the yoga world?Did any scientific organizations endorse the book Breath?Is the basic premise of the book Breath scientifically-based?…And much more!Resources mentioned in this episode:Dr. Rachel David’s website: https://geeky.yoga (**sign up for her email list in the footer of her website!)Dr. Rachel David’s article about the book Breath by James NestorJenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterTo find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the knowledgeable science educator Jonathan Jarry, MS to discuss complementary and alternative medicine.Jonathan Jarry is a science communicator for McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He has a master’s degree in molecular biology, and he brings his experience in cancer research, human genetics, rehabilitation research, and forensic biology to the work he does for the public. Jonathan also co-hosts the award-winning medical podcast The Body of Evidence, and he is frequently quoted in local, national and international media on issues of science and pseudoscience.Points of discussion include:What is evidence-based medicine? What is science-based medicine?What is a randomized clinical trial?What is complementary & alternative medicine (CAM)?What is the wellness industry?What are some qualities that all complementary & alternative medicine modalities have in common?Specific alternative medicine modalities discussed include:ChiropracticNaturopathyHomeopathyAcupunctureWhat is the placebo effect?What is regression to the mean?What’s the difference between correlation and causation?Is using yoga as “medicine” or “therapy” evidence-based?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Resources mentioned in this episode:Find Jonathan Jarry’s work at the Office for Science and Society at McGill UniversityFollow Jonathan Jarry on TwitterListen to Jonathan’s award-winning podcast The Body of EvidenceBook recommendation by Jonathan: Trick or TreatmentJonathan Jarry on the Adaptabilia podcastJenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterTo find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss a selection of yoga alignment cues that don't make sense! These cues all have one thing in common: they are each used inconsistently across similar (or the same) positions. By examining these carefully-chosen examples, we gain insight into whether or not these cues are actually important. And we improve our ability to think critically about the information we’re taught!Yoga alignment rules covered in this episode include:Stack the shoulder over the wrist in plank poseStack the shoulder over the wrist in side plank poseDon’t let the feet turn out in wheel poseDon’t jump back to straight-arm plank pose; instead, jump into bent-elbow chaturangaDon’t transition from closed-to-open hip poses or vice versaDon’t place your foot on your inner knee in tree poseGround your inner hands down in down dogInternally rotate your hips in forward foldsCatch the outer ankle in bow poseEnjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Resources mentioned in this episode:Jenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterSara Paige, who inspired the idea for this episode! website / InstagramYouTube video: Should We Shift Forward Onto Our Toes in Chaturanga?YouTube video: Is Turning Your Feet Out in Wheel Bad?YouTube video: Is Jumping Back to Plank Bad for Our Shoulders?Blog post: No Foot on the Knee in Tree Pose? Questioning the CueYouTube video: Should We Avoid Closed to Open Hip Transitions in Yoga?YouTube video: Should We Ground Our Inner Hands in Down Dog?To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the knowledgeable and inspiring Claire Zai, a strength coach with Barbell Medicine and a competitive powerlifter with her bachelor’s degree in physiology & neuroscience and her master’s degree in physiology with a focus on biomechanics.They discuss myths and evidence-based information about women & strength training, including these topics:How societal gender stereotypes influence how we view women’s and men’s bodiesStrength training around the menstrual cycle – is this something women should think about?What role do hormones like estrogen and progesterone play in our ability to generate force and strength train?Strength training and menopauseDoes our metabolic rate (i.e. our metabolism) decrease when we reach menopause?Strength training and osteoporosisAre claims that yoga can improve bone density evidence-based?Strength training and pregnancyDoes strength training make women “bulky”?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Resources mentioned in this episode:Follow and learn from Claire Zai, MS: Instagram / website / emailJenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterResearch article: The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Exercise Performance in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisResearch article: Variations in Strength-Related Measures During the Menstrual Cycle in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisResearch article: The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Athletes’ Performance: A Narrative ReviewResearch article: The effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on acute responses and chronic adaptations to resistance training: a systematic review of the literatureTo find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the anatomy, biomechanics, and cueing of the yoga asana downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana).Points of discussion include:The anatomy and joint positions of down dogThe biomechanical effects that down dog has on the bodyShould we externally rotate our shoulders in down dog?What is “shoulder impingement”, and why is this an outdated model for shoulder pain?Should we ground our inner hands down in down dog?What’s the right hand-to-feet length in down dog?Should our heels be on the ground in down dog?Should our knees be straight in down dog?Is down dog a resting pose?How can we regress and progress down dog?What are strategies for working around pain in down dog?Is down dog OK to practice during pregnancy?Do we need to anteriorly tilt our pelvis in down dog in order to stretch our hamstrings?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!Resources mentioned in this episode:YouTube video: Should We Ground Our Inner Hands in Down Dog?YouTube video: 3 Tips for Shoulder Pain in Down DogYouTube video: What’s the Right Length for Downward Dog?Blog post: Top 4 Myths About Yoga During Pregnancy by Lauren AndersonResearch article: Surgery for shoulder impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trialsJenni’s email newsletterStrength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & TravisOnline yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with JenniStrength for Yoga email newsletterTo find out more about Travis Pollen: website / InstagramMusic used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.Fit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!