Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman

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 KatyFree Shoulder Class With Katy: How to Move In the Shoulder Joint Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesFollow Katy on SubstackTry Katy's Virtual Studio 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. October Retreats 2026 

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 October Retreats 2026 

Movement isn't just about muscles and joints. It's also about how our bodies are taking in, interpreting and responding to the world around us.Katy Bowman and Dr. Jeannette Loram discuss how listening can provide valuable information about how we're moving: listening to the sound of your feet landing as you walk, the rhythm and mechanics of rowing, the sound of your stroke as you swim, and even the timing and quality of the breath during exercise can attune you to the form and efficiency of your movement.The conversation turns to vision with neuro-optometrist Dr. Bryce Appelbaum. Katy and Dr Appelbaum explore the relationship between vision and movement, including how visual information can influence balance, spatial orientation and confidence when navigating complex environments. They discuss how our ability to perceive the physical world can be diminished by prolonged, narrow focus on our screens, and how menopause can make visually demanding tasks even more overwhelming. Dr. Appelbaum shares some eye exercises to help us take in more of the world around us—improving our visual system and physical competence at the same time.Finally, Katy and Jeannette answer a listener question about movement programmes for blind people.Enhanced Show Notes and Full Transcript00:00:00 – Listening to gait 00:04:36 – Dynamic Collective sponsors  00:06:53 – Putting our senses to work: walking, rowing, swimming and soccer 00:25:29 – Vision is more than eyesight: how vision guides movement00:30:11 – Screens, peripheral vision & taking in the world00:48:42 – Vision and menopause: brain fog and overwhelm00:56:32 – Listener question on movement classes for blind people sponsored by Movemate Books, Podcasts & Other ResourcesPodcast: Can Exercise Fix Aging Eyes? Ep 186 — Move Your DNA PodcastPodcast: What’s It Like to Slowly Go Blind? — Search Engine PodcastBook: An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong Book: The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Book: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Connect with Dr. Bryce AppelbaumMy Vision First — Dr. Bryce Appelbaum’s Vision Therapy ClinicDr. Bryce Appelbaum on InstagramScreenFit™ by Dr. Bryce Appelbaum — take $200 off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENTConnect, 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:Earth Runners:  makers of minimalist earthing sandals designed for natural foot movement and connection to the ground— 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 sittingMy Happy Feet: Toe-spacing socks that gently realign toes for comfortable shoe recovery—take 20% off with code MYDNAFreet Barefoot: creators of comfortable barefoot shoes built for natural movement, flexibility, and durability— 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 DNA10ScreenFit™: a complete online vision training program —take $200 off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT October Retreats 2026 

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 October Retreats 2026 

Cycling is fantastic for cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and getting around—but what happens when it becomes your main form of movement? In this episode, Katy Bowman and Dr. Jeannette Loram explore how cycling shapes the body, from bone health and posture to hip mobility, spinal curves, and pelvic comfort. They discuss why even healthy forms of exercise don't provide every movement nutrient you need, and share practical strategies to help cyclists enjoy the ride while supporting long-term strength, mobility, and resilience.Plus Katy speaks with Tyler Benner, founder of Strong Feet Athletics, about the role of the feet in cycling and what happens when we lock them into rigid compressive cycling shoes for hours at a time. They explore the benefits of a more foot-shaped, flexible cycling shoe and how allowing the feet more freedom may help support lower limb function both on and off the bike.Enhanced Show Notes and Full Transcript0:22 — Dynamic Collective Sponsors2:37 — Introduction to Cycling, the Movement Diet, and the Tissues of the Body5:35 — Bone Density in Cyclists13:36 — Low Energy Availability in Cyclists: Effects on Hormones and Bones17:36 — How Your Body Can Become Semi-Fixed in a Cycling Shape20:04 — Hyperkyphosis and Cervical Issues25:19 — Pelvic Position and Compression30:47 — Practical Ways to Balance Cycling33:22 — Interview with Tyler Benner: The Creator of the First Foot-Shaped Cycling Shoe56:10 — Listener Question: What Kind of Pillow Should You Sleep On? Sponsored by My Happy FeetBooks, Links and Resources:Simple Steps to Foot Pain Relief by Katy Bowman Move Your DNA by Katy BowmanMy Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes Strong Feet Athletics: the first foot-shaped cycling shoeAnya's Review of Strong Feet Athletics Leviathan cycling shoeConnect, 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: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 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.Freet Barefoot: creators of comfortable barefoot shoes built for natural movement, flexibility, and durability— use code DNA10 for 10% off.Venn Design: Beautifully upholstered ball-shaped Air Chairs and floor cushions that encourage dynamic sittingMovemate: Active standing boards with smoothly articulating wooden slats. Designed to keep you moving without interrupting your focus.Thoughts/questions email us at [email protected] Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits  October Retreats 2026