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TMHS 122: Why Your Environment Shapes Your Body & How to Move Your DNA
This conversation with biomechanist and award-winning writer Katy Bowman instantly changed my life.
Because I’m a very analytical person, sometimes I like to know the WHY before I jump head over heels into something.
Katy broke down exactly why movement matters so much, and how myself and many others are fooling ourselves when it comes to living an active lifestyle.
Even though I’ve been exercising for many years, and I even appeared to be fit on the outside, I was actually in the growing number of people who are classified as “actively sedentary”.
This was a serious gut check for me.
According to the research, even though exercise is awesome and incredibly good for us, it’s not tapping into our best genetic expression by a long shot.
You see, even if you work out for an hour a day, you are still only four percent more active than someone who doesn’t exercise at all! That four percent absolutely makes a difference, but when it boils down to it, one hour of activity doesn’t hold a candle to what we do the other 23 hours of the day.
I’ve made many strides over the years to combat this disparagement. Standing desk, periodic breaks for mobility work, and even the occasional walk in the middle of the work day. I knew these things made me feel better, but I also knew I would forgo them on a consistent basis because I was trying to get my work done first.
After listening to this episode again, I immediately took a nice walk. But this walk was different from any walk I’ve ever been on.
I was paying attention to things I had never noticed before. I had a real awareness of how valuable that walk was, and the small things I was doing during it that made the experience for my body even better.
What you’re about to learn from Katy today will likely change your life in an empowering way forever. These insights and tips will help you to realize some of the problems that have been hiding in plain sight, and give you the tools to break through them once and for all!
In this episode you’ll discover:
- Why consuming conventional animal foods can create inflammation.
- What biomechanics are and how they impact your life.
- Why exercise and movement are not really the same thing.
- How your environment shapes your body.
- What nutritious movement is.
- Why walking is equivalent to a macronutrient.
- How your body actually adapts to things you put on your body (it’s shocking how much shoes can change you!)
- Why just like “junk food” there is also “junk moving”.
- What it means to be actively sedentary.
- What cellular loads are (this is important!)
- How killer whales in captivity can demonstrate the way our environment dictates our cellular expression.
- How underwear can inhibit the natural function of your organs and tissues.
- Why constantly self-regulating the temperature in your environment can prevent important muscles from developing.
- What you can do to move your DNA and add more nutritious movement to your day.
Items mentioned in this episode include:
- Onnit.com/Model <== Get your optimal health & performance supplements at 10% off!
- Syd Singer Interview – Dressed To Kill -The Model Health Show
- Improve Your Digestion, Assimilation, & Elimination – The Model Health Show
- The Squatty Potty
- KatySays.com
- Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman
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Hi Shawn
I was just listening to this episode while prepping veggies 😉
I work in retail and have a busy always on the go type job. I get to about 6000-7000 steps per shift. Trust, I’m sore and tired when I get home. I’m sedentary when not at work. Unfortunately most podcasts when they discuss this topic focus on sedentary office type jobs. Any advice for those with more labor intensive positions?
Thanks and I love the show. Found you through Balanced Bites some months ago.
This episode brought a new level of understanding to how important it is to find ways to increase movement throughout the entire day and not just in the gym. It was motivating to know that incorporating regular movement can be even more beneficial than only sweating it out in the gym for an hour a day–this is definitely paradigm-shifting stuff. I’m looking into road-bikes to see if I can switch up my commute from a health-sapping seated ride to a heart-pumping active part of my day. Thank you for the life-upgrading info!
Aloha!
Here are great minimalist, grounded running sandals. I bought a pair for trail-running and they are amazing. Take a little getting used to, but once you develop the muscular strength to go minimalist it transforms the way you experience running for the better. You can’t beat this running sandals, a dude in California hand makes them specially for your foot. Check them out, inspired by the Raramuri people of Mexico….
http://www.theearthingstore.com/collections/mens-earthing-footwear/products/earth-runners
Warmest Aloha,
Bryce
Shawn you rock! Loved that video! I have a pull-up bar right outside my office but that makes me what to redesign things. The idea of creating little movements or opportunities to just “hang out” while you work, is a great idea. I’ll have to listen to those interviews with Daniel, I think I may have missed them. Have a great weekend!
Great interview today as usual! This may have been weighed in on but I was curious about how standing desks may impact the exercise vs movement concept? Obviously this is a relatively stationary activity but I wondered how it may offset some of the ways we may be missing out on movement during the work day? Thoughts? Thanks for all that you do and the constant inspiration!
Michael, thank you so much, and that’s a great question! I’m a huge fan of standing desks. I’ve seen my health improve firsthand since utilizing a standing desk over a year ago. Obviously we can get into the conversation of HOW we’re standing, but overall insulin resistance is going to be improved, circulation is going to be a bit better, and you’re just going to feel more energetic through the day overall.
Now on the conversation of HOW we’re standing… Changing positions is a must. It’s not normal to stay in one place very long, and it’ll be too uncomfortable for most of us to do so anyway. Have you ever noticed that many traditional bars that people go to drink at, at the bottom of the bar itself close to the floor is a long metal rod that extended around the bar. That’s for people to put one of their feet up to feel more comfortable as they stand and drink. Having something like that would be awesome. There are many ways to mimic that I’m sure. Also, My friend and multiple time guest Daniel Vitalis has what is essentially a pull up bar over his standing desk that he can use to sort of hang from for a few seconds while he’s working. Here’s a cool video he did showing what his set up looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6F-LGzQjjU
Ok my man, I hope that helps to answer your question. Not sitting so much is a great start, but adding in more movement while we’re standing is the direction we ultimately want to go. All the best!