Ep 179: Is The Concept of Exercise Helpful or Harmful?

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. Enhanced Show Notes & Full Transcript Chapters:00:04:20 - The Dynamic Collective 00:05:30 - Exercise Versus Natural Movement 00:09:00 - Definitions 00:24:00 - Gym Culture 00:31:00 - Exercise is bad? 00:36:25 - Sport Culture 00:46:00 - Reader Question brought to you by Correct Toes 00:55:40 - Conversation with Anna Yona of Wildling 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 LambConnect, Move & LearnJoin Our Newsletter: Movement Colored GlassesTry Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 days!Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:Movemate, dynamic active standing boards that invite movement and play into your workday, without disrupting your workflowVenn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the officePeluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activitiesWildling, minimal footwear for toddlers, kids and adults made from natural materialsCorrect Toes, soft silicone toe spacers that can be worn barefoot or in shoesSmart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home; Thoughts/questions email us at [email protected] Voice on the Podcast: Read The Credits  October Retreats 2026