Movement Matters

Essays on Movement Science, Movement Ecology, and the Nature of Movement

By: Katy Bowman

Narrated by: Katy Bowman

What if we can make ourselves, our communities, and our planet healthier all at the same time by moving our bodies more?

Movement Matters is a collection of essays in which biomechanist Katy Bowman continues her groundbreaking investigation of the mechanics of our sedentary culture and the profound potential of human movement. Here she widens her message and invites us to consider our personal relationship with sedentarism, privilege, and nature. Bowman explores:

• How convenience often means less movement, not more time
• The missing movement nutrients in our food
• How to include more nature in education
• The impact of adding movement to permaculture and ecological models
• Our need for vitamin community and group movement

Unapologetically direct, often hilarious, and always compassionate, Movement Matters demonstrates that human movement is powerful and important, and that living a movement-filled life is perhaps the most joyful and efficient way to transform your body, community, and world.

©2016 Katy Bowman (P)2016 Katy Bowman

Best book I've read this year

This book is fantastic. Experts in so many fields of human biology and health will tell you that your problem isn't a problem, but Katy Bowman here explains why it is AND how to solve it by living a more enjoyable life. What's not to love about this premise? It is free to walk, to go outdoors, to play and move and dance! And these things will heal us.

I was raised as a very outdoorsy child. In graduate school I worked long hours in small confined chemistry lab spaces and started using computers and smartphones for most of the day. Everything in my health suffered, but the one that annoyed me the most was my vision. I needed glasses to see at a distance. Previously I had vision superior to 20/20, but I could no longer read street signs while driving or the PowerPoint projections of public lectures. I got glasses but I was angry that EVERY opthalmologist I visited insisted that inside living and screen time could not cause my poor distance vision.

Using the principles of biomechanics, Katy Bowman explains with clarity and precision what I have long experienced: that when I consistently take time to walk in the woods and look up at the trees, my vision improves.

She does this with countless subjects. A background in human anatomy and physiology will help readers understand these topics better, but even if you don't know anything about biology you should DEFINITELY read this book. I want to give a copy to everyone I know. It's amazing. Do your health and wellness a favor by reading this book. 💯

My key take away

Move more, but also make sure you do not allow movement "vitamins" to replace a well balanced movement "diet".

Interesting Read

This book will expand your mind and entertain you. It’s like Freakonomics meets exercise and nutrition science.

Katy Bowman knows what's up

Katy Bowman has genuinely changed the way I live my life every single day. This book is short, but is remarkably dense, serving as a thesis of her years of teaching. For that reason, I am not sure it is the best entry into her work (I'd start with Move Your DNA) but it is beautiful, profound, and joyous.

Phenomenal read, will change your life if you let it

On my third listen and I just keep learning and gaining more from each read/listen of the book. If these ideas are given proper thought and consideration- this book could truly change your life and start healing our world. A must read!!

Love this book

I cannot express how beautifully his book is written, how wonderful it is to hear it rea by the author and how incredibly important the message is. I wish I could get everyone on the planet to read this book!

wow

provided a very intelligent perspective and fun outtakes in last chapter! a super idea awesome

Mindset Shift

While I won’t be doing ALL the items Katy suggests, she makes it easy to take steps toward leading a more movement balanced life with the goal of bettering not just myself but also my community.

Eye-opening, life-changing, and accessible.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have and will recommend this audiobook to many friends. Katy Bowman's writing has always been transformative for my body, and this book, should we read it and take its message to heart, will transform the earth's body as well. This is far from an exercise book--it's a critique of our entire sedentary culture, as well as a map for changing it.

Any additional comments?

The performance is fantastic and the blooper reel at the end is a hilarious bonus!

Great if you're OK with difficult things

Honestly the idea of the book is amazing. It makes complete sense and I commend the author for realizing the simple point. I've started to, kind of, do my part by walking barefoot more and getting off my smart phone so much. But, it is so ingrained into us as a society that it will be very hard to change. But she has started and is forging ahead.