Movement Matters

"Movement Matters is a delight to read and will help every family. Its implications extend far beyond our individual lives."--Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and Vitamin N

“Katy Bowman is one of the world's leading experts on the ecology of human movement. She offers a timely and fascinating collection of essays that are designed to inspire a movement-based lifestyle-essential for our long-term survival as adaptive humans. A must-read for anyone who cares about their health.” —-Angela Hanscom, author of Balanced and Barefoot

“One of the unfortunate side effects of living in complex, modern societies is the distance we create from the natural world, leading us to forget how to live better with less and by keeping active. In her quest to resurrect this lost knowledge, Katy Bowman provides us with a survival roadmap to reclaim personal quality of life and a sustainable future for all. A must-read for anyone interested in living a happy, productive life on a habitable planet.”—-Jason Lewis, author of The Expedition series

“Tying together ecological sustainability and modern lifestyles, this book focuses on the science of moving in healthy ways as a means of healing both the earth and the individual. Its heavy emphasis on healthy living generates a necessary bridge between personal well-being and the well-being of the whole environment, and is yet another strong voice in the general call for more active, mindful lifestyle choices. Bowman, a biomechanist, does a fine job communicating the hidden significance of everyday acts, such as walking, sitting, and buying prepared food, in digestible sound bites. This is no dense academic treatise; it is written specifically to appeal to the average person, actively acknowledging commonly asked questions about activity and exercise. Movement Matters is a continuation in a popular trend toward a holistic approach to health and ecology. Ideal for nutritionists, fitness experts, and anyone seeking an all-around healthier lifestyle.”—Foreword Reviews

“I’ve spent almost twenty years talking to people about food and specifically why good food matters. I’ve made my case using biology and ecology, talking about our hunter-gatherer past. What I missed is all the movement that went into not just our food but also our lives. This is why movement matters—and fortunately for you, Katy Bowman has tackled this topic in a way that has never been done before.”-—Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo Solution

“We learn why movement matters, and that the answer lies not in the monotony of pointless exercise for its own sake, but rather in the exhilaration of movement as an expression of our very humanity.”-—Daniel Vitalis, host of the WildFed podcast and television program

“This book is for thinkers...A gem for the modern yoga teacher.”-—Shut Up & Yoga

“In Movement Matters you’ll find radical new clarity on how to fulfill [your role in the ecosystem] in a meaningful way. Do not expect a list of exercises or go-to movements. Expect to shift your perspective. Don’t expect an easy read. Expect an engrossing one, one that will leave you not only a better ‘mover,’ but a better human animal.”-—Breaking Muscle

“Understanding our role as human animals within the web of our ecosystem is critical in order to fully grasp what it means to exist. Movement Matters fully embraces all that I think we are failing to recognize—that our true selves are within the natural world, not above it.”—Diana Rogers, RD, author of The Homegrown Paleo Cookbook

“With Movement Matters