Use Your Eyes and Ears to Improve the Way You Move

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 Transcript

00:00:00 – 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 movement

00:30:11 – Screens, peripheral vision & taking in the world

00:48:42 – Vision and menopause: brain fog and overwhelm

00:56:32 – Listener question on movement classes for blind people sponsored by Movemate