Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Dr. Sarah Court, PT, DPT and Laurel Beversdorf

Welcome to the Movement Logic Podcast, with yoga teacher and strength coach Laurel Beversdorf, and physical therapist Dr. Sarah Court. With over 30 years combined experience in the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts. Instead, we’re here with up-to-date and cutting-edge tools, evidence and ideas to help you as a mover and a teacher. Music: Makani by Scandinavianz & AXM

  1. 115: How to Get Abs

    3D AGO

    115: How to Get Abs

    In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Laurel Beversdorf and Dr. Sarah Court examine the enduring myths and misinformation around the aesthetic goal of “getting abs.” They analyze the anatomy and function of the abdominal muscles, the cultural evolution of ab training versus core strength and stability training, and the role mechanical tension, muscle length, and training volume play in hypertrophy (muscle growth). Additionally, they discuss how pursuing the aesthetic goal of "getting abs" is different from performance goals related to abdominal strength. The hosts unpack popular misconceptions, such as “abs are made in the kitchen,” or that body composition changes work differently for women than men, or that core stability means never moving your spine. They contrast these myths with what current research on energy balance and hypertrophy training show. They also trace how Pilates, physical therapy, and social media helped shape the modern core strength and stability narrative—one that, in some circles, shifted from building strength through movement to “protecting” the lumbar spine by avoiding it. Additionally, this episode aims to clarify all of the factors that influence the appearance of the abdominal region, and how gendered, moralized, and shame-based messaging about the midsection continues to distort public understanding of exercise and body image. CART CLOSES Nov 1st for Lift for Longevity—SIGN UP FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram RESOURCES Clip: Mel Robbing Podcast interview with Stacy Sims about abs 67: Popular Explanations for SI Joint Pain are Wrong, Says Science 78: Behemoth Knee Myths 20: Pelvic Floor In-Depth with Stephanie Prendergast, MPT 54: Alignment Dogma - Spine 58: Alignment Dogma - Shoulders 48: Alignment Dogma - Pelvis 80: Posture Panic Pt. 3 with Author Dr. Beth Linker, PhD 50: Bracing versus Breathing Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America, by Beth Linker GHD Sit-Up Hodges, 2001; PMID: 11181617 Kalantari, 2024; PMID: 38565979 Brown, 2011; PMID: 21325932 Cholewicki, 1999; PMID: 10521659

    1h 59m
  2. 113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright

    OCT 15

    113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright

    In this episode, Dr. Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf delve into the claims and marketing tactics used by two high-profile menopause experts and social media influencers, Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright. They explore and critique various aspects of their advice, including the advocacy for supplements like turmeric and collagen, the promotion of hormone therapy, and questionable exercise prescriptions. The hosts analyze the scientific validity of their claims, the potential harms, and the prevalence of fearmongering in their messaging. The episode aims to empower listeners to become more critical consumers of health information, especially in the menopause space. Sign Up for Our Free Strength Class THIS FRIDAY! Follow us on Instagram References: Episode 37: Plyometrics – Get More Bang for your Bones Episode 96: Bone Density Grifters – Introducing the Grift-O-Meter! Episode 103: Do Weighted Vests Do Anything For Us? Episode 109: Hot Flashes, Cold Facts: Menopause Myths That Won’t Die Episode 110: Fact Checking Female-Specific Training & Nutrition Advice with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD Episode 111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense The Pause Life Calorie Restriction with or without Time-Restricted Eating in Weight Loss Inflammatory mechanisms linking obesity and metabolic disease The power of creatine plus resistance training The Effects of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training Dose-Response of creatine supplementation on cognitive function Effects of Collagen Supplements  Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Vonda Wright The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause Single Leg Balancing Managing Menopausal Skin Changes Topical estrogen for skin aging Dr. Wright Instagram Posts: MSK Syndrome of Menopause F.A.C.E. Estriol for face Canyon Ranch Bone Density Hip Fracture Step Down Weighted Vests Grip Strength

    2h 53m
  3. 112: Redefining What's Possible – Lift for Longevity Alums Share Their Stories

    OCT 8

    112: Redefining What's Possible – Lift for Longevity Alums Share Their Stories

    Welcome to Episode 112 of the Movement Logic Podcast! In this special episode, Laurel and Sarah talk to four women who recently completed Lift for Longevity about their experiences. Whether it’s overcoming fear of injury, finally finding a program that sticks, breaking free from perfectionism, or realizing barbells belong in their hands, each woman brings a unique and inspiring story. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Karen Klubertanz, an interior designer and yoga therapist who came to us after chronic back pain and years of yoga and kettlebells. Her story is about overcoming fear, learning to train with RPE, and discovering she could get stronger safely and sustainably. Anna Grojec, a freelance writer and editor in New Jersey who found us through the podcast and has now completed the course twice, entirely asynchronously without ever taking a live class. Her story is about making strength training stick for the first time in her life through structure and community support. Terry Littlefield, a longtime yoga teacher and old friend of Sarah’s who came in skeptical, took our free class, and realized she had to join. Her story is about shifting from perfectionism to consistency and finding confidence under the barbell. Janai Leeb, a personal trainer in northern Los Angeles County who first got the impression in her PT cert that barbells weren’t for her. She joined to build her own barbell skills and now teaches them to her clients. Her story is about finding her lane with the barbell and showing others that anyone can lift, at any age. If you’ve ever wondered if you’re too old, too inexperienced, or too "not a gym person" to lift barbells and get stronger, these conversations will change your mind. SIGN UP for our FREE CLASS for Bone Density Course on October 17th WITH REPLAY FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram

    1h 52m
  4. 111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense

    OCT 1

    111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense

    In this episode, Laurel and Sarah take a look at one of the most influential and controversial voices in women’s health: Dr. Stacy Sims. Known for the phrase “women are not small men,” Sims has built her brand on the idea that women need entirely different training and nutrition strategies than men. Laurel and Sarah trace Sims’ rise to prominence, the research she leans on, and the rhetorical playbook she uses on major platforms like the Mel Robbins Podcast, and the Huberman Lab podcast. They examine how Sims’ is able to persuade listeners of her ideas, even though her catchy slogans and bold claims outpace the evidence. Rather than just fact-checking Sims’ most dubious claims on cycle syncing, fasted training, cardio, and how women should train, this episode instead focuses on how Sims’ messages are delivered. You’ll listen for how Sims’ and the hosts of these podcasts frequently employ persuasive tactics like appeals to authority, fearmongering, absolutist framing, pseudo-feminist virtue signaling, and what Laurel and Sarah call “mechanism theater” can make the weak evidence and shaky reasoning behind the claims sound stronger than it is. These strategies aren’t unique to Sims; you’ll start noticing these persuasive tactics everywhere, especially in menopause marketing and wellness content online. SIGN UP for the FREE CLASS for Bone Density Course FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram RESOURCES Sims’ TedX talk 110: Fact-Checking Female-Specific Training & Nutrition Advice with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD Debate between Sims and Colenso-Semple on  Docs Who Lift Post Debate Interview on Barbell Medicine 109: Hot Flashes, Cold Facts: Menopause Myths that Won’t Die 62: Make McGill Make Sense Bulky mug Social Post from Dr. Colenso-Semple about choice to use mechanistic, rat, or men’s data 108: Breathing for Bone Density? YogaU Cannot Be Serious 108: Does it Have to be Heavy? Rethinking the Lift Heavy Shit Narrative 98: Capacities for Longevity Part 3 - Cardio Decoding the Gurus Front Page Fitness Conspirituality Yoga Meets Movement Science Barbell Medicine

    2h 12m
  5. 110: Fact-Checking Female-Specific Training & Nutrition Advice with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD

    SEP 24

    110: Fact-Checking Female-Specific Training & Nutrition Advice with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD

    In this episode, Laurel and Sarah sit down with  muscle physiology researcher and science communicator Lauren Colenso-Semple to take a hard look at some of the most popular and problematic claims circulating in women’s health and fitness. Together, they unpack the slogan “women are not small men,” and the idea that women need completely different training and nutrition approaches than men. Lauren explains where the evidence actually stands on topics like muscle loss at 30, lifting to failure, cardio recommendations for women, bone density changes at menopause, training fasted versus fed, cycle syncing, cortisol “hacks,” and more. This conversation is a deep dive into separating women's physiology from marketing ploys. Learn why overcomplicating women’s training does more harm than good. You'll gain clear, evidence-based guidance for women in perimenopause, post-menopause, and beyond. Sign up for the Bone Density Course Interest list Follow us @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram 04:30 Why Naming Sources Matters 08:15 “Women Are Not Small Men”: What’s True and What’s Branding 16:00 How Much Research on Women Actually Exists 29:30 Training to Failure, Heavy vs. Light Loads, and Age-Specific Claims 31:00 The Case for Keeping Moderate-Intensity Cardio 36:15 Bone Loss Myths and What Exercise Really Helps 46:30 What “Challenging Sets” Mean in Research 49:00 Cortisol, Fasted Training, and Breakfast Timing 52:30 Low Energy Availability vs. Simply Skipping Breakfast 01:08:00 Cycle Syncing and Monthly Program Overhauls 01:15:00 Rapid-Fire Q&A: Creatine, Weighted Vests, Collagen, Protein Targets, Electrolytes 01:23:30 How Overcomplicated Rules Keep Women Out of Exercise 01:24:00 Has Stacy Sims Done More Good or More Harm? 01:26:30 Why Simple, Progressive Training Works for Everyone Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple on Instagram Front Page Fitness Podcast Study Menstrual cycle phase does not influence muscle protein synthesis or whole-body myofibrillar proteolysis in response to resistance Mel Robbins Podcast interview with Dr. Stacey Sims Huberman Lab Podcast interview with Dr. Stacey Sims

    1h 41m
  6. 109: Hot Flashes, Cold Facts: Menopause Myths That Won't Die

    SEP 17

    109: Hot Flashes, Cold Facts: Menopause Myths That Won't Die

    In this episode of the Movement Logic podcast, Sarah and Laurel take on the most persistent—and profitable—myths about menopause and women’s health. From metabolism myths to cortisol panic, creatine hype, and new exercise “rules”, they separate marketing spin from actual science. They also unpack the nuanced role of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)—who it helps, when it’s useful, and why menopause isn’t a medical emergency needing endless “fixes.” Sign up for the Bone Density Course Interest list Follow us @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram 10:12 8 Menopause Myths and Misconceptions 37:08 Cortisol and Menopause 43:14 Exercise and Menopause 51:33 Muscle Loss and Menopause 55:00 Hormone Therapy and Muscle Mass: The Evidence 57:56 Debunking the Rapid Bone Loss Myth 01:04:31 The Truth About Creatine Supplementation 01:18:48 Menopause Symptoms vs. Aging: What's the Difference? 01:29:24 Menopause Hormone Therapy: Myths and Realities 01:42:25 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations Ep 8 A Perimenopause Perspective 63: Dismantling Long and Lean Pt 2 108: Does it Have to be Heavy? Study Daily Energy Expenditure Through the Human Life Course Study Changes in Physical Activity and Body Composition in Postmenopausal Women Study  Evaluation of sex-based differences in resistance exercise training-induced changes in muscle mass, strength, and physical performance Study Changes in body composition and weight during the menopause transition Study Association Between Hormone Therapy and Muscle Mass Study Longitudinal changes in BMD during perimenopausal transition Study BMD Changes During the Menopause Transition Study  Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Muscle Mass Study  Creatine Supplementation During Resistance Training Does Not Lead to Greater Bone Mineral Density The Vajenda North American Menopause Society Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple Professor Susan Davis

    1h 53m
  7. 108: Breathing For Bone Density? YogaU Cannot Be Serious

    SEP 10

    108: Breathing For Bone Density? YogaU Cannot Be Serious

    In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Dr. Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf critically evaluate the claims made by YogaU Online about the connections between breathing practices and bone health during a recent promotional webinar for a new workshop called “Breath As Medicine: Yogic Breathing for Vital Aging.” They meticulously analyze research studies cited by YogaU, debunking pseudoscientific assertions about nitric oxide production, VO2 max, and the impact of breathing on bone density. The hosts highlight the ethical implications of such misleading information and emphasize the importance of evidence-based practices in the fitness and yoga communities. The discussion also touches on marketing tactics that prey on the fears of older women, underscoring the need for transparency and integrity in health advice. Sign up for the Bone Density Course Interest List here! Movement Logic on Instagram 03:48 Calling Out Pseudoscience 05:19 Yoga U's Dubious Claims 17:47 The Breath as Medicine Workshop 18:39 Debunking the Claims 32:57 Understanding Breathing Pathologies 01:01:56 Lung Function and Bone Mineral Density: A Study Review 01:03:57 Debunking Misleading Claims in Yoga Marketing 01:09:38 Sleep Apnea Studies and Their Misuse 01:17:57 Hypoxia and Bone Health: Misinterpretations 01:23:23 Nitric Oxide and Aging: Separating Fact from Fiction 01:41:02 Cardiovascular Fitness: Misconceptions and Realities 01:50:47 Yoga U's Ethical Dilemma and Call for Accountability 01:59:38 Conclusion and Call to Action References: Episode 5 Does Yoga Asana Build Bone Density? Episode 38 Got Bones? Yoga Asana Isn’t Enough Episode 79 Make YogaU Make Sense Episode 92 Make Dr. Loren Fishman Make Sense Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss Recognizing and Treating Breathing Disorders: A Multidisciplinary Approach by Leon Chaitow Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor Association between lung function and bone mineral density in children and adolescents Assessment of Bone Mineral Density and Bone Metabolism in Young Men with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Bone Mineral Density and Changes in Bone Metabolism in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Hypoxia is a Major Stimulator of Osteoclast Formation and Bone Resorption Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Hypoxia-Induced Alterations in Bone Remodeling Front Page Fitness podcast Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast

    2h 5m
4.7
out of 5
101 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Movement Logic Podcast, with yoga teacher and strength coach Laurel Beversdorf, and physical therapist Dr. Sarah Court. With over 30 years combined experience in the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts. Instead, we’re here with up-to-date and cutting-edge tools, evidence and ideas to help you as a mover and a teacher. Music: Makani by Scandinavianz & AXM

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