Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Dr. Sarah Court, PT, DPT and Laurel Beversdorf
  • 4.7 (129)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Biweekly

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the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts.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. Sep 2 ·  Video

    137: A Lifting Evolution: From Chair Pose to Barbell Back Squats

    In this episode, we look back at how our thinking about exercise has changed over the years, from our beginnings in yoga and physical therapy to strength training, bone density, power, fall prevention, and longevity. We talk about the ideas we stopped believing, the evidence that changed our minds, why “lift heavy shit” was an important corrective but ultimately an incomplete message, and how all of this has shaped the newest version of Lift for Longevity. We also get into what we’ve learned from teaching the course four times, why we’re removing exercises that create unnecessary friction, why AMRAPs are becoming a much bigger part of the program, and how we’re incorporating more power, balance challenges, and structured impact training. SIGN UP Free Strength Class on September 8th with replay! FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 107: Does It Have To Be Heavy? 49: You Don’t Know How Strong You Are, Says Research 36: Somatic Dominance Loren Fishman et al.: Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss paper LIFTMOR Trial Kistler-Fischbacher Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis 91: LIFTMOR, Not Less: An Interview with Professor Belinda Beck Dr. Lora Giangregorio on the Movement Logic Podcast Dr. Stuart Phillips on the Movement Logic Podcast Stu Phillips post Korpelainen paper

    137: A Lifting Evolution: From Chair Pose to Barbell Back Squats

  2. Aug 19 ·  Video

    136: Beyond "Just Lift Heavy": The Science behind Osteoporosis, Falls & Fracture Prevention with Dr. Lora Giangregorio, PhD

    In this episode, we talk with bone health researcher Dr. Lora Giangregorio about what the evidence really says about resistance training, impact exercise, menopause, fracture prevention, balance, and falls. We also get into claims from OsteoStrong, why not all published research deserves equal weight, and why confident claims about the “best” way to build bone often outrun the evidence. We discuss why bone loss around menopause can’t simply be blamed on inactivity, what we do and don’t know about heavy versus moderate versus light resistance training, why strength and impact are so difficult to separate in bone research, and why improving bone density is only one part of reducing fracture risk. Dr. Giangregorio also explains why getting better at standing on one leg isn’t necessarily the same thing as becoming less likely to fall, why yoga wouldn’t be her first choice for fall prevention, how to progress impact training without jumping straight into high-force exercises, and why real-world exercise programs need to adapt to the person rather than force everyone into the same supposedly “optimal” program. SIGN UP Free Strength Class on September 8th with replay! FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES Dr. Lora Giangregorio’s website and Instagram  Bones Lab YouTube channel Her approach to starting and progressing impact training Her summary of different aspects of balance Blog post on impact training

    136: Beyond "Just Lift Heavy": The Science behind Osteoporosis, Falls & Fracture Prevention with Dr. Lora Giangregorio, PhD

  3. Aug 5 ·  Video

    135: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 2

    In part two of their deep dive into Louisa Nicola's claims about Alzheimer's prevention, Sarah and Laurel continue examining the scientific evidence behind some of her most widely shared social media posts, podcast appearances, and paid programs. Building on the foundation laid in part one, they fact-check claims about menopause, hormone therapy, Zone 5 training, heavy resistance training, creatine, and other interventions that Nicola presents as essential for protecting the brain. Throughout the episode, they compare her messaging with the available research, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and major clinical guidelines, highlighting where mechanistic theories are presented as established clinical facts and where evidence is overstated or misrepresented. The conversation then shifts from individual scientific claims to the broader marketing strategy behind Nicola's business. Sarah and Laurel analyze her paid products, including Brain Code and the $5,000 Decode Panel, discussing how fear-based messaging, appeals to authority, and selective use of research can drive consumers toward expensive products and testing. They contrast these approaches with the evidence-based recommendations from organizations like The Lancet Commission and the Alzheimer's Association, emphasizing that meaningful risk reduction is built on well-established lifestyle factors rather than highly specific protocols or premium wellness services. They close by discussing why influencers like Nicola resonate with audiences, where they see similar patterns among other health personalities, and why careful interpretation of evidence matters when communicating about diseases as frightening as Alzheimer's. SIGN UP FOR THE INTEREST LIST for Lift for Longevity FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 134 Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1 113 Debunking Menopause Grifters Mary Claire Haver and Vonda Wright 92 Make Dr. Loren Fishman Make Sense Alzheimer's Association 2025 factsheet The Lancet Commission Mosconi et al. (2021) Correction: In this episode, Laurel cites a study erroneously as being from the Lancet. It's not from the Lancet, it's the Generation 100 study. PMID: 34878637 Resistance training and brain aging study  Creatine Monohydrate Pilot in Alzheimer's The Menopause Society  Pauline Maki  Diary of a CEO episode with Louisa Nicola

    135: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 2

  4. Jul 22 ·  Video

    134: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1

    In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf begin a two-part investigation into Louisa Nicola and the rapidly growing industry built around Alzheimer's prevention, brain optimization, and women's brain health. They examine how legitimate scientific concerns about dementia become transformed into highly marketable narratives, and explain the difference between what current evidence supports and what many online health personalities confidently claim. Sarah and Laurel break down the strongest evidence on dementia prevention, including findings from the 2024 Lancet Commission, and discuss what is known about exercise, vascular health, hearing, vision, education, social connection, and other modifiable risk factors. They also introduce concepts they call mechanism theater, evidence cosplay, and the fear-to-action marketing pipeline, showing how preliminary research is often stretched into certainty to sell protocols, supplements, and personal brands. Along the way, they critically examine several of Nicola's most common claims—including that Alzheimer's starts in your 30s, that women face six times the risk, and that heavy resistance training is uniquely protective—and compare those claims with the available evidence. Part 2 of this series will continue the investigation into Louisa Nicola's recommendations, products, and marketing strategies. SIGN UP FOR THE INTEREST LIST for Lift for Longevity FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Dr Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright 111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense Correction: In this episode, Laurel cites a study erroneously as being from the Lancet. It's not from the Lancet, it's the Generation 100 study. PMID: 34878637 The Lancet Commission: Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2024 Report Alzheimer's Association 2025 Fact Sheet Neuro Athletics Narrative review on resistance training and Alzheimer's disease (co-authored by Louisa Nicola) Dr. Vonda Wright podcast featuring Louisa Nicola The Diary of a CEO podcast featuring Louisa Nicola APOE4 and Alzheimer's disease research New England Journal of Medicine (2024) biomarker study on preclinical Alzheimer's disease

    134: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1

  5. Jul 8 ·  Video

    133: Dr Stu Phillips Part 2: Power, Protein, And The Science We Get Wrong

    In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf continue their conversation with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's leading protein researchers. They dig into the latest ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training, unpacking what it actually says about strength, hypertrophy, power, progressive overload, and why many of the debates happening online are driven more by certainty than by evidence. They also explore why protein has "jumped the shark," how marketing has outpaced the science, whether menopausal women really need dramatically more protein, and why consistency—not optimization—is still the most powerful exercise strategy. Throughout the conversation, Stu explains why scientific nuance often gets lost on social media and why changing your mind when new evidence emerges is a strength, not a weakness. FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on IG WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by VerseCoupon code: MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training ACSM Health & Fitness Journal special issue on power training Stu Phillips — Protein Jumped the Shark (2025 article)

    133: Dr Stu Phillips Part 2: Power, Protein, And The Science We Get Wrong

  6. Jun 24 ·  Video

    132: Dr. Stu Phillips Part 1: Bone Density and Scientific Nuance

    In this episode, Sarah and Laurel sit down with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's most influential researchers in muscle physiology, protein metabolism, and resistance training. Together they discuss why Stu publicly challenged the idea that heavy lifting is required for bone density, what the evidence actually says about load and osteogenesis, and how newer research has changed the conversation around both muscle growth and bone health. Stu explains why many long-held training beliefs—including the need for heavy weights for hypertrophy—have not held up under scrutiny, why good scientists must be willing to change their minds, and how concepts like effort and "progressive stimulus" may matter more than specific loading prescriptions. The conversation also explores what researchers know (and still don't know) about bone adaptation, site-specific bone responses, impact training, mechanical loading, and the challenges of translating animal research into human recommendations. Finally, Stu shares his thoughts on protein obsession, exercise guidelines, weight loss stigma, and the importance of following the evidence wherever it leads. ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout Barbell Mini Course from Movement Logic RESOURCESKistler-Fischbacher et al. (2021) Exercise and Bone Density Watson et al (2018) LIFTMOR Trial Currier et al (2026) ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training and Muscle Hypertrophy

    132: Dr. Stu Phillips Part 1: Bone Density and Scientific Nuance

  7. Jun 10 ·  Video

    131: Basic Bitches Talk About Balance

    What is balance, really? In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Laurel and Sarah unpack why “balance” is much more than standing on one foot, not falling, or having a strong core. Using the motor control concept of postural control, they explore balance as a dynamic, emergent process shaped by sensory input, motor responses, cognition, confidence, fear, environment, prior experience, and social context. They discuss center of mass, base of support, stability, perturbations, sensory reweighting, and why balance is deeply context specific. You’ll learn why steady-state, reactive, and anticipatory balance are different biological problems, why yoga may train some balance skills better than others, why strength and power matter for fall recovery, and why no single “balance exercise” prepares you for every balance challenge life throws at you. SIGN UP Free Barbell Mini Course ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES BOOK: Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practice by Anne Shumway-Cook and Marjorie Woollacott EPISODES 128: Does 'Balance Training' Prevent Falls, or Just Improve Balance? 129: Sarcopenia Redefined: Loss of Strength and Power Matter More Than Muscle Mass On motor learning - 29: The Cues We Use Pt. 1, 31: The Cues We Use Pt. 2, 34: The Cues We Use Pt. 3 Our interview on the Capable and Worthy Podcast

    131: Basic Bitches Talk About Balance

  8. May 27 ·  Video

    130: Why We Created Power Play and What's Inside the Course

    POWER PLAY is on sale now for $99. The price goes up after May 31st.  Sign up here - https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/ Power training is not just for athletes. It's also not just box jumps, Olympic lifts, or kettlebell swings. Power is for everyone and it shows up all day, everyday in our daily activities. It's the ability to produce force quickly. You use power when you stand up from a chair, climb stairs, get off the floor, or react fast enough to prevent a fall. This week on the Movement Logic podcast, Laurel and Sarah explain why they created their new course, Power Play. They discuss why power declines faster than strength as we age, why that matters for fall prevention and independence, and why so many people mistakenly conclude “my knees can’t handle that anymore” or “I’m too old for that” after being exposed to way too much impact or explosive movement too soon. They break down how power exercises can be scaled and progressed, why most group fitness classes fail to individualize this type of training, and how Power Play teaches people to start at the very beginning rather than assuming the hardest version is the entry point. They also discuss pelvic floor concerns, type 2 muscle fibers, balance, aging, reactive movement, and why just a few minutes of power training per week can make a meaningful difference in long-term physical function. ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout

    130: Why We Created Power Play and What's Inside the Course
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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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