Welcome to Episode 80 of the Movement Logic podcast! In this episode, Laurel and Sarah are joined by Dr. Beth Linker, PhD. Beth Linker, a former physical therapist, is an author and professor of the history of science, disability, and medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Her most recent book, Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America, reveals the little-known and surprising origins of our fears and ideas about poor posture. In this episode you will learn:

• How Dr. Linker transitioned from physical therapist to professor and author, and (then also) yoga teacher
• Where her interest in posture first began
• The most surprising discovery she made while writing her book on the history of posture
• The origin of physical therapy
• That the modern postural yoga practice is not a centuries old practice
• How opinions about good and bad posture influence the judgment calls made on people’s competence and character
• The relationship between posture-shaming and disability discrimination.
• The difference between posture correction and posture modification
• The value of posture modification for different individuals
• What a positive shift might look like with regards to changing society’s attitudes toward posture
• inactivity.

Sign up here for our FREE Live Strength Class (and sample our Bone Density Course) on September 19th at 8:30am PT/11:30am ET with free replay!

Reference links:

Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America, by Beth Linker

Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice 

Episode 73: Posture Panic Pt. 1

Episode 76: Posture Panic Pt. 2