Alignment Matters: A Review of Katy Bowman’s Book

It’s no secret around here that I’m a huge fan of Katy Bowman’s blog and books.

She was one of the last people I interviewed before I retired (for now, at least) the podcast.

The compelling and well-researched information on her blog is part of the reason I do all sorts of strange things, such as avoid sitting, walk outside barefoot, climb and hang on playground equipment, avoid shoes with heels, throw away my stroller, and rarely use my slings and baby carriers (preferring to hold my tot on walks).

She’s also responsible for the fact that my last pregnancy was almost pain-free (at least, when I did my stretches!).

Oh, and after 6 pregnancies I don’t pee on myself. For which I’m quite thankful, as this is apparently a big problem for a lot of moms. (And dads, apparently. I saw an ad the other day for sporty gray Depends for guys. I told hubby he had better stop wearing those shoes with huge thick heels, but if he refused, at least he didn’t have to wear pink adult diapers in a few years!)

What I appreciate most about Katy is how she helps people become responsible for their own health and well-being, without abdicating that to someone else (doctors, gurus, genetics “it runs in the family”, etc).

 <—- This book was part of my 15 year old son’s science curriculum this year. Yes, he read a book on women’s foot health. Only that’s not what it’s really about. I mean, it IS, but it’s also about your whole body health, because we are not a collection of parts.

I was honored to be given a copy of Katy’s newest book: Alignment Matters: The First Five Years of Katy Says. I had already read every page on her blog, purchased a couple of her DVDs and watched some of her videos, but having a book to hold in my hand and study is way cool.

She even created a FREE study guide for the book on her website you can download. Guess what’s on the agenda for the kids’ science curriculum?

You betcha. I love this book so much that I even added words to the index in the back that don’t appear there.

(Katy, if you’re reading this, Biking – page 14; Erections – page 308; Fibromyalgia – page 288; French – page 366; Marital Relations – page 393; Massage – page 364; Metabolism – page 389; Rollerblading – page 282; Television – page 430. You’re welcome!) (And, uh, does this mean my mind is in the gutter?)

I wish I had known for the first 30 years of my life that wearing the wrong shoes can result in all kinds of problems. I always had trouble finding shoes that fit, and my feet hurt my whole life until I had bunion surgery. (Which I regret, because I could’ve healed my bunions on my own had I known of Katy’s wisdom. Also because the surgeon doesn’t tell you bunions COME BACK if you keep doing the same stupid stuff that gave you bunions in the first place. And my feet are much better now because I’ve been doing the healthy stuff.)

Hammer toes, bunions, corns and calluses, bursitis, hairline fractures, plantar fascitis, nerve damage, Achilles tendonitis, ingrown toenails, osteoarthritis in the knees, and lower back pain – all from wearing high heels, and really any shoe with a heel, and really any shoes at all if they’re worn too much.

Are we having fun yet?

Again, Katy’s book isn’t all about feet. It’s actually about alignment, pelvic health, mental health, digestive health, sexual health, healthy kids, you name it. It’s all the same thing.

We’ll be using the study guide and book for science when the younger kids are a bit older. I might skip a couple of parts I mentioned earlier. Maybe.