I started KineSophy ten years ago to explore connections between health, fitness, sports, society and philosophy. During that decade, I have looked at issues ranging from the many non-physical benefits of exercise to the myriad ways health and sports impact climate change (and vice versa). But these connections are dynamic, … Read more
Bill Hayes is the author of Sweat: A History of Exercise, Insomniac City, and How New York Breaks Your Heart, a collection of his street photography, among other books. He is a recipient of the New York City Book Award for How We Live Now: Scenes from the Pandemic, and a Guggenheim Fellowship in … Read more
Note: this article is the second of a two-part series on alternative therapies like acupuncture and cupping. You can read Part 1 here: Acupuncture and Cupping – Part 1: Ancient Medicine or Pseudoscience? In Part 1 of this series, I considered the claim that acupuncture and cupping are extreme and … Read more
Note: this article is the first of a two-part series on acupuncture and cupping. You can read Part 2 here: Acupuncture and Cupping – Part 2: Alternative Therapies and the Placebo Effect. At this point, you have likely heard of acupuncture and cupping. Acupuncture was practiced in Asia at least … Read more
Throughout the past fourteen-plus months, we have seen consistent recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Yet other health practices with strong evidence of reducing COVID-19 severity have received far less publicity. So what are the most effective public health measures for mitigating COVID-19? And what role should governments take … Read more
The current COVID-19 pandemic has again raised the outdated association between illness and morality. Whether through blaming victims or asserting their own health and moral superiority, many have suggested that those who contract the virus deserve their fate. I draw on previous KineSophy articles on health, fitness and virtue to … Read more
Like so many issues discussed on KineSophy, the COVID-19 pandemic affects us all in myriad spheres of life, from health to social interactions to economics to ethics. Faced with illness, the loss of a job, loneliness and fear, many people are struggling just to make it through the next day … Read more
No matter where you are in the world, there’s a good chance you’re in the midst of some social isolation measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And if you’re reading this article, there’s also a good chance that you like to engage in regular physical activity. Unfortunately, the former … Read more
In November, the exercise bike company Peloton released an advertisement that many viewers have derided as sexist and even dystopian. But while some criticisms of the Peloton ad ring true, others miss the message and ignore more pressing health issues. The Peloton Ad In the Peloton ad in question, a … Read more
In a recent article on the website Total Brain Health titled “Do We Have a Moral Obligation to Provide Brain Wellness Training?”, Dr. Cynthia Green argues that medical practitioners have a burden to educate and empower patients to improve their brain health. As evidence, Green cites the magnitude of dementia, … Read more