Unlocking the Power of Your Body Clock with Professor Karyn Esser

Simon Ward, The High Performance Human Triathlon Podcast

The internal body clock—also known as the circadian rhythm—is something you’ve probably heard of. But did you know that every cell in your body has its own internal clock, and they’re not always perfectly in sync? I didn’t either!

That’s why I’ve invited today’s guest, Professor Karyn Esser from the University of Florida, to help us explore this fascinating topic. As Chair of the Department of Physiology and Aging, Karyn and her team have been at the forefront of research on circadian rhythms—specifically how they influence skeletal muscle function and overall health.

In this episode, we dive into how your body clock affects training at different times of the day and, crucially, how modern lifestyle habits may be disrupting your natural rhythms—potentially leading to chronic health issues. The good news? Small changes can help restore balance, with regular exercise playing a key role.

Topics we cover in this episode:

✅ Do circadian rhythms differ between men and women?
✅ How do they change with age?
✅ Are ‘lark’ and ‘owl’ chronotypes an urban myth?
✅ When is the best time for aerobic training, strength training, and stretching?
✅ How can we manage jet lag and shift work effectively?

If you've ever wondered how to optimise your training and lifestyle based on your body clock, this episode is for you!

To find out more about Karyn’s work please. visit the following channels

BlueSky: @kaesser

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-esser-a187333/

Karyn also recommended the folowing resourescv that you kight like to check out

ZOE Podcast - The best time to exercise

BOOK Recommendation - The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms by Lynne Peeples

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