Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

Neurodivergency occurs at a much higher rate amongst people with hypermobility disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders. What’s the connection?  Jessica Eccles, MD, senior clinical academic psychiatrist at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and specialist in brain-body neuroscience, recently spoke with Bendy Bodies about these neurological conditions that includ...

A very high percentage of dancers and athletic artists struggle with perfectionism: it’s what makes us so good at what we do, while at the same time can be unhealthy for us as individuals. Bonnie Robson, world-renowned psychiatrist and dance medicine specialist, is back to talk to us about perfectionism in the arts world. She defines perfectionism, and explores the duality of perfectionism and anx...

Jill Miller’s life was upended with shocking news of end-stage osteoarthritis in her early forties. This led to her exploration of healthy ways of releasing and restoring her hypermobile body. Her study of the body led her to fascia and its importance in healthy motion. As she began applying fascial  work to her own body practice, she realized she wanted to share her own journey and what she’d lea...

Photography encapsulates a moment in time like no other art form, and every artist walks into the studio wanting to capture their best selves. Some walk away ecstatic, while others leave unsatisfied or even injured. Dancers and photographers alike may feel pressure for photos that continue to push the body - and safety - to its limits, to capture the next “WOW!” shot. How do you get pictures that...

What support does a hypermobile young artist need? Hint: a lot. Hypermobile dancers, gymnasts, skaters, circus artists: the same hypermobility that gives them extraordinary lines and range of motion, also makes them vulnerable to injury, mental health issues, and more. They have unique needs and susceptibilities - so how do we help them? For this episode, several members of Team Bendy Bodies sit d...

What the heck is a pelvic floor and why should you care? The pelvic floor is a collection of muscle and connective tissue forming a hammock at the bottom of your pelvis. Hypermobile people should be especially aware of their pelvic floor, as connective tissue disorders can cause ligaments and tendons to stretch and weaken, creating problems in this crucial area of the body. Jeanice Mitchell, a pel...

Do you love a fresh start? Have you ever made a new year's resolution and then dreaded it?  It’s common for people to look at eating habits, make bold, sweeping commitments, and vow to be perfect this month/year/lifetime. But that’s not realistic, or healthy - physically or emotionally. And since people with hypermobility disorders are statistically more likely to display obsessive behaviors like...

Why are hypermobility disorders painful and what can be done about it? When discussing conditions associated with hypermobility, like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), pain is often mysteriously left out of the conversation despite the fact that persistent pain can be very much a part of many peoples’ lives. Addressing pain early in the process is vital for l...

Living with hypermobility disorders often means learning to live with chronic pain, and as pain is a whole-person experience - physical, emotional, and mental - it stands to reason that pain can have a profound influence on every facet of our daily lives.  Joining us for this episode is Beth Darnall, a Stanford pain scientist, international speaker, evidence-based psychologist, and author. Beth en...

Dr. Jill Schofield, founder and director of the Center for Multisystem Disease, is back to discuss multisystemic diseases and what she wishes everyone knew about them. She offers insight into how to get better care (and what to avoid), the pros and cons of having more or less lenient diagnostic criteria for diseases such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), and advice on what to do if you...

In this second interview with Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn, board-certified neurologist and director of the Dysautonomia Clinic, we go beyond identifying common disorders such as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and take a look at how people with these conditions can improve their quality of life.  Dr. Blitshteyn talks about effective exercises for people with POTS, easy steps to boost...

Dysautonomia is an umbrella term used to describe disorders of the autonomic nervous system (which controls all the automatic functions of the body like blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, temperature regulation, etc.). Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn, a board-certified neurologist and director of the Dysautonomia Clinic, joins us as we dig into these disorders and explore their defining features.  POT...

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects tens of millions of people each year. Dancers and other high-level athletes are often at higher risk due to low body weight, increased time indoors, and suboptimal nutritional support.  Rebekah Rotstein is a former pre-professional dancer who received a shocking diagnosis of osteoporosis at age 28, and then spent the next several years looking for ways to opt...

In this second interview with Bendy Bodies host Dr. Linda Bluestein, she explores the realities of living with a connective tissue disorder. As a renowned hypermobility expert, Dr. Bluestein discusses issues that can exist alongside Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) or Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), such as autoimmune issues, dysautonomia, and more. She shares her acronym for maintaining a hig...

How do you prepare a hypermobile student for the rigors of the professional dance world, finding that balance of exploring their gifts while moving cautiously to avoid injury? In this episode, we are joined by Mariaelena Ruiz, director of Cary Ballet Conservatory’s Professional Training Program and recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Teacher Award at the Youth America Grand Prix NYC Finals. She disc...

For people working with artistic athletes such as dancers, circus artists, and gymnasts, training the hypermobile body brings its own set of challenges. Shepherding a “wonky body” through healthy training may feel overwhelming and frustrating and, at times, like you’re spinning your wheels. Dr. Linda Bluestein turns the tables to chat with Bendy Bodies' regular guest co-host Jennifer Milner about...

Extreme flexibility has permeated social media and influenced every physical art form, from dance to ice skating and of course circus arts. As artistic athletes are asked to explore greater and more unstable end ranges of motion, performers are often left to figure out how to stay healthy for themselves. For those artists and athletes, the question isn’t IF they should work in an end range of moti...

Hypermobility is often desired in dancers for the long, beautiful lines it affords. But hypermobility adds its own challenges to dancers seeking a long, healthy career on the stage.  In this episode, we chat with principal dancer from Ballet West and international guest star Beckanne Sisk about how she manages her hypermobility. Beckanne opens up about learning to rein in her hypermobility, discov...

Nowhere is flexibility and hypermobility more valued and explored than in the circus arts! But while circus artists are highly skilled and extremely strong, working in extreme end ranges of motion comes with its own set of issues and potential injuries. In this podcast, we chat with Dr. Emily Scherb, a DPT who specializes in circus and performing arts.  Emily examines what’s similar (and different...

Many conditions found in "bendy" people have a neurologic basis, impacting both the brain and nervous system. In this Bendy Bodies episode, Dr. Ilene Ruhoy, the Medical Director and Founder of the Center for Healing Neurology, walks us through the integrative approach she takes to healing the brain and the body.  Dr. Ruhoy discusses the “cross talk” between the gut and the brain and explains how t...

World renowned expert in autoimmune disorders and the Founder and Director of the Center for Multisystem Disease, Dr. Jill Schofield, generously chatted with us in a recent interview. Autoimmunity (dysregulation of the immune system) is genetically inherited and will often have multiple triggers. Dr. Schofield discusses the relationship between autoimmune diseases, Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, and dys...

In this episode, guest co-host Jennifer Milner interviews Bendy Bodies’ own host, Dr. Linda Bluestein!  Hypermobility disorders can be frustratingly hard to diagnose or even define. From symptomatic joint laxity to connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or Marfan Syndrome, the umbrella of hypermobility disorders covers a number of conditions and up-to-date information can b...

Living with stress and anxiety has become the rule rather than the exception in today’s world. Everyone develops coping strategies of some kind, but without encouragement and guidance these strategies can be dysfunctional and even harmful.  Dr. Bonnie Robson talks through the risks inherent in social and physical isolation and how to develop strategies that can support and encourage long-term ment...

Dancing with a hypermobile body brings its own set of challenges, from a general lack of stability to a slower recovery time. As a young pre-professional, a dancer might not understand why she must find conscious strength before subconscious strength; why daily activities must be examined through the same placement lens as a dance class; and why “boring” and “tedious” can equal “good for you”.  As...

Your DNA holds many secrets.  Why do drugs work on some people and not on others?  Why are conditions expressed so differently in different family members?  How might hypermobility disorders, dysautonomia (like POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) be related and how does coronavirus fit into all of this?   Listen in as top geneticist, Dr. Paldeep Atwal, shared his expertise on the follow...