Libby Hinsley is a yoga therapist and a Doctor of Physical Therapy living with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Suffice it to say, she is the expert on yoga for hypermobility. Her new book, Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility. This book is so needed in the yoga community and in the medical community, where a dearth of clarity and education abound.
We cover a lot ground in this episode, including:
- The difference between being flexible and having joint hypermobility
- What yoga teachers can do if they suspect that a student is hypermobile
- Libby’s experience of getting diagnosed and how challenging it was to find healthcare providers who understood the systemic affects of hypermobility
- How hypermobility affects proprioception, body mapping, and strength
- The connection between hypermobility and neurodiversity
- Whether or not stretching is beneficial for bendy people
As you’ll hear in this episode, hypermobility is complex and you can’t absorb it all in one podcast. That’s why I’ve decided to feature this book as my next Yogaland Book Club selection. To join the club, go to my Substack and enter your email to subscribe: yogaland.substack.com
You can join the club for free, or if you’d like to join an exclusive Q&A with Libby and have access to all of the posts, you can join as a paid member.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Libby’s book: Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility
Libby’s classes, events, and virtual offerings
Videos on YouTube from Jessica Eccles:
What is the link between hypermobility and anxiety? (~ 4 minutes)
Neurodivergence and hypermobility (~ 2 minutes)
Hypermobility and neurodivergence (a longer video, ~ 13 minutes)
Anxiety and hypermobility (longer video, ~17 minutes)
