PLEASE NOTE***: The following episode was recorded in mid-April 2020, just four weeks after the World Health Organization declared the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19) as a global pandemic. At that time, schools and all non-essential businesses had been closed and people around…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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.…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded just weeks after the World Health Organization declared the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus a global pandemic, while we were all just beginning to understand the virus and the disease it causes (COVID-19). Ready for some cutting edge COVID-19 science? In this episode, learn…
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…
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?…
Dancers train constantly to attain peak performance, working long hours to achieve physical and artistic perfection. Unfortunately, mental health is often sacrificed for that perfection. Terry Hyde, former dancer with the Royal Ballet and psychotherapist with patients all over the world, joins Linda and Jennifer to explore this often-neglected aspect…
Traits that can make a dancer so valuable in the dance world - drive, perfectionism, obsessing over details - also put them at higher risk for mental health disorders. And while physical health resources become ever more commonplace in the dance world, mental health resources remain woefully lacking, oftentimes uncomfortably…
While many dancers strive to fuel healthily, making the most out of your meals can be overwhelming. In today’s world especially, dancers need strong immune systems and healthy bodies ready for whatever challenge may come next. Registered dietician nutritionist Kristin Koskinen discusses nutritional needs for dancers and how to shape…
Hypermobility can affect every joint, but perhaps the most complicated one to understand and train is the hip. With a high prevalence of hip injuries in hypermobile dancers and athletes, proper diagnosis and treatment is critical. From hip dysplasia to labral tears, dance science and medicine’s understanding of the hip…