Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

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 left in a hidden half-shadow. A few years ago, Kathleen McGuire Gaines wrote an article, “Why are we still so bad at addressing dancers’ mental health?” for Dance Magazine. The article went viral, becoming one of the most-read articles in the history of the publication, and the response ignited a passion in Kathleen to bring mental health issues to the forefront of conversations, while bringing resources to the doorstep of every dancer. In this Bendy Bodies episode, Kathleen shares her own journey through the mental health minefield of the dance world, and how it spurred her to bring help to the current generation of dancers by founding Minding the Gap, a social good start up for dancers’ mental health. Kathleen talks about how depression isn’t simply weakness, that shame is a terrible motivator, and how encouraging and informing correct coping strategies can make all the difference. She shares her desire to reduce eating disorders by addressing the underlying mental health issues, and reveals why it’s so important to have one specific phone number ready in your phone for sharing. Join us for this important conversation we all should be having. Learn more about Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, at our websites and be sure to follow us on social media: Websites: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com and www.BendyBodiesPodcast.comInstagram: @hypermobilitymd Twitter: @hypermobilityMD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hypermobilityMD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ And follow guest co-host Jennifer at the links below: Website: www.jennifer-milner.com Instagram: @jennifer.milner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 lifelong healthy eating habits. Kristin examines common mistakes dancers make in fueling choices, and how you can shape a flexible diet built to shift around external factors. She’ll explore creating flexible strategies like a Ballet Bento Box and discuss the base requirements of any foundationally strong diet. Additionally, Kristin lists immune-boosting nutrients and how to find them in foods; explores why stress causes nutritional deficiencies; and explains why removing common inflammatory foods from your diet might help your overall health. Join us for this important discussion! As Kristin points out, “What you do now defines how long and how strong you dance.” Learn more about Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, at our websites and be sure to follow us on social media: Websites: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com and www.BendyBodiesPodcast.comInstagram: @hypermobilitymd Twitter: @hypermobilityMD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hypermobilityMD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ And follow guest co-host Jennifer Milner at the links below: Website: www.jennifer-milner.com Instagram: @jennifer.milner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 of dancer health, and discusses how hypermobility can bring unique mental health problems of its own. Terry discusses the high incidence of anxiety, depression, and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in hypermobile dancers and explores how a dancer’s perfectionism can be both a blessing and a curse. He describes the intrinsic link between the mind and the body, and how anxiety can be reframed into excitement. Terry reveals why it’s important to practice talking to your body, and discusses how friends and loved ones can support a dancer needing emotional help - as well as what not to do. Learn more about Terry Hyde: https://www.counsellingfordancers.com/about/ https://www.instagram.com/counsellingfordancers/ https://www.facebook.com/counsellingfordancers https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-hyde-ma-mbacp-b68617176/ https://twitter.com/counselingdance Learn more about Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, at our websites and be sure to follow us on social media: Websites: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com and www.BendyBodiesPodcast.comInstagram: @hypermobilitymd Twitter: @hypermobilityMD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hypermobilityMD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ And follow guest co-host Jennifer Milner at the links below: Website: www.jennifer-milner.com Instagram: @jennifer.milner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Joel Wells, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip preservation, joins the conversation to shed light on the complexities of hip health, especially for hypermobile dancers. He discusses the evolution of understanding hip dysplasia and labral tears, emphasizing the critical need for proper diagnosis and treatment. Listeners learn about innovative hip preservation strategies that aim to prevent arthritis and reduce the need for surgeries. Dr. Wells also highlights the importance of education and teamwork in optimizing outcomes for athletes and dancers.

In this continuation of our discussion with Moira McCormack, we delve deeper into Moira’s work as a researcher and tireless advocate for dance science and medicine in the studio setting. Moira talks through the basic screening tests used at the start of each season to help define a dancer’s strength and maintenance program for the year, explains what teachers of hypermobile dancers must understand, and reveals that “It’s never too late to build something else into your body. Nothing is insurmountable." Learn more about Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD at our websites and be sure to follow us on social media: Websites: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com and www.BendyBodiesPodcast.comInstagram: @hypermobilitymd Twitter: @hypermobilityMD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hypermobilityMD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ And follow guest co-host Jennifer Milner at the links below: Website: www.jennifer-milner.com Instagram: @jennifer.milner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moira’s tireless work with Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet school have helped build the Royal Ballet into an oft-emulated model of treatment and intervention for ballet dancers. Join us as Moira describes how important a dancer’s early training is - movement patterns, alignment, biomechanics - to increase their career longevity. Moira lists concrete, basic rules for training a hypermobile body, emphasizing the importance of strength work, patience in training, and the necessity of recovery time. It is not overstating it to say that Moira’s research, work, and advocacy have made it possible for hypermobile dancers to have longer, healthier careers. Learn more about Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, at our websites and be sure to follow us on social media: Websites: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com and www.BendyBodiesPodcast.comInstagram: @hypermobilitymd Twitter: @hypermobilityMD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hypermobilityMD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ And follow guest co-host Jennifer Milner at the links below: Website: www.jennifer-milner.com Instagram: @jennifer.milner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices