Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

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 reflect your fullest, most amazing self, without pushing your body too far? How do you find a photographer who understands dancers and will make you feel safe?Bendy Bodies asked renowned dance photographer Rachel Neville these very questions.Rachel’s passion for dancers is evident as she discusses the ways she helps dancers get the perfect arabesque or action shot. But she also understands the tension a  photographer wrestles with, of wanting to push boundaries in art while at the same time protecting the dancer and creating a safe space. What is the photographer’s responsibility in making sure a dancer stays physically and emotionally safe?Rachel offers practical tips on developing a session organically, finding your “best self” and working into it. She reveals why she treats a shoot like a ballet class, shares the reason photography shoots take patience and practice from both the photographer and the dancer, and explains why the foundational elements of how the shoot is built are just as important as using the right muscles in a movement.Rachel discusses how she makes dancers feel confident and safe in a shoot, and find their emotional expression through their movements. She emphasizes the importance of letting dancers know that the photographer “has your back”, and opens up about what she wishes all dancers could know before a photo shoot, offering questions to ask photographers beforehand.And for all artists, Rachel asks the question:How do we find our authentic self, and truly show what we have to offer?If you’re a photographer, artist, or simply a fan, you’ll love the wisdom in this episode. Link is in bio, or listen on your favorite streaming platform!#rachelneville #rachelnevillestudios #dancephotography #dance #bendybodies #bendybodiespodcast #hypermobility #hypermobilitymd #lindabluesteinmd #jennifermilner #bodiesinmotion  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 down to discuss a whole-body (and mind) approach to caring for adolescent artists. Specialist Linda Bluestein MD, trainer and ballet coach Jennifer Milner, nutritionist Kristin Koskinen, and EDS Wellness ambassador Aidan Leslie speak frankly about the requirements in working with adolescent bendy bodies, from their “superpowers” to their “kryptonite”.We discuss how parents can find help for their adolescent artist, and when to start putting together a “pit crew” to have on hand. Aidan shares her own story and offers suggestions on how to advocate for yourself as a teen artist looking to stay healthy in classes that don’t allow for modifications for hypermobility dancers. Kristin describes signs of disordered eating, and how to get help with fueling. Dr. Bluestein looks at symptoms of hypermobility that go beyond “flexibility” and discusses how “hypermobile” doesn’t always equal “flexible”. Jennifer shares her experiences training hypermobile dancers and mentoring them down that narrow path of working hard to be strong while knowing when to pull back to avoid injury.And finally, we discuss the importance of mental health in the adolescent artist and why it’s always better to address something when it’s “little” than wait until it’s “big”. As Kristin points out, “Emotional owies have a harder time healing.”Are you a pre-professional artist? This episode can give you guidance on how and when to ask for help as well as how to advocate for yourself. If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or mentor, this is a must-listen as we discuss how it really takes a village to raise a hypermobile artist.#traininghypermobiledancers #hypermobileathletes #mentalhealthfordancers #disorderedeating #mentalhealthfordancers #hypermobility #dancerlife #hypermobiledancer #hypermobileballet #hyperextensiondance #BendyBodies #BendyBodiespodcast #TeamBendyBodies #HypermobilityMD #LindaBluesteinMD #JenniferMilner #BodiesInMotion #balletwhisperer #KristinKoskinenRDN #eatwellpros #atypicalAidan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 pelvic floor physical therapist and worldwide educator on the topic, joins Bendy Bodies to share her wisdom on common pelvic floor issues with hypermobility. She takes us through ways to recognize pelvic floor issues and warning signs of pelvic floor dysfunction. She also touches on pelvic organ prolapse and why this is relevant in hypermobile folks.Jeanice discusses when someone might seek out a pelvic floor PT, how hormones can affect pelvic floor tissue, and how pelvic floor health is important for all ages, and for men as well as women. We touch on common dysfunctions in the hypermobile population such as constipation, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction, as well as dysfunction of the pupic symphysis and sacroiliac joints.This episode is packed with tips for improving your own pelvic floor health, and Jeanice’s passion and enthusiasm for pelvic floor health shines throughout the interview. As she said, Jeanice is “happy to connect people with hope and help.”For more information about Jeanice follow her on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mypelvicfloormuscles/For multi-lingual information:https://www.instagram.com/mypfm/Healthcare professionals, follow her here:https://www.instagram.com/mypfm.ambassadors/Check out Jeanice's website:https://www.mypfm.com/#mypfm #pelvicfloorPT #pelvicfloorsolutions #mypelvicfloormuscles #JeaniceMitchell #JenniferMilner #balletwhisperer #BodiesinMotion #HypermobilityMD #LindaBluesteinMD #HypermobilityDance #HypermobilityBallet #HypermobileDancers #Hypermobility #BendyBodies #BendyBodiesPodcast #HypermobilitySpectrumDisorders #HSD #EhlersDanlosSyndromes #EDS #zebrastrong  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 disordered eating, it's something we need to talk about. Kristin Koskinen, RDN is back with Bendy Bodies to talk about this potential minefield of a season. She reminds us that self-improvement is different from self-abuse, and that “being good” does NOT equal “restrictive”. Kristin points out that fear can be a significant driver and that each person’s fear, guilt, or insecurity must be acknowledged. She encourages people to look at the “why” behind wanting to make behavior changes and promotes moving forward with small baby steps. Kristin discusses how extrinsic devices aren’t necessarily helpful or accurate, how labels might box us in, and reminds us of the importance of not trying to “undo” what we’ve already done, but to simply try to move forward. This episode is for anyone struggling physically or emotionally with food patterns, or even for the healthy dancer looking to be more mindful of her nourishment.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 long-term health and well-being. Bendy Bodies founder, Dr. Bluestein, takes the guest seat in this episode as she peels back the onion-like layers of the development of chronic pain and options for managing it. She discusses factors that influence how much pain a person experiences, and names some frequently missed contributors to chronic pain. Dr. Bluestein dispels some common myths about chronic pain, and explains why our thoughts and actions are important in how we perceive pain. She cautions that there’s often no one single solution to pain and shares her multidisciplinary approach to a patient experiencing chronic pain, breaking down each step of her long-term care plan. A perfect companion to Episode 24, with Beth Darnall, "Thriving with Chronic Pain", this episode is great for anyone suffering from chronic pain. https://www.danceusa.org/informational-papers https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/ https://www.chronicpainpartners.com/ https://edswellness.org/ https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/ http://hypermobility.org/ https://tinyurl.com/bendybodiesyoutube https://tinyurl.com/bendybodiesapplepodcast https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/resources/toolkits/ehlers-danlos-syndromes-toolkit.aspx  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 encourages us to think about pain more broadly, explaining why a multi-disciplinary assessment is so necessary for diagnosing and treating pain. Beth talks about how sleep is a top predictor of pain levels for the next day, and how treatment for sleep disorders can help with chronic pain. She goes in-depth on the topic of treating chronic pain using behavioral treatments so people are empowered to help themselves, and lists some of the best ways people can improve chronic pain. Beth gives suggestions on how to reduce pain-related distress, discusses the importance of dedicating time to practicing skills and strategies that help people live with chronic pain, and reminds us that it’s what we do in the day-to-day that makes the difference, more than what happens with sporadic office visits. Check out this must-listen episode for anyone struggling to cope with chronic pain! https://bethdarnall.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 suspect you have MCAS. Dr. Schofield explores possible reasons for the increased incidence of autoimmune disease, and gives guidance on finding the help you need in today’s online world. If you missed Dr. Schofield's first interview with us, please be sure to listen to our previous episode, "Investigating Autoimmune Disorders with Dr. Jill Schofield", for more great insight! Visit www.BendyBodiesPodcast.com for links to all episodes. Thank you so very much to Dr. Jill Schofield for being so generous with her time and expertise! Visit the link below to more information about Dr. Schofield (with fabulous photos from MCAS retreats including one with Bendy Bodies founder, Dr. Linda Bluestein). https://www.centerformultisystemdisease.com/contents/about/about-dr-schofield Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 sodium and fluid intake, and how important it is to address sleep disorders in this population. She discusses why people might need to be tested for comorbidities such as EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) or autoimmune disorders, the difficulty in treating fatigue in this population, and how people can find help with their dysautonomia. Dr. Blitshteyn also explains post-viral dysautonomia and why it’s important to understand in this time of COVID, and expresses her hopes for the future of dysautonomia treatment and research. Learn about Dr. Blitshteyn, https://www.dysautonomiaclinic.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DysautonomiaClinic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dysclinic Learn about Bendy Bodies: Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/podcast Instagram: @bendy_bodies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast/ Learn about Dr. Linda Bluestein: Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com Instagram: @hypermobilitymd Twitter: @hypermobilityMD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hypermobilityMD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ Learn about Jennifer Milner: Website: www.jennifer-milner.com Instagram: @jennifer.milner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), small-fiber neuropathy, and neurocardiogenic syncope are frequent comorbidities with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes), Marfan Syndrome, and other disorders of connective tissue. Dr. Blitshteyn discusses who is considered high-risk for POTS, explains neurocardiogenic syncope and small-fiber neuropathy, and talks about the difference between the three disorders. She explores common symptoms of POTS and outlines frequent comorbidities such as MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and EDS. Finally, Dr. Blitshteyn answers the question - Is there a link between dysautonomia and autoimmune issues? An in-depth exploration of dysautonomia and what that might entail for the hypermobile population, this episode is important for patients and healthcare professionals alike who are eager to learn about these complex disorders. Learn about Dr. Blitshteyn, https://www.dysautonomiaclinic.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DysautonomiaClinic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dysclinic Learn more about Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD at our website and be sure to follow us on social media: Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com Instagram: @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

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 optimize her bone strength through exercise and nutrition. Rebekah is a movement educator and certified Pilates instructor who has presented at conferences and symposia around the world on the topics of bone health, anatomy and movement, and is the founder of Buff Bones®, a research-supported system combining education and focused exercises aimed at the optimization of bone and joint health. Rebekah shares the knowledge she’s gained in her extensive research on osteoporosis and stresses that a diagnosis isn’t the end of the world but rather a test for advocating for oneself. She discusses why bone density is especially important for those with hypermobility disorders. She theorizes on why dancers should be informed about osteoporosis, and emphasizes the importance of finding a good nutritionist, trainer, and more. Finally, Rebekah shares how her diagnosis planted a desire to help people with osteoporosis, and to help future generations prevent it. Links: https://buff-bones.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gotbuffbones/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/rebekahrotstein/?hl=en Rebekah@buff-bones.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices