The Zebrastrong Blog

Estimated reading time: 2 minutesCan we ever really be prepared for a flare-up? And when they arrive, how do we manage them? They can be as unpredictable as the rain. You dress for sun and a sudden downpour arrives. Sometimes we definitely know rain is coming and we can pack an umbrella but sometimes rain, like a flare-up, can appear when the sky seemed so blue. We just weren’t expecting it.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutesWhen I attended my first EDS The Ehlers-Danlos Society conference in Las Vegas in 2017, around 50% of my clients had EDS and hypermobility with pain. I was kindly invited to speak by Lara Bloom CEO of The EDS Society.  I had just released the first online hypermobility course, Strengthen Your Hypermobile Core.

Estimated reading time: < 1 minuteSeason 1 of this dedicated hypermobility podcast has ended, but we will be back in the Autumn with more amazing and inspiring guests. This was my first attempt at a Podcast, and I have absolutely loved every minute of it. I have had the privilege to interview zebras and experts at the top of their game.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutesSoft is the new strong. This seems the total wrong thing – when we feel loose and disjointed, surely we should be bracing to hold it all together. I discovered that led to more pain and fatigue. So I went soft.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes2020 was an incredibly challenging year for everyone on so many levels. With a history of pneumonia and bronchiectasis I was naturally worried about catching the virus. When things became serious in the UK, my family practised strict isolation. We limited our visits to the supermarket, we washed our hands constantly and carried hand sanitiser when we did go out. We even left our post for 2 days before opening it to limit any exposure.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutesWant to take control of your hypermobility in 2021?

This Christmas, The Zebra Club is offering a special Christmas deal. We are offering a Zebrastrong Christmas from the 15th to 26th December and warmly invite you to take advantage of 20% off the retail price on an annual subscription to The Zebra Club.

Estimated reading time: < 1 minuteI never imagined I would be speaking openly on social media and interviews about my pelvic floor history or recurrent UTIs due to mast cell activation. My upbringing was such that certain things are private and definitely not a topic of conversation. And yet here I am. The reality is this is what life can be like with a condition like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutesWe’ve probably all ventured into the previously unknown world of online exercise during these unusual times. When our regular gym or Pilates classes closed (or still remain closed), if you wanted to stay healthy and exercise safely you probably turned to YouTube for inspiration. Or maybe you became a regular on Zoom with your regular teacher.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes“Psychological factors can trigger a breathing pattern that might be appropriate to an emergency situation, when no such emergency exists”. This is an extract from a book on breathing pattern disorders. I became so interested in breathing patterns the more I worked with our hypermobile community. Breathing comes first. Movement second.