The Neglected Stress Impact of a Chronic Illness
“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. It’s now a passion of mine and it is why breathing is the number one principle in my Integral Movement Method for Hypermobility. Breathing comes first. Movement second.
Yes to Self-Care! Be A Little Selfish
Give yourself (or your pet) a big hug. You’re doing great.
I have a question. How do you look after yourself when things get challenging? I ask because self-care was not something I used to do, certainly not regularly. One thing that lockdown has given me is a new focus on what’s important. Taking care of myself has definitely risen up the agenda.
Home exercise has never been easier
I hope you are safe and well during these unusual, challenging times.
I have been thinking of ways I could help to keep you active and enjoying movement safely at home. I am sure your regular exercise activities and classes are closed. Where do we turn for reliable, safe and effective information for chronic pain or hypermobility issues?
My gift to you in these unprecedented times
Keep Moving with me for free – in your own home. These are unprecedented times. Who would have thought we would be living in almost total isolation. Our gyms, Pilates classes and physiotherapy clinics are closing until further notice. And yet, we know that we need to keep moving.
What Does Zebrastrong Mean To You?
What does zebrastrong mean to you? I remember a time when the thought of moving and living pain-free was just a thought. I was in pain, fearful of movement and frustrated at trying many options without success.
EDS and exercise: not the opposites you think
For someone dealing with chronic pain, exercise feels like that last thing that should be on the agenda. With a body that’s easily exhausted, aches, and often acts frustratingly beyond your control, it might seem crazy to choose to physically exert yourself more. But I’ve found exercise to be a fundamental part of managing chronic pain conditions and for those living with forms of hypermobility.
Empowerment: finding your strength
For EDS Awareness Month, I’ve been thinking a lot about empowerment, inspired by the strength of communities who society often disregards as weak. Whether it’s hearing the stories of creative and resilient people, the positivity of #fragilebutunbreakable social media campaign, or watching the phenomenal achievements of the EDS community. I am awed by this strength in the face of adversity.
Fascia and Proprioception: what are they and what do they mean for those with EDS?
As a sufferer of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or hypermobility, you may not be familiar with the terms fascia and proprioception. I wasn’t until well into my health journey. But, whilst sounding complicated, these words actually describe things that are very simple, amazing, fascinating, as well as intrinsic to these conditions.
For many, Mother’s Day is a sharp reminder of what we miss most
Mother’s Day. Last minute cards and chocolates bought, shops repeatedly and urgently stage-whispering ‘Don’t forget!’. Despite all the commercialism, I’m still a supporter of anything which makes us pause and appreciate the people and actions we so often take for granted.
Small Steps – Focusing on the steps themselves
We spend a lot of time thinking about our bodies. For those who are lucky to live free from pain or conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), this often focuses our bodies look or the bits we’d like to tone or change. For those of us with hypermobility or EDS, the focus tends to be on how our joints feel, where the pain is, and how we avoid a dislocation or sprain. But what most of us never do is think about our body parts in isolation. The feet especially get very little attention.
