What if the problem was never that you weren’t trying hard enough, but that your hypermobile body needed a different approach to strength training?

In this episode, I’m joined by my patient Abby to talk about what it really looks like to stop fighting your body in the gym and start working with it. Abby shares her journey from recovering from a childhood spinal fracture to realising that hypermobility was the missing piece behind years of chronic muscle and joint pain.

This is a conversation about letting go of rigid exercise rules, embracing dynamic needs, and redefining strength in a hypermobile body.

In this episode, we cover:

- Recovering from a childhood spinal fracture and how Abby navigates ongoing chronic pain

- How learning she was hypermobile made everything make sense

- How Abby uses self-treatment strategies and has worked to “become her own coach” to stay consistent with exercise

Learning to train with your body rather than against it

This episode is for anyone who is hypermobile and struggling to make exercise work in a body with changing needs.

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📚 Join the waitlist for pre-order information for the May 12th release of Help! I’m Hypermobile

(and get your free PDF companion guide in the meantime):

hypermobilityhq.com/book

📸 Follow me @hypermobilityhq on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

🎙 Learn more about the podcast:

hypermobilityhq.com/podcast

💌 Guest info, media, and resources:

hypermobilityhq.com/blog

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Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your training, exercise, or healthcare plan.

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Author, speaker, and chronic illness advocate Lorraine Ansell and I talk about learning to live with and love your body while living with chronic pain and complex health challenges.

Through a discussion of her book The Surrender Agenda, we explore Lorraine’s experience of living with hEDS, including navigating serious health events and profound personal loss, and how years of wondering why she wasn’t “strong enough” led to a reckoning with identity, self-worth, and the belief that pushing harder is always the answer.

This is a conversation about invisible grief, losing trust in your body, and the slow, often uncomfortable process of learning to care for yourself with kindness.

In this episode, we dig into:

• Learning to live with (and perhaps even come to love) your chronic pain

• Navigating difficult health and life experiences, including retinal detachment and miscarriage

• Why The Surrender Agenda was exactly the book I didn’t know I needed

This episode is for anyone living with chronic illness, navigating grief or medical trauma, or wondering how to stop being at war with their body while still living fully.

If you would like to learn more about Lorraine’s book visit https://www.lorraineansellauthor.com/

You can also find Lorraine online on Instagram and Tiktok

THANK YOU for watching, and remember: incurable does not mean untreatable ❣️

📚 Help! I’m Hypermobile (April 2026) join the waitlist + get your FREE PDF in the meantime: hypermobilityhq.com/book

📸 Follow me @hypermobilityhq on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

🎙 Learn more about the podcast:

hypermobilityhq.com/podcast

💌 Guest info, media, and resources:

hypermobilityhq.com/blog

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your healthcare or wellbeing plan.

Coach Sean and I discuss why strength training alone often isn’t enough for hypermobile bodies.

Drawing on my personal experience training with hEDS, we explore why learning to generate tension matters even for experienced, seemingly strong hypermobile athletes, and why cardiovascular work can support strength rather than compete with it.

We dig deep into:

• Why tactile feedback matters for hypermobile athletes

• How thinking about blood flow diversion can help manage symptoms outside the gym

• Why rigid programmes don’t work for hypermobile people

• Why you NEED to be doing cardio if you are building muscle

Sean is a highly experienced Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer (CF-L3) coach with an extensive background in Crossfit-specific gymnastics, bringing a deep understanding of strength, conditioning, and long term athletic development to this conversation. He is also my personal coach, and his own experience returning to exercise after serious health challenges has shaped an informed and strategic approach to coaching athletes and people looking to elevate their overall fitness.

This episode is for anyone training, rehabbing, or strength training while dealing with joint hypermobility and wondering why doing “everything right” still doesn’t feel like enough.

THANK YOU for watching, and remember: incurable does not mean untreatable! ❣️

📚 Join the waitlist for pre-order information for the April 2026 release of my book Help! I'm Hypermobile (and get your free PDF companion guide in the meantime): ⁠⁠hypermobilityhq.com/book⁠⁠

📸 Follow me ⁠⁠@hypermobilityhq⁠⁠ and subscribe on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Youtube⁠ ⁠

⭐️ Follow Sean on Instagram at ⁠@Sean_coach_tomo91

🎙️ Learn more about the podcast: ⁠⁠hypermobilityhq.com/podcast⁠⁠

💌 For guest info, media, or resources visit my blog at ⁠⁠hypermobilityhq.com/blog/

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your training, exercise, or healthcare plan.

Pregnant with hEDS or HSD (or thinking about it for future)? In this episode, I’m joined by midwife and professor Dr. Sally Pezaro to talk through what hypermobile people REALLY need to know about pregnancy and birth.

We break down👇

• Sally’s 3 key recommendations for anyone pregnant with hEDS/HSD
• how to share the guidelines with your doctor or midwife to improve your care and advocate for yourself
• why collaborative, person-centred maternity care matters so much for hypermobile people
• everything you’ve wanted to know about C-sections, vaginal birth, IVF, epidurals, tears, and more (and what we can say from research so far about how these affect people with hEDS/HSD)

This is a practical, compassionate conversation for patients, clinicians, and birth partners alike.

THANK YOU for watching, and remember: incurable does not mean untreatable! ❣️

📚 Join the waitlist for pre-order information for the April 2026 release of Help! I'm Hypermobile (and get your free PDF companion guide in the meantime): ⁠⁠hypermobilityhq.com/book⁠⁠

📸 Follow me ⁠⁠@hypermobilityhq⁠⁠ and subscribe on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Youtube⁠ ⁠

⭐️ Follow Sally on Tiktok at ⁠@SallyPezaro⁠ and Instagram at ⁠@theacademicmidwife

🎙️ Learn more about the podcast: ⁠⁠hypermobilityhq.com/podcast⁠⁠

💌 For guest info, media, or resources visit my blog at ⁠⁠hypermobilityhq.com/blog/

We're back (again!). And this time Hannah is sharing her experience navigating hEDS, POTS, histamine issues, and PCOS as a patient.

We dig deep into👇

•⁠ ⁠our shared experience of feeling abandoned by the medical system at certain points in our healthcare journey (and what we did next)

•⁠ ⁠why there is no such thing as a hypermobile "look" when it comes to hEDS and HSD

•⁠ how PCOS can affect your experience of hEDS/HSD (and why it's so important to start protecting your bone density NOW!)

•⁠ and we whip out the dynamometer at the end for a Grip-Strength Showdown🏆

As always, THANK YOU for being here🙏

And remember: incurable does not mean untreatable!❣️

📚 Join the waitlist for pre-order information for the April 2026 release of Help! I'm Hypermobile (and get your free PDF companion guide in the meantime): ⁠hypermobilityhq.com/book⁠

📸 Follow me ⁠@hypermobilityhq⁠ and subscribe on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Tiktok⁠, and ⁠Youtube⁠

⭐️ Follow Hannah on Tiktok at @the.histamine.queen and Instagram at @histamine.queen.hannah

🎙️ Learn more about the podcast: ⁠hypermobilityhq.com/podcast⁠

💌 For guest info, media, or resources visit my blog at ⁠hypermobilityhq.com/blog/

WE'RE BACK — with guests!🤩

And for this very special first episode, the tables have turned… and I’m the one being interviewed😅

Joining me is my dear friend Hannah (who shares her own experiences online living with hEDS, POTS, and a histamine condition). Today, she’s asking me about:

• my personal journey to getting an hEDS diagnosis (finally!) last summer
• what "the dark days" in my early 20s were like when I had no idea how to manage my symptoms and no support
• why I’ve been quiet on social media this past year
• and my upcoming book, Help! I’m Hypermobile: Your How-To Guide for hEDS, HSD, and Life in a Hypermobile Body (coming April 2026!🎉)

It’s been a lot lately to be entirely honest, but the podcast has a special place in my heart and I'm so happy to be back on here with all of you. I hope you enjoy the expert guest interviews and patient stories this season as much as I do!

Thank you for being here🙏

And remember: incurable does not mean untreatable!❣️

📚 Join the waitlist for pre-order information for the April 2026 release of Help! I'm Hypermobile (and get your free PDF companion guide in the meantime): hypermobilityhq.com/book
📸 Follow us @hypermobilityhq and subscribe on Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube
🎙️ Learn more about the podcast: hypermobilityhq.com/podcast

💌 For guest info, media, or resources visit my blog at hypermobilityhq.com/blog/

We're back and we're talking about POSTURE!

Misconceptions are EVERYWHERE when it comes to posture, and most of what you think you know about posture is probably wrong.

Listen to today's episode to find out. . .

• why there's no such thing as an inherently bad (or good!) posture
• why we as a society have this weird obsession with "good" posture (and what it has to do with good morals)
• easy, actionable ways that YOU can start to modify your body positions today to feel more comfortable in your hypermobile body

As always, please remember that all of the information contained within this podcast is for informational purposes ONLY. Please be sure to speak with your appropriately qualified healthcare provider if you have any concerns❣️

SHOWNOTES🤓

Please be sure to check my blog at⁠ ⁠hypermobilityhq.com⁠⁠ for complete citations as well as a text transcript of the episode.

Connect with Me

TikTok tiktok.com/@hypermobilityhq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/hypermobilityhq/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and. . .👇

Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ youtube.com/@hypermobilityhq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Work with Me

If you wish to learn more about my clinical work with both remote and in-person patients, you can visit my website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hypermobilityhq.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact Me

If you wish to contact me directly, please send an email to ⁠⁠⁠alex@hypermobilityhq.com⁠⁠⁠

Join My (Awesome!) Community

Looking for a little "hypermobile home" on the internet where you can learn more about hypermobility and connect with other people who are going through the same journey? Well, be sure to check out Hypermobility HQ. Hypermobility HQ is a private membership community that gives the scientifically-minded hypermobile person a non-judgemental place to share thoughts, strategies, and experiences on navigating life in a hypermobile body. Because incurable does not mean untreatable!For more info and to make sure you don't miss the launch make sure you're subscribed to my mailing list. You can sign up here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stan.store/HypermobilityHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Words Matter!

If you wish to read the National Institutes of Health style guide on inclusive and gender-neutral language, you can find it here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/inclusive-gender-neutral-language⁠⁠⁠⁠

And a GIANT Thank You to Everyone Who Has Left a Review + Subscribed💙

At the time of me writing this, we're at SEVENTY-FIVE (!!!!!!!!) reviews🤩 I wonder if we can get to 100???

And make sure you're subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your brand new episodes. This season we're talking about all of the most highly requested topics. Should be a fun one! 👀

Wishing you the best in health and everything else,

Alex❤️

Exercising if you're hypermobile isn't easy.

Join me on today’s episode as I reflect on my personal fitness journey and share with you 6 insights I wish I had known about hypermobility and exercise decades ago. I still use these rules both for myself and with my patients, and I hope that you find them helpful on your journey too!

TODAY YOU'LL LEARN👇

1. Why there is (for the most part) no such thing as an exercise that is inherently “good” or “bad” for hypermobility
2. Why happiness matters when developing an effective exercise strategy
3. Why you might want to think about Overtraining Syndrome and how it relates to your hypermobile body

As always, please remember that all of the information contained within this podcast is for informational purposes ONLY. Please be sure to speak with your appropriately qualified healthcare provider if you have any concerns❣️

SHOWNOTES🤓

Please be sure to check my blog at⁠ ⁠hypermobilityhq.com⁠⁠ for complete citations as well as a text transcript of the episode.

Connect with Me

• TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@hypermobilityhq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilityhq/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and. . .👇

• Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hypermobilityhq⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Work with Me

If you wish to learn more about my clinical work with both remote and in-person patients, you can visit my website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hypermobilityhq.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact Me

If you wish to contact me directly, please send an email to ⁠⁠⁠alex@hypermobilityhq.com⁠⁠⁠

🏡 Join My (Awesome!) Community

Looking for a little "hypermobile home" on the internet where you can learn more about hypermobility and connect with other people who are going through the same journey? Well, be sure to check out Hypermobility HQ. Hypermobility HQ is a private membership community that gives the scientifically-minded hypermobile person a non-judgemental place to share thoughts, strategies, and experiences on navigating life in a hypermobile body. Because incurable does not mean untreatable! For more info click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stan.store/HypermobilityHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Words Matter!

If you wish to read the National Institutes of Health style guide on inclusive and gender-neutral language, you can find it here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/inclusive-gender-neutral-language⁠⁠⁠⁠

And a GIANT Thank You to Everyone Who Has Left a Review + Subscribed💙

At the time of me writing this, we're at SIXTY-SEVEN (!!!!!!!!) reviews🤩 I would be SO grateful if you could take a second to leave a review and help us get to 70!🚀🌟

And make sure you're subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your brand new episodes. This season we're talking about all of the most highly requested topics. Should be a fun one! 👀

Wishing you the best in health and everything else,

Alex❤️