yoga & my hypermobility ໒꒱ིྀ༝⁺
growing up i never liked sports, i took a little longer to learn how to walk and even longer to be able to jump. later in life, running was also a big challenge when i started having pe lessons.
turns out, i am horribly hypermobile. my g-hsd was only addressed medically last year when i was 17. the physiotherapist who took my case told me i had very little muscle mass, and it would be very hard for me to build muscle. this is due to the fact that my bones don’t stop at their sockets as they are too shallow, and i don’t have enough muscle to hold my bones in place. this also causes increased risks of injury. this means that until i build enough muscle i can’t go to the gym or even carry heavy weights casually during daily life.
my physiotherapist basically told me i had to move like a grandma until i had enough muscle since i had very high risks of injuring myself pretty badly doing literally anything.
i started doing yoga a few months ago. i used to struggle a lot during classes, i couldn’t hold a high lunge, struggled horribly with downwards facing dog, and flowing through positions.
despite struggling, i found comfort in yoga. it was the first time a physical activity didn’t cause me anxiety.
during my last lesson i felt so much better. i could follow the class better, hold the positions for longer without feeling pain or shaking, and i felt like i was really flowing better. this is the first time i felt physical progress.
i would really recommend vinyasa yoga for anyone who suffers with g-hsd and wants to build muscle. it is really gentle and steady in comparison to the gym, which is eventually my goal, but i still need to build more muscle to be able to safely lift weights. in my experience, vinyasa yoga is also very forgiving. as someone who had a lot of negative experiences and extreme anxiety surrounding sports and physical activities, i’ve found that the teachers are extremely supportive and kind. they really encourage you to go on your own pace.
i’m really grateful for starting yoga, i really hope this post will help other people who want to manage their g-hsd!
