Beyond Asana: Balls, Breathwork, & Meditation

Yoga for Bendy People: Last post!

Thanks so all who have joined our journey through Libby Hinsley’s, Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility. I’ve loved sharing this book with you.

The last two sections of Libby’s book focus on self-massage, calming the nervous system, and focusing the mind.

This is where Libby’s book dovetails so well with our previous book club selection, Jill Miller’s, Body by Breath. (You can find the first post here.)

When Libby came to talk to the book club last week, she said she rolls on the balls every day. Why? Because it feels good and they give her proprioceptive feedback. So often, when we’re bendy, stretching to our max (or past it) can feel great because it’s where our mechanoreceptors finally detect our movement. This max stretching is what gives us a sense of where we are in space, rather than feeling like we’re floating out in the ether.

But stretching to the max and beyond can create nagging pain. Rolling on the balls, however, can give us those same proprioceptive benefits without having to stretch.

If you know me at all, you know that I am a big fan of utilizing all the tools at our disposal, including breathwork, myofascial release, asana, and meditation to keep us healthy. (In my case, years of therapy and anti-depressant were vital, too. I always like to mention that because there is zero shame in my game.)

Libby wraps things up by emphasizing that breathwork and mindfulness meditation are key self-care supplements for bendy people.

In her words on p. 272,

Yoga won’t fix your bendiness or anything else, for that matter. But yoga offers tools to optimize the body and nervous system, manage discomfort, and help us find some perspective and even harmony. Best of all, yoga offers tools to help shift our perspective about our condition, see ourselves in a different light, and change the story about what’s possible. It’s like putting on a different pair of glasses.

Let me know if you made it to the end, and what you though.

XO,

Andrea