Sure, it’s good to be flexible in life, but all things have their limits! If you’ve ever lived with a connective tissue disorder, you know all too well how often joint conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) can go unrecognized by doctors and result in life-altering symptoms from pain and fatigue to gastrointestinal issues and insomnia. Whether you’re living with a hypermobility condition, treating one, or know someone living with their own – the greatest secret weapon you can use to ma ...
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Ever wish you had someone to help you with the mental aspects of dance? That's exactly what you get when you tune in to the Passion for Dance podcast... a sport psychology expert who understands the dance industry. Welcome to a Passion for Dance Podcast where your host Dr. Chelsea will bring the science of sport psychology into the dance studio. Each week you will hear tips and strategies around topics like confidence, growth mindset, resilience, motivation, and happiness… all the tools the ...
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Overcoming Pain in EDS: Building Stronger Bodies with Wealth Founders Katie & Andrew Dettelbach
1:18:20
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In this episode of the Bendy Bodies podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, chats with Katie and Andrew Dettelbach, founders of Whealth, a program dedicated to helping people with hypermobility and chronic pain. Both Katie and Andrew have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and have turned their personal struggles into a platform …
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174. Hypermobility Concerns and Care for Dancers with Dr. Linda Bluestein
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Are you a flexible dancer or have easily hyperextended joints? Dancers with hypermobile joints might love the ability to show off tricks and skills as a dancer, but is it dangerous to be that hypermobile? I’ve been wanting to talk to a medical professional about hypermobile joints in dancers, so my guest today, a dancer turned doctor, is here to ex…
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175. Confidence Comes from Taking the First Step
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One thing that separates good dancers from great dancers is their ability to believe in themselves. It's true for students, teachers, and professionals. When you're pursuing any dream at any stage of life, there is so much power in believing in yourself. But that's a lot easier to say than to actually do. It's hard to translate that into real progr…
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Grief, Healing, and Mental Health Strategies for Chronic Illness with Natasha Trujillo, PhD
1:04:53
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In this insightful episode of the Bendy Bodies podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein speaks with Dr. Natasha Trujillo, a licensed sports psychologist specializing in grief, loss, and chronic illness. Dr. Trujillo and Dr. Bluestien both work with the Colorado Ballet. Dr. Trujillo discusses the complex emotional landscape of grieving when faced with chronic p…
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173. 3 Strategies to Guarantee Genuine Team Commitment
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For many teams, be it school teams or studios, we are entering a new season. Wouldn't it be great if we could establish strong, positive cultures from the beginning? When an athlete quits in the middle of the season, it usually causes drama, stress, and a lot of extra work. Generally speaking, as coaches and teachers, we strive to create a culture …
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Group Rehabilitation for POTS with Emily Rich, OT
56:21
56:21
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In this episode of the Bendy Bodies podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, sits down with Emily Rich, an occupational therapist specializing in POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, and other chronic conditions. Emily, who is also a patient with hypermobile EDS and POTS, shares her insights on how o…
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We often label our dancers without even meaning to do it, even if it's only in our heads and we never say it out loud. You know who your solid turner is, who is lazy, who has style, and who you can depend on to know the counts. As we get to know our dancers, we inadvertently label them. We have a lot of power over our dancers’ journeys, and we carr…
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Understanding the Brain's Role in Chronic Pain with Kaitlin Touza, PhD
1:06:41
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In this episode of the Bendy Bodies podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, engages in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Kaitlin Touza, a renowned pain psychologist. Dr. Touza delves into the complexities of chronic pain, explaining how the nervous system, brain processes, and psychological factors contribute to pain experiences. Sh…
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171. Realistic Time Management for the Stressed Out Dance Teacher with Kelly Nolan
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Time management can be hard for all of us, dancers and coaches included, and we often beat ourselves up when we can't do it well. My guest today taught me the time-management strategy I use every day, so I had to bring her on to share it with all of you because it's not just another app or a planner; it’s an amazing stress-reduction tool. Today’s g…
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Connective Tissue Disorders and Lipedema with Karen Herbst, MD
1:16:38
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In this episode of the Bendy Bodies podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, hosts an enlightening discussion with Dr. Karen Herbst, a leading expert on lipedema and other adipose connective tissue diseases. Dr. Herbst shares her extensive knowledge on the complexities of lipedema, Dercum's disease, and their connection to connective tis…
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170. 4 Reasons Not to Punish with Pushups
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If you are of a certain age in this dance industry, like me, you probably had to run laps when you were late to practice or would be kicked out of ballet if you crossed your arms in class. For many of us, we grew up with coaches and directors who used physical punishment for bad behavior and mistakes. It was the norm. It's what many of us were used…
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Linking Mast Cell Activation, Autoimmunity, and EDS with Kara Wada, MD
1:01:02
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In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, delves into the intricate connections between the immune system and hypermobility disorders with Dr. Kara Wada. A quadruple board-certified physician and Sjogren's patient, Dr. Wada shares her expertise on mast cell activation syndrome, autoimmunity, and the role of inflammation. Discover …
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169 Helping Your Dancers Handle Their Emotions Through Journaling with Michelle Leagans
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Do your dancers struggle with face-to-face conversations or have a hard time handling their emotions? If you're like most dance educators I've talked to, having real, face-to-face conversations, that are productive but still kind and provide real benefit, is exceedingly challenging. Our dancers are used to communicating behind a screen. It's hurtin…
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Examining The Future of EDS Diagnosis and Care with EDS Society CEO Lara Bloom
1:05:27
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In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, hosts a captivating conversation with Lara Bloom, President and CEO of the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Lara shares her journey in advocating for rare diseases, the progress made in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and the upcoming updates in diagnostic c…
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168. Where to Start with Team Building: 4 Unique Strategies
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Whether you're a coach at a school or teach in a studio setting, your dancers likely need to build a tight-knit team if they're going to be successful this season. Traditionally, people think of connecting socially when they want dancers to be close, but there are actually four types of team building, and social connection’s only one way to build t…
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167. Creating a High-Performance Environment in Rehearsals
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Did you know there's a formula for creating a high-performance environment? Successful dancers know how to perform at their best, but that happens when you practice at your best. Being a successful dancer starts in rehearsal. It's about creating that high performance environment in every class, every cleaning rehearsal your dancers attend. Then, of…
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166. How to Cultivate a Winning Coach-Choreographer Relationship on Your Dance Team with Nick Clement
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If you hire choreographers for your dance team, you’ll definitely want to listen to today's episode for some really helpful insights into that coach-choreographer relationship and how to work together to create championship-winning routines. Today's guest is Nicholas Kade Clement of NKC Choreography. After his own professional career, Nick started …
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165. 3 Reasons NOT to have Dance Team Captains
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This episode is a continued conversation about team leadership. Last week's episode was all about identifying a truly committed team leader and how to help the whole team be more committed. There is an entire spectrum of commitment, and it's very important that any team leader is one of the top two tiers. So if you missed that and are considering a…
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164. Are Your Dance Team Leaders Truly Committed?
12:42
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I'm hearing coaches and studio owners tell me every day how commitment levels are different and how dancers don't seem as committed as they used to. Then you add the need to have leadership on our teams, either formal or not, and if most of your senior-level dancers aren't committed, now what do you do? In this episode, I'm going to share the idea …
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Welcome back, every Bendy Body! In this special episode, I wrap up season four and share exciting plans for season five. Join me as I reflect on our journey, from focusing on high-risk populations like dancers and gymnasts to diving deep into medical topics. Listen in for gratitude-filled shoutouts from our wonderful listeners as I read their heart…
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It's really challenging to teach resilience and confidence and motivation if the team culture is awful. Maybe you've been a part of some incredible cultures as a dancer, or maybe you've been part of some really bad ones. Either way, culture is the foundation that all other mental skills need to thrive. Whether you're at a studio or a school team or…
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101. Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Chronic Illness with Ashok Gupta
1:00:49
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In this conversation, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Ashok Gupta about his experience breaking the vicious cycle of chronic illness when he had ME-CFS. They discuss the impact of chronic conditions, the brain's priority of survival, and the vicious cycle of symptoms. Ashok explains the Gupta Program, which aims to make patients aware of subtle dang…
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162. The Sullivan Twins on Resilience, Pressure, Success and How to Love the Journey
51:17
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While I'm on a mission to create happier, more successful dancers through positive mental skills, I'm also someone who loves to be inspired by dancers who are living their dreams and are also honest about the hard work it takes to get there. My guests in today’s episode are here to do just that and pull back the curtain on their journey from studio…
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Milestones and Reflections: 100 Episodes of Bendy Bodies with Linda Bluestein, MD
1:19:42
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Dr. Linda Bluestein celebrates 100 episodes of Bendy Bodies discussing the most rewarding part of hosting the podcast and the challenges of podcasting. She emphasizes the importance of balancing the complexity of EDS and the need for healthcare professionals to understand and empathize with the struggles of patients with hypermobility conditions. D…
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161. The NEW Goal Setting Method that Sets You Up for Success
14:18
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One of the most accessible mental skills that makes a real impact on your growth as a dancer is goal setting, but I've seen goal setting fail when it's not done well. While a method like SMART goals can be commonly used, I have a better way. This new method takes a very important step beyond the SMART method, and dancers that I've worked with who u…
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99. From News Anchor to Advocate: A POTS and EDS Journey with Summer Dashe
59:17
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Summer Dashe, a former news anchor and advocate for the chronically ill, shares her POTS and EDS journey. She covers how she manages her symptoms in everyday life and the challenges of getting diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). #dysautonomia #ChronicIllness #POTSAwareness Takeaways Gett…
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DANCER BONUS: Mindset of Effective Goal Setting
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This short episode is the DANCER BONUS to Episode 160: The Achievement Mindset Speaking directly to the dancers out there, Dr. Chelsea shares the importance of setting goals for yourself, why it matters so much, and the good things than can happen when you do. Follow the show for more: https://chelseapierotti.com/follow…
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160. The Achievement Mindset: How Goal Setting Transforms your Performance on Stage
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Goal setting isn't just about saying something you want to achieve, writing it on a sticky note, and then going for it. That's why a lot of goal setting falls apart. We mean well and we set some big goal, and then somehow it never happens. How you think about goals and how you approach them makes all the difference in making goal setting work for y…
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98. Environmental Triggers of Mast Cell Disease with Tania Dempsey, MD
1:16:15
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Summary Dr. Tania Dempsey discusses mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) with a focus on environmental triggers of mast cell disease. Takeaways Infections can trigger mast cell reactions and people with MCAS may react differently than those without. Identifying and addressing environmental triggers, such as mold and plastics, is important in managi…
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97. Learning to Spot the Signs of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes with Guest Host, Kate Colbert
1:05:47
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In this special “EDS Awareness Month” episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, founder Dr. Linda Bluestein and guest host Kate Colbert discuss how everyone can learn to spot the signs of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. Dr. Bluestein emphasizes the importance of EDS awareness, as many people are still not getting the evaluations and care they need. She also de…
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159. 3 Things I Wish I Knew About Saying Goodbye to My Dancers
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At the end of every dance season, there comes a time to say goodbye. Every year, as both a teacher and a coach, I watch young men and women I've grown close to graduate and move on to the next phase of their life. Whether it's at banquets or graduations, watching a senior leave the program is usually heavy with some complex emotions. One mental ski…
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158 Success in Dance is 20% Talent 80% Everything Else with Menina Fortunato
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Any dancer dreaming of a professional career is most likely working hard in the studio and honing their skills to be the strongest dancer they can be, but in the professional dance world, talent is only 20% of the equation. There are a lot of other skills to master that make up that other 80%. This 80/20 rule where success as a professional dancer …
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96. Coping with Dance Injuries and Career Transitions with Chelsea Pierotti, PhD and Guest Cohost, Jennifer Milner
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In this episode, Dr. Chelsea Pierotti discusses coping with dance injuries and transitions, both from a physical and psychological perspective. She explains that the way dancers appraise their injuries and their emotional response to them can greatly impact their coping mechanisms. Dr. Pierotti emphasizes the importance of shifting the mindset from…
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157. Why Our Dancers Should Celebrate Dance in Every Cutlure with Mickela Mallozzi
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Do you have much experience with dance outside of your own culture? Since it's International Dance Day, I want to take today's episode to focus on dance as a source of heritage and identity and how it can truly connect us across our different cultures, but I can't do it alone. My guest today is four-time Emmy Award-winning host and executive produc…
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DANCER BONUS: Understanding Mental Health vs. Mental Toughness
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Dancers, this one is directly for you! You can be a mentally healthy dancer who is ALSO mentally tough. Here's the difference between mental toughness and mental health and how you can build your mental toughness. Learn more at: https://chelseapierotti.com/156By Chelsea Pierotti
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156. Teaching Your Dancers Mental Toughness and How to Take Corrections
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11:47
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Do you feel like it's getting harder and harder to challenge your dancers and hold them to a high standard without hurting their feelings or being seen as a mean coach? When I talk to dance educators, many of them express this internal conflict where they want to push their dancers for more and help them see the value of hard work, but they might b…
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