Ep. 134 When Flexibility Becomes Instability with Dr. Linda Bluestein

About this episode

Dr. Linda Bluestein discusses the differences in outcomes for hypermobile dancers and offers insights on teaching strategies to manage pain and proprioception.

Two hypermobile dancers. Similar bodies, similar training. One builds a 20-year career. The other is in chronic pain by 16. What's the difference? That's the question Dr. Linda Bluestein is back to answer in Episode 134. A physician specializing in hypermobility and connective tissue disorders, Dr. Bluestein returns for her annual May conversation during EDS and Hypermobility Awareness Month, and this one goes somewhere we haven't gone before. Loren and Dr. Bluestein dig into what actually separates long-term outcomes for hypermobile dancers and AcroDancers, what yellow-light warning signs teachers are misreading as normal, why proprioception breaks down in hypermobile students and what you can do about it in a regular class setting, and how to help students shift their relationship with pain without creating fear or anxiety around movement. She also shares what new research is telling us about connective tissue disorders, why instability and hypermobility are not the same thing, and the one thing she wants every acro and dance teacher to do differently starting this week. A full transcript of the podcast is available here…

People in this episode

Host: Loren

Guest: Dr. Linda Bluestein

Topics covered

• hypermobility
• dance
• chronic pain
• proprioception
• connective tissue disorders
• teaching strategies

Keywords

• hypermobility
• chronic pain
• dance education
• proprioception
• connective tissue
• AcroDancers
• teaching methods

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Acrobatic Arts Inc

More episodes of The Acrobatic Arts Podcast

• Ep. 136 Back Tucks & Back Layouts with Leah Holliday · June 3, 2026 · 35 min
• Ep. 135 Spotlight Series: Building a Dance Business with Purpose with Paul Malek · May 20, 2026 · 25 min
• Ep. 133 Spotlight Series: Square Splits, Mobility and the Nervous System with Erika Mayall · April 22, 2026 · 10 min
• Ep. 132 What Acro Makes Possible - Kei Nguyen is Living Proof · April 8, 2026 · 20 min
• Ep. 131 Spotlight Series: The Why Behind the Skill with Sarah Reis · March 25, 2026 · 9 min
• Ep. 130 What Acro Makes Possible with Anabel Ho · March 11, 2026 · 27 min