Hypermobility, Dysautonomia, and Yoga: Can They Really Mix?
Hypermobility? Dysautonomia? Yoga?
They don’t mix, right? 🦓🧂🥄
Well… not so fast.
As someone living with both Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), I know firsthand how complicated movement can feel. One of the first things the doctor told me was that yoga was the worst thing you could do when you’re hypermobile. As a yoga teacher, this broke my heart. For years, yoga was overwhelming for my body—too stretchy, too activating, too much. But when I discovered restorative yoga, everything shifted.
Instead of pushing myself deeper into flexibility (which hypermobility doesn’t need more of), restorative yoga gave me permission to slow down, support my joints, and simply rest. 😴 For the first time, I experienced what it felt like for my nervous system to truly settle. That became the foundation for gradually rebuilding my movement tolerance, eventually leading me all the way to inversions (something I never thought was possible for me again!).
Finding ways to make movement feel safe, sustainable, and even joyful has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life, and it’s why I now share this practice with others.
Why Restorative Yoga Works for POTS + EDS
Living with POTS and EDS often means living in a body that feels unpredictable. Our joints may be unstable, our hearts may race from something as simple as standing up, and our nervous systems can feel constantly on edge.
That’s why restorative yoga is so powerful:
It meets your body where it’s at. Poses are fully supported with props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks. This minimizes joint strain, reduces fatigue, and keeps your body safe.
It helps regulate your nervous system. Through breath awareness, grounding, and stillness, the body gets a chance to shift into “rest-and-digest” mode—something many of us with dysautonomia rarely feel.
It’s spoon-friendly. In a typical restorative class, we only do about three poses total. Seriously. Each posture is held for several minutes, giving your system time to unwind and recharge. 🥄
It builds resilience. Instead of depleting you, these practices gently restore your baseline, making it easier to approach other kinds of movement with more stability and confidence.
Optional hands-on assists (gentle, massage-like support) can also be included to help your body feel even more grounded and safe. 💆🏼♀️
Love and Light Wellness: Yoga for Zebras 🦓✨
At Love and Light Wellness, I curate restorative yoga classes specifically designed for people with POTS, EDS, and other forms of dysautonomia. This isn’t “typical yoga”. There’s no pushing, no contorting, and no pressure to keep up. Instead, we create a space where your body can rest, recalibrate, and begin to heal.
Restorative yoga is more than just lying on props, it’s an invitation to reconnect with your body’s wisdom, to rebuild trust in yourself, and to discover that movement can feel good again.
If you’ve ever thought yoga wasn’t for you because of hypermobility, chronic pain, or dysautonomia, know that there is a version of yoga that is for you. And I’d love to guide you there. 💛