5 awkward hypermobile situations- Part 2

A bad week and a half with my joints has to led to even more awkwardness in and around London town:

1) Public transport.
 In rush hour it is not fun, everyone knows that. However when you have hypermobile joints to contend with, it's never fun. The worst part has to be getting on a crowded tube and reaching up to the bar to hold on, only to hear and feel your shoulder go POP. You then have to make the choice between being in bad pain and still holding on, or just going solo and falling into everyone and wobbling all over strangers. It's also nice to see people's confused faces as you stand hunched over, leaning against a door because your ankle has gone and you can't make it over to the seats unaided. If there are any seats that is.

2) Cooking.
 You go into the kitchen feeling alright, ready to make a lovely, fresh, healthy meal, or even something simple like toast.What you need to remember is that there are dangers everywhere. Chopping vegetables for the Sunday roast? Not so easy when your shoulder comes out and your wrists seize up. Even buttering bread can cause some intense pain and as for mixing up ingredients for baking, forget it. Always fun when you are hosting a dinner party and you have to explain to guests that dinner is microwaved soup because your joints are having a night out. Literally.

3) Pet owning.
So you're in the local park, taking your little furry bundle of joy for a stroll when they see a fox, another dog, or just a plastic bag blowing in the wind. This has happened to me countless times. The dog runs, the lead tugs, the shoulder comes out, your knee twists. The next few minutes are a blur of retrieving the dog, trying to walk, trying to keep the dog near you and half crawling/half rolling home, much to the amusement of other dog walkers. I also once really hurt the top of my back lifting a cat. No animal is safe.

4) Bras.
I am not at the point in life where I sometimes can't wear a bra at all, and have to settle for a crop top or something similar. The straps hurt, the back hurts, they leave marks and you feel like you've been lifting weights just from having the damn thing on for four hours. Not really ideal when you have a nice dress to wear and a birthday celebration to attend to.

5) Dates.
First date, nice glass of wine, lovely dinner. All going well until you get up out of your chair or slide off your bar stool and your hip comes out and you practically fall in your suitors lap. You then have to explain this whole illness and all the symptoms and you then spend the evening worrying that they a) think you are mad or b) think you might be exaggerating or making it up. Always good to remember that if someone doesn't get it, and you can't make a date because of your condition and they don't understand, they probably aren't worth it!

I'm working on making this a 5 part series, so if anyone has awkward situations to share give me a shout on Twitter! @laurenrellis 

Pilates and hypermobility

Pilates is the gym class of choice for hypermobility. That's a massive sweeping statement, as everyone is different and some won't be able to do it at all, but when you ask at appointments or physio sessions, it's always the recommended one. I was always keen on being swept up in the yoga craze but my physio told me I would make everything a million times worse for myself if I did. I'm not sure if it was me being stubborn about the condition stopping me from doing something, or just that I found other things to help, but pilates has passed me by for ages. Until now.

Three weeks ago I finally took the plunge. Wednesday is now, and shall be known from now on, as pilates day. I'm hoping to keep it up for as long as I can because it really is helpful. I go to the gym and do all manner of exercise, but I never feel as good as I do after pilates.

The ache the next day is the good kind. The sort of 'I know this is doing something positive' ache. The first time I went I was slightly alarmed at the cracking and clicking noises flying out of my joints and the fear kicked in. I did have shoulder pain, as I do every time I put pressure on them, but it's lessened with every session and I am confident it is doing me the world of good. I feel less stiff and my joints the next day feel stronger, which I am hoping will be a long-term change.

The instructor focuses a lot on taking everything 'slo-o-o-o-w-l-y' and 'straightening yourself one vertebra at a time.' This attention to movement actually taught me a lot about how much I rush my joints. I can do so much more and have a lot more balance when I take every move extra slow. It's also very relaxing, which is good for anyone.

If you often feel like you need a good stretch and to click out a few joints, give it a go. I think my weak upper body was a bit shocked at first and I did have to hold back on a few positions, but my fourth session will be the one where I try everything.

You should obviously mention it to your instructor before you start, and a good one will ask if there is anything they should know. They don't need to be professionals in hypermobility to tell you to take your time and you know that anyway.

Two levels run at my gym, and I think that beginners will suit me for quite some time time. The general feeling among my joints after class two was 'WE LIKE THIS.'

A few terms like 'downwards facing dog' were thrown out there which I thought were exclusive to yoga, but I can just about handle them. Don't be scared to try it out. You can always stop halfway through if you feel like it's doing more harm than good.

I'm going to try a few different classes out across London in January and I can see a love affair forming in my mind already.