Do you have ‘locked’ knees and elbow joints? Hands that easily touch the floor in standing forward bends? Some difficulty with spatial awareness and/or co-ordination? A feeling of stiffness or aches and pains, despite your flexibility? Shallow breathing, headaches or digestive issues?

Many yoga teachers and students have a degree of hypermobility, often without being aware of it. At some point however, there can be a sense that something is not quite right.

The experience and impact of joints that move beyond the average range of motion sits on a broad spectrum and can vary greatly from individual to individual. Hypermobility can be asymptomatic and even seem advantageous, at least initially, in the case of yoga or physical practice. It can also be debilitating.

An understanding of hypermobility is helpful if not essential for all yoga teachers. An informed approach supports confidence, injury prevention, enjoyment and longevity – on and off the mat – as well as a harmonious teacher-student relationship.