An Introduction To Strength Training For Yoga Instructors

Many yoga teachers and practitioners know the power of mindful movement but what about strength? In this educational webinar, Libby Hinsley explores how strength training can be a powerful complement to yoga, especially for individuals with hypermobility or chronic pain.

As both a Doctor of Physical Therapy and someone living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Libby blends personal experience with professional expertise to help yogis safely integrate strength into their movement practice.

In This Webinar: For Yoga Instructors

In this webinar, Libby Hinsley breaks down the importance of strength training for yogis, particularly those with hypermobility. She begins by explaining the foundational “why,” including how strength training supports joint stability, enhances overall function, and complements a yoga practice. You’ll gain a clear understanding of what strength training entails, along with its essential role in maintaining joint health.

Libby then explores the science behind strength training, including how connective tissues transmit force and how consistent strength work leads to tissue adaptations that support long-term resilience. She also touches on the metabolic benefits of strength training and its positive impact on overall health.

The webinar also addresses specific risks and contraindications for hypermobile individuals. Libby outlines common challenges such as decreased proprioception, early fatigue, compensatory movement patterns, and joint instability—highlighting the need for intentional, well-informed programming.

For yoga teachers and movement professionals, Libby offers practical strategies for safe and effective integration of strength work. She walks through functional movement categories, rep schemes, progressive overload principles, and how to use RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) to tailor intensity. Additional topics include pacing, technique, eccentric loading, and adjusting range of motion to meet individual needs.

And, finally, she emphasizes the importance of recovery. She shares guidelines for rest between sets, how to monitor post-exercise recovery, and the critical role of hydration and nutrition in supporting tissue repair and overall well-being.

Key Takeaways: 

• Strength training plays a vital role in supporting joint health, especially for yogis with hypermobility.
• Understanding how connective tissue transmits force helps inform safe, effective movement choices.
• Strength training leads to beneficial tissue adaptations and provides long-term metabolic health benefits.
• Hypermobility presents unique challenges, including reduced proprioception, early fatigue, and joint instability.
• Practical strategies like functional movement patterns, progressive overload, and appropriate pacing are essential for safe strength work.
• Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is a valuable tool for personalizing and progressing strength training programs.
• Eccentric movements, controlled tempo, and limited range of motion may improve outcomes for hypermobile individuals.

About Libby Hinsely 

Libby Hinsley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a longtime yoga teacher, and a certified personal trainer specializing in hypermobility syndromes and chronic pain.

She’s the author of Yoga for Bendy People and creator of the Anatomy Bites education platform for yoga teachers. Living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome herself, Libby brings a rare and deeply compassionate perspective to strength training, biomechanics, and long-term wellness.

You can follow along with Libby on her Instagram or on her website. 

Additional Resources 

Interested in diving deeper into strength for hypermobility? Join Libby’s email list to get notified about her upcoming class series Bendy & Badass and promotions for the Anatomy Bites membership. Sign up at libbyhinsley.com