It’s 7:30 a.m. on a December morning in New York City. Ballet dancer Jenelle Manzi is already moving through her morning routine of water, coffee, breakfast, and a quick meditation. Even though it’s the early hours of the day, she’s already preparing for this evening’s performance of “The Nutcracker.” In the midst of her busiest time of year, Manzi feels energized, fueled, and ready to take on the day.
It’s taken Manzi 10 years to get to this point— to feel healthy, strong, and confident in her body.
Manzi started dancing with the New York City Ballet at the age of 16. But at 18, Manzi was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Known commonly as stretchy skin condition, it makes her joints overly flexible and more prone to injury– not ideal for a professional ballet dancer.
As a result of Ehlers-Danlos, Manzi spent years burdened with inflammation and food allergies.
“The hardest period of my life was when I was diagnosed with Ehlers,” she says. “I was literally relearning how to walk in a pool in college, not knowing if I was ever going to be able to dance again.”
It wasn’t until Manzi started seeing a holistic nutritionist, meditating, and practicing yoga that she…
