Donna Piper, MA

Donna Piper, MA Host of Dear Body, I’m Listening | Real talk for women with Lipedema, MCAS & chronic fatigue Because your symptoms aren’t just physical.

Donna Piper is a trauma-informed emotional support coach, podcast host, and movement therapist helping women with chronic illness heal the emotional weight they’ve been carrying for years—like shame, fear, and feeling invisible in their own bodies. She’s the creator and host of Dear Body, I’m Listening, a podcast for women navigating Lipedema, MCAS, ME/CFS, and invisible illnesses. Each episode is

a space to feel seen, unpack the trauma no one talks about, and reconnect with the body through real talk, nervous system healing, and soul-level validation. With over 20 years of experience in trauma recovery and somatic healing, Donna combines her background in Dance Movement Psychotherapy, Pilates, Yoga Nidra, and the Akashic Records to help clients feel emotionally safer, softer, and more in control of their healing journey. Donna’s clients say they feel understood for the first time—unburdened from old stories, grief, and guilt. Her work centers around nervous system support, emotional release, and reclaiming the relationship women have with their bodies after years of pain, misdiagnosis, and dismissal. And your healing won’t be either. 💛

Pilates isn’t one-size-fits-all — especially if you’re living with hypermobility or lipedema.Your joints may be more mob...
09/12/2025

Pilates isn’t one-size-fits-all — especially if you’re living with hypermobility or lipedema.

Your joints may be more mobile than stable. Your muscles might have to work harder just to keep everything in place. And swelling or heaviness can make certain moves trickier than they look on Instagram.

That’s why safe modifications aren’t optional — they’re essential. Here’s how to protect your body while still building strength and confidence in class:

🏋️ Support before strength – Props like bands or balls help keep your body aligned. Skip locking knees/elbows, and brace your core before lifting.

🐢 Slow the pace – Moving slower prevents overextension, improves activation, and gives you time to check your form every rep.

💪 Activate stabilizers first – Engage your core, hips, and shoulders before moving limbs. Small, intentional movements beat big, sloppy ones every time.

With the right modifications, Pilates becomes your ally: improving stability, boosting strength, and helping you feel safe in your body.

📌 Save this before your next class — and share it with someone who needs to know they can move with their body, not against it.

___
Pilates for chronic illness, hypermobility modifications, lipedema exercise tips, safe Pilates moves, joint protection in Pilates, gentle Pilates for chronic pain, low-impact exercise for hypermobility, EDS exercise modifications, lymph-friendly workouts, stability exercises for lipedema, Pilates safety tips for joint instability

Movement doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.One of the biggest myths I hear is that exercise has to be long, inte...
09/12/2025

Movement doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

One of the biggest myths I hear is that exercise has to be long, intense, or “all or nothing” to count. But for those of us living with chronic conditions, even one intentional minute can shift everything.

This short flow — under 60 seconds, no mat or equipment needed — uses only your body and breath. That’s all it takes to support circulation, stimulate lymphatic flow, calm your nervous system, and reconnect you to your body.

Because movement isn’t about perfection. It’s about building trust, moment by moment.

💬 I’ll share the full step-by-step flow in the first comment so you can try it out.

Tag me when you do it — I’ll be your biggest cheerleader 🎉

____
gentle movement, chronic illness exercise, low impact exercise for chronic pain, dance therapy, Pilates for lipedema, lymphatic flow exercises, invisible illness movement, safe exercise for chronic fatigue

Two conditions. One complicated relationship.When Lipedema and hypermobility show up together, the body faces unique cha...
09/10/2025

Two conditions. One complicated relationship.

When Lipedema and hypermobility show up together, the body faces unique challenges: loose ligaments force your joints to work overtime just to stay in place, while fluid build-up from Lipedema adds swelling and pressure. Walking, standing, even sitting for long stretches can feel like an uphill battle.

For years, this overlap has gone under-recognized — leading to years of pain and misdiagnosis for many women.

But here’s the good news: the right kind of movement can make a life-changing difference.

Gentle, stability-focused practices like resistance band work, mindful Pilates, and low-impact strengthening exercises provide support without overload. They don’t just protect joints — they build confidence and steady ground in a body that often feels unpredictable.

🩷 You deserve to feel steady in your body.
🩷 You deserve movement that heals, not punishes.

📌 If you live with Lipedema or hypermobility, save this and bring it to your next doctor’s appointment. Share it widely — your story might be the key to someone else finally being seen.

___

lipedema and hypermobility, EDS and lipedema connection, joint pain in lipedema, ligament laxity causes, chronic illness movement tips, gentle strength training for hypermobility, low-impact exercise lipedema, chronic pain advocacy, connective tissue disorders, stability exercises for EDS, lipedema swelling management, safe workouts for joint instability

Here’s the truth: You were never meant to carry this alone.We heal in community. Your story could be the lifeline someon...
09/10/2025

Here’s the truth: You were never meant to carry this alone.

We heal in community. Your story could be the lifeline someone else is clinging to right now.

I used to believe asking for help made me a burden - but letting others in was the bridge between surviving and actually living.

💬What’s one thing you wish the world understood about your experience?

Drop it below.

Tags📌

chronic illness community, chronic pain empathy, lipedema awareness stories, MCAS journey, hypermobility support, invisible illness storytelling, hEDS

Relief doesn’t have to mean pushing through pain — it’s about working with your body, not against it.Actually “pushing t...
09/05/2025

Relief doesn’t have to mean pushing through pain — it’s about working with your body, not against it.

Actually “pushing through” when you have Lipedema and chronic illness is most likely interfering with your healing. And may even delay it. Which is such a bummer.

Here are some of my favorite tools for pain management and swelling relief:
💛 Compression garments
💛 Leg pump therapy
💛 Vibration plate
💛 Legs up the wall
💛 The Big 6 lymphatic clearing moves by Dr. Perry Nickelston (Stop Chasing Pain)
💛 Gentle Pilates & stretching

💡 I’ve addes gentle a Pilates video for lipedema & chronic illness inside my free Essential Healing Kit. The link is in my bio if you are interested.

📌 Save this so you can start building your own toolkit today.

chronic pain relief tips, lipedema swelling relief, lymphatic drainage tools, Big 6 lymphatic clearing, gentle Pilates for chronic illness, vibration plate for swelling, pilates for lipedema

It’s officially Pain Awareness Month — but let’s be honest, for many of us, every month is Pain Awareness Month.This Sep...
09/04/2025

It’s officially Pain Awareness Month — but let’s be honest, for many of us, every month is Pain Awareness Month.

This September, I want to change the conversation: from doubting pain to demanding care.

And because movement is one of my favorite tools for pain relief, I’ve got something special coming soon… Pilates designed specifically for chronic illness & lipedema.

If you’ve ever felt left out of “fitness culture,” this one’s for you. Stay tuned. 💛

______
pain awareness month 2025, chronic pain advocacy, Pilates for chronic illness, lipedema exercise, gentle movement for pain

Lipedema pain isn’t “just sore legs” — it’s a perfect storm of fibrotic tissue, chronic inflammation, and fluid build-up...
09/02/2025

Lipedema pain isn’t “just sore legs” — it’s a perfect storm of fibrotic tissue, chronic inflammation, and fluid build-up.

For me, that pain feels like a burning weight I can’t put down, cement filled heavy legs, and a never leaving pain. ( I also have chronic fatigue, MCAS, POTS, and hEDS so there is alot of cross over too)!

For others, it’s a deep ache that never really leaves, pain to the touch, fatigue, and more… it is always unique to you.

None of it is your fault — and no, losing weight won’t make it go away. Having a basic understanding and awareness will help you find out what works best for you and your body.

➡️ Swipe through to see what’s causing your pain.

↗️ Share this with someone who needs to hear “It’s not in your head.”

_____
lipedema pain relief, chronic pain education, lipedema inflammation, lymphatic drainage tips, lipedema awareness, pain awareness, chronic illness, invisible illness

September is Pain Awareness Month — and I’m kicking things off early.Chronic pain has stolen days, plans, and even peopl...
09/02/2025

September is Pain Awareness Month — and I’m kicking things off early.

Chronic pain has stolen days, plans, and even people from my life… but it’s never touched my worth. And it won’t touch yours either.

This week is about rallying together. About naming the pain the world can’t see. And about refusing to shrink into silence.

If you’re tired of explaining yourself… this is your permission to stop justifying your pain. It’s valid, and so are you.

📌 Share this to help start conversations that matter.
SEO keywords: chronic pain awareness, invisible illness support, pain awareness month, chronic pain quotes, chronic illness advocacy

If your body feels like it’s in constant fight-or-flight mode, Yoga Nidra can be a game changer.Yoga Nidra is a guided m...
08/31/2025

If your body feels like it’s in constant fight-or-flight mode, Yoga Nidra can be a game changer.

Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that puts your body into deep rest — even deeper than sleep. In this state, your nervous system gets the “all clear” signal it needs to heal, repair, and recharge.
It’s not about moving, stretching, or pushing. You literally lie
down, listen, and let your body do the rest. And the best part?

Even 10 minutes can make a difference in calming inflammation, improving sleep, and easing tension.

🪄Grab the Essential Healing Starter Kit ⤵️
https://www.donnapiper.com/the-essential-healing-starter-kit
______
yoga nidra benefits, chronic illness relaxation, nervous system regulation, guided meditation for healing, chronic fatigue relief, lipedema, mast cell activation syndrome, Me/CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, feel better with an invisible illness

We’ve been taught to earn our rest — to only “deserve” it after working ourselves to exhaustion. But if you’re living wi...
08/30/2025

We’ve been taught to earn our rest — to only “deserve” it after working ourselves to exhaustion.

But if you’re living with chronic illness, rest isn’t optional.

It’s medicine.

Rest is what helps your body repair, recover, and regulate.

It’s not a sign of laziness or weakness — it’s a radical act of listening to your body.

So take the nap. Pause the to-do list. Let your body rest before it begs for it.

____
chronic illness rest, pacing for chronic fatigue, chronic pain self care, invisible illness recovery

08/29/2025

✨ Ever wonder why your swelling, pain, or brain fog won’t budge—no matter what you try?
It could be your lymphatic system.

In this episode of Dear Body, I’m Listening, I sit down with Tina Shin, OTD, CLT-LANA to talk about:
💛 Why Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) isn’t “just a massage”
💛 How MLD supports women with lipedema + lymphedema
💛 What to expect when you work with a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT)
💛 And how to find the right therapist for your body + healing journey

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your body, this conversation will open a whole new door to healing.

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
🎙️ Episode: Clearing the Fog – How the Lymphatic System Supports Lipedema & Healing with Tina Shin, OTD

👉 Tag a friend who needs this and drop a 💧 if you’re ready to support your lymph.

_____
lymphatic system healing, manual lymphatic drainage, MLD therapy, lipedema treatment, lymphedema therapy, certified lymphedema therapist CLT, CLT-LANA, lipedema swelling relief, lymph drainage massage, chronic illness podcast, lipedema podcast, lymphatic health

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Website

https://www.donnapiper.com/podcasts/dear-body-i-m-listening/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Donna Piper, MA posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Donna Piper, MA:

Shortcuts

Share

Category