At the age of five, she started learning dance under Chandrika, and Kathakali under Sankaranarayanan Asan.
[1] After marriage, at the age of 19 she moved to Calcutta but returned soon to Kerala when she got a job as Mohiniyattam teacher in Kalamandalam.
[1] After 33 years of service, she retired from Kalamandalam as Head of the Department of Mohiniyattam, and later joined Kalady Sanskrit University as a Visiting Professor.
[1] Under the guidance of Hymavathy, Daivadasakam, written by Narayana Guru was visualized in the form of Mohiniyattam by 1500 dancers.
[2] Mohanam and Cholkettu are two documentaries made about Hymavathy and her dance career.