I tried a beginner contortion class from a professional contortionist. Here's what I learned, including her favorite must-have products for performance.

What is contortion, and what happens when a fitness writer tries it for the first time to build extreme flexibility and mobility? We tested it out.

Contortionist Aleksei Goloborodko performs in the Cirque du Soleil show Luzia during the premiere in New York City.

MEET Maria Pucciarelli – a super-flexible contortionist who has spent hours in training to realise he dream. Maria, 19, from New York, has spent thousands of hours training – including being … ...