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.

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 … ...

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