247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
Selvom hvert produkt, der vises, er uafhængigt udvalgt af vores redaktører, kan vi inkludere betalt kampagne. Hvis du køber noget via vores links, kan vi optjene kommission. Læs mere om vores retningslinjer for produktanmeldelse her.Når de fleste mennesker ser kontortionisme for første gang, er deres reaktion ofte chok eller vantro: hvordan er det overhovedet muligt? Performancekunsten, som involverer at vride kroppen i stillinger, der kræver suveræn fleksibilitet, virker ekstrem. Det er extreme. But on the other hand, people twist themselves into pretzel-like shapes during yoga practice or Pilates classes every day. Could a contortion class be all that different?
Jeg har altid elsket at se cirkus som barn, og jeg ville finde mig selv nysgerrig efter kunstformen og praksis med forvridning dengang. Kunstnerne så så imponerende ud, optrædende utrolige bedrifter såsom dybe baglæns, inversioner eller åndssvage menneskelige pyramider. Som voksen har jeg endnu mere værdsættelse af contortionismes spændende blanding af elegance, fleksibilitet, styrke, kropsbevidsthed og kontrol. Så selvom jeg var skræmt af øvelsen, besluttede jeg at tage springet alligevel.
I signed up for a class led by Giv til Batchulu gennem hendes hjemmeside Blue Sky Circus Productions . Batchuluun er en professionel contortionist, der voksede op i Mongoliet og kalder sig andengenerations cirkusartist. 'Min far plejede at være en høj wire [walker] og encyklist. Min onkel var også cirkusmusiker, så jeg var altid i det miljø,« fortæller hun til PS. Hun begyndte at optræde internationalt som kun 10-årig, og i sidste ende fortsatte hun med at optræde i Cirque du Soleil-shows som 'O' og 'Zumanity'. Hun optrådte endda engang i Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, hvor hun havde chancen for at møde modeller som Candice Swanepoel.
When I expressed my trepidation to Batchuluun, she reassured me. 'Everyone has a different level and journey,' she says. 'Start with your own journey, and you can start at any age.' Her oldest student is 78 and practices with her twice a week. With that encouragement ringing in my ears, I put on my stretchiest leggings and dove in. Here's what the class was like.
Hvordan det er at tage en Contortion Class
Spoiler alert: despite my nerves, I ending up enjoying the class. Although the word 'contortionism' conjures up visions of performance artists executing impossibly deep backbends or inversions, the actual practice is far more accessible than it may seem at first glance.
I'd signed up for a one-on-one virtual session with Batchuluun, so I set my computer up at an angle that would allow her to see my entire form (near a mirror, so I could check my own technique). We kicked things off with a gentle warm-up — a must for a class that's so focused on flexibility. Then, we settled onto our yoga mats to get started.
En ting jeg ikke havde forventet var hvor godt nogle af bevægelserne endte med at føles. En række stolestræk, der fokuserede på bevægelser for at åbne thoraxrygsøjlen, øvre ryg og bryst, hjalp virkelig med at frigøre nogle spændinger forårsaget af at arbejde hjemmefra ved en computer.
En anden overraskelse var, hvor fortrolig jeg var med mange af bevægelserne. Batchuluum guidede mig gennem duestillingen, side splitter , og frøstilling, for eksempel, mens jeg brugte yogablokke på hver side af min krop som støtte. For hver positur tog hun mig gennem tre progressioner: at holde stillingen, så tilføje en mini baglæns bøjning, så tilføjede en baglæns bøjning og en arm forlængelse. Hvor udfordrende du vil finde hver bevægelse vil afhænge af dit nuværende niveau af kondition og fleksibilitet. Jeg begyndte virkelig at mærke intensiteten under backbend-forløbene.
247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
We also did an additional series of backbend variations, and despite how challenging I found the movements, this ended up being my favorite part of the class. Something about the blend of flexibility, strength, and endurance required to hold the positions feels empowering, almost liberating to me.
Side note: Although you might think taking a contortion class virtually would be challenging, compared to being in person, I never felt at a disadvantage. Batchuluum was able to cue effectively throughout the class, and during the backbend series, she even used a pointer on a screenshot to help explain how to deepen my bend.
While much of the class was not so different from a yoga class, there was one portion that reminded me I was definitely in a contortionist class: the chin holds. For this movement, contortionists place their chins and bellies directly on the ground, then kick their legs up and over their head, making various scorpion or spider-like shapes. It's a wow-worthy thing to witness, and to even think about trying it was almost shocking. But I had to give it a shot.
Som en opvarmning guidede Batchuluum mig gennem at strække min nakke ud. Først stillede jeg min yogamåtte op ved siden af en stol. Så satte jeg mig på måtten med front mod stolens sæde. Jeg lagde mine håndflader på bunden af min kæbe, sænkede min hage, stak så begge albuer på stolens sæde og sænkede langsomt mit bryst ned, mens jeg kiggede op mod loftet.
247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
Dernæst talte Batchuluum mig gennem en bevægelse, der mindede mig om ben op ad væggen positur , except in reverse. I set up my mat in front of a wall and lay belly-down with my feet closest to the wall. Keeping my chin and torso on the ground, I slowly inverted and pushed my body backward, trying to creep my feet and legs up the wall. I did my best, but it was definitely the most challenging part of the class. I felt a lot of pressure on my chin, neck, and torso, especially, and I couldn't hold the pose very long. I came out of the inverted hold somewhat abruptly and felt a little lightheaded, which Batchuluum told me was normal.
Toward the very end of the class, she asked me if I'd like to try again. I paused at first, but ultimately agreed — and I'm glad I did. Sure, I still wasn't able to hold the position for very long, but the simple act of trying again made me feel accomplished.
247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
Hvad er værd at bemærke om en Contortion Class
Hvis du er en nybegynder til contortionisme, så forvent at tage det langsomt. Træningen er mental og physical, and at times I found myself focusing and concentrating so hard, I would accidentally hold my breath a little bit. Additionally, some moves — like the chin hold at the end — ended with me feeling lightheaded and dizzy. So it's definitely worth getting cleared with your doctor before trying this class, letting the instructor know ahead of time you're new, and going in with the expectation that you're going to have to take some breaks — especially if you start to feel at all dizzy.
You don't need any special gear to take a contortionist class, but some products could make your practice easier. During my class, the instructor and I had a bit of a laugh because the stretch-based movements made my leggings shift around, leading to the tag sticking out repeatedly. Batchuluun told me she prefers leggings without tags; her favorites are the Saina Shop Højtaljede Yoga Leggings ($13, oprindeligt $43) eller (for det meste udsolgt i øjeblikket) Saina Shop højtaljede Airflow Leggings ($55). '[De er] super behagelige, bløde og lader mig bøje helt,' siger hun.
Saina Shop Højtaljede Yoga Leggings Fra $13 $43 Nu 70% rabat $13 at saina.shop 
Saina Shop højtaljede Airflow Leggings Fra $55 $55 på saina.shop Sammen med mine leggings bar jeg en elsket longline Luluemon sports-bh, der ligner denne Lululemon Energy Longline-bh ($ 58), som fungerede godt, ikke forårsagede noget ubehag og ikke kørte op eller klemte. For mere støtte under din træning er skridsikre sokker som disse MoveActive Crew Non Slip Grip Socks med Sweetheart Stripes ($ 16) også et godt valg.
Lululemon Energy Longline BH Fra $58 $58 på google.com 
MoveActive Crew Non Slip Grip Sokker med Sweetheart Stripes Fra $16 $16 på google.com 
247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
For gear for my first class, I used the foldable Stakt Mat Pro ($118), but any good nonslip yoga mat will work. A pair of yoga blocks were a must-have for support during the different poses and movements. I used a pair of Gaiam Yoga Blocks ($17 for two), which worked fine, but if I were to take another class I might go for the StrongBlocks fra Base Blocks i stedet. De har et håndtag gemt inde i hver blok, der gør den til en mini-paralette, hvilket gør et par af dem super anvendelige til bevægelser som push-ups og inversioner, bl.a. håndstande .
Single Mat Pro Fra $118 $118 på google.com 
Gaiam Yoga blokke Fra $17 $17 på google.com Hvad angår restitution, siger Batchuluun, at en massagepistol som Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 ($129) hjælper hendes muskler med at komme sig hurtigere. Jeg brugte Theragun Prime Plus ($399) massagepistol på ømme områder og vil helt sikkert sige, at perkussiv massageterapi og varme hjalp med at lindre nogle spændinger efter træning.
Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 Fra $129 $129 på google.com 
247CM fotografering | Jade Esmeralda
Afsluttende tanker
Overall, I thought the contortion class was both fun and challenging. Although my neck might not have liked it (especially a day after), I found the experience surprisingly empowering. I also love practices that allow you to see consistent progress, and I believe that with regular attendance most people would see improved flexibility and mobility. I'd definitely recommend trying out a contortion class to see how you might like it for yourself. If nothing else, it's a good story.
Jade Esmeralda (hun/hende), MS, CSCS, er en forfatter til sundheds- og fitnesspersonale og en styrke- og konditionsspecialist. En livslang kampsportskunstner og danser, Jade har en stærk passion for styrke og konditionering, sportsvidenskab og menneskelig præstation. Hun er uddannet med en Master of Science-grad i træningsvidenskab og styrke og konditionering fra George Washington University.
