About
Types of contortion poses
Choose a spelling:Different types of contortion poses
Flexibility training can be categorized into specific types, although there may be some overlap between them.
Backbending
These poses and tricks primarily involve the shoulders, hips, and spine. Backbending poses are typically achieved by arching the body backwards or underneath itself. Examples of classic backbending poses include bridge, bow, and chest stand.
Frontbending
These poses make use of the hips, hamstrings, and sometimes the spine. Performers accomplish these poses by bending forward, often through their legs. Examples of frontbends include leg behind head, human knot, and fold through poses.
Splits
Splits are well-known in various disciplines, not just contortion. They are achieved by having both the front and back legs flat against the floor, creating a 180-degree angle. This can be done with the legs out in front and directly behind the performer, or out to the sides.
Twists
Twists are less common than the more traditional types of poses like splits, frontbending, and backbending. However, they can add a level of versatility as transitions between poses and can have a shock factor in performances due to their rarity in contemporary contortion acts.
Dislocation
This is a specialized area of contortion that can also be associated with different styles of dance, particularly bone breaking. Dislocation poses can be combined with other types of poses such as frontbending or backbending to create more advanced versions of certain poses.
Balancing
While balancing itself isn't a type of contortion trick, there are many different types of balance commonly used in combination with various contortion poses. Balancing comes in many forms and mainly relates to the fact that the performer's body is not on the ground.