How Does a Contortionist Become so Flexible?

Myths

Contortionism is a form of human-motion entertainment based on body flexibility. The often shocking nature of contortionist acts has lead to a wide degree of speculation about what performers do to gain such a high degree of flexibility, giving rise to a wide variety of myths about how contortionists train and what else they do to gain this ability. Some of these myths include the use of magic potions and elixirs, the dislocation of joints, and having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (a rare disorder that results in stretchy ligaments due to a loss of collagen).
In reality, a contortionist is nothing more than a dedicated performer who has trained his body to be able to experience its full range of motion, taking full advantage of the ability all healthy humans have to increase the flexibility of muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Genetics

Part of a contortionist's unusually high degree of flexibility can be due to genetics. Like most other bodily factors, flexibility can be determined by hereditary, whether this means natural flexibility to start with, or just quicker bodily response to training. However, contortionists are not made through genetics alone and must also exercise in order to preserve and expand their abilities.
Although genetics often play a role, it is not impossible for someone without remarkable genetics to become a contortionists. A few contortionist performers begin their development with no extraordinary ability to bend (though it is more common for people with impressive natural flexibility to take an interest in the career as a result).

Training

A professional contortionist needs more than flexibility--since a contortionist is a type of performing gymnast or dancer, he needs strength, as well. Without this, many bends and poses are impossible, making regular strength training a necessary part of a contortionist's training.
The flexibility training of a contortionist is no different, in essence, than the training that is used by, say, athletes, dancers, gymnasts, or yoga practitioners. The only difference for contortionists is persistence. Ultimately, the flexibility of the human body is only limited by the structures of the skeleton, and the contortionist makes it his goal to have access to this full range of movement. In order to achieve this, the body must be regularly and carefully moved just beyond the limit of what the person is comfortable with, using slow movement and holding stretched positions (rather than bouncing in and out of them) in order to avoid injury. When this is done regularly, the muscles and tendons will adjust to being expanded by becoming more elastic.
Some contortionists get their start at a very young age. Training in flexibility that begins in early childhood is optimal for preserving flexibility. Since the loss of elasticity of muscles, ligaments and tendons occurs as we age, young children are naturally flexible and can maintain this quality simply though regular use of their full range of motion.

Resources

• The Contortion Home Page