For many, contortion means "the art of expressing the body through extreme postures using flexibility." I personally think it's a great definition.

Contortion allows us to explore unimaginable places in our body and reach extreme postures without breaking, literally the maximum expression of the body. However, contortion has a different meaning for me... During my process at ENCLO, my contortion coach helped me understand the technique as something transcendental, a lifestyle, in which your choices, feelings, and thoughts directly reflect your practice; in short, how everything is connected and how the body and mind need to work in sync for a healthy and respectful practice. He used to tell me how we must learn to listen to the body, to respect its discomforts and limits… the process is shaped by calmness, patience, and respect! That’s why listening to my body and honoring it is one of the most incredible things my contortion teacher ever taught me, and today, it reflects in the way I teach other people.

It's not about reaching the posture, but rather which path to follow, where to activate, where to relax, breathe, grow, patience, and especially time. 

Time determines the speed of the process, speed is relative because in contortion, a trick that takes about two years to happen, for some it seems too long, for others two years go by quickly, hence the importance of reaffirming that your process is unique and must be embraced, take the time you need, respect yourself and be happy. For a long time, I mirrored other people’s processes, using them as a comparison to my own… and that frustrated me deeply, because I didn’t understand that what I was practicing required calmness and the awareness that my body is unique, not like anyone else’s! From my anatomical structure to my soul, everything is different. Each person takes their own time in an infinite process.  I say infinite because there is always something to work on, to evolve, and to grow. Once I understood all of this, my journey became so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.