Are Contortionists Born or Made?

With practice, however, anyone can become more flexible. This does not mean that anyone can become a professional contortionist--most are born with unusually flexible spines and other joints. Although often derided as natural freaks, contortionists train constantly to perfect their craft.

Can a normal person become a contortionist?

Almost anyone can learn various contortionist moves, but there does seem to be a genetic component which makes these moves much easier for some people. Whether you can learn enough to become a contortionist is probably something you would have to try to know for sure.

Does contortion damage your body?

Risks. A medical publication from 2008 suggests that long-term damage to the spine, called scoliosis, is common in long-term contortion practitioners. A study of five practitioners using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by Peoples et al. documented limbus vertebrae, intervertebral disc bulges, and disc degeneration.