The 24-year-old contortionist talks extreme stretching, enjoy the meal planning, and also his advice for aspiring circus performers everywhere.

You are watching: The most flexible person in the world


*

*

On the spectrum of human flexibility, 24-year-old Aleksei Goloborodko lies somewhere between “world-class contortionist” and also “literally make of pipe cleaners.” initially from Tula, Russia, the copper Clown winner—the circus world’s identical of the Oscars—is currently crisscrossing the globe (and his body) top top tour through Cirque du Soleil’s manufacturing of Luzia. We asked the many flexible guy in the human being to share through us the details of his maintain regimen; the diet restrictions enforced by chronic bendiness; and his advice for anyone else that aspires to take it the coolest Instagram image imaginable.


*

Heidi's Bridge
invernessgangshow.net: just how did you acquire started v Cirque?


Aleksei Goloborodko: Cirque du Soleil very first discovered me at an audition in Moscow as soon as I to be 8. I auditioned again for them at 17; they called me 2 years later on to sign up with the creation of Luzia.

My mother took me come a circus show when ns was 4, and later on I told she I wanted to join the circus. She lugged me to a circus studio whereby I met mine coach. After trial and error me through exercises, he said he would certainly make me a contortionist. That didn’t issue for me which discipline I would certainly do; I just wanted to be in the circus. It's mine lifestyle, and also I love it, and also I simply do it. I started once I to be 4 years old, and since then ns haven't stopped. It's not like I'm forcing myself to do something. My human body loves it.


What’s your common day like?


I wake up around 9:30 A.M. And also stretch for 10 to 15 minutes before I do myself breakfast. Breakfast can be oatmeal or a sandwich and hot tea—basic stuff. Then ns relax for, like, 40 minutes. I deserve to read a publication or play video games. Then I start stretching and also training because that the rest of my display routine.


I don’t really have actually dietary restrictions. I can eat anything: cake, an apple, chocolate, fruit, soup. I eat at least five meals a day, but my rule is that ns eat small portions more often. I can’t eat a lot in ~ once, or ok have issues with contorting.

My discipline is composed of countless sub-disciplines: the base is contortion, through sub-disciplines such together hand-balance, ballet, modern dance, wushu, martial arts, and also more. Mine morning training take away an hour and a half. Then ns relax for about 20 minutes, and also eat something favor an apologize or small bowl of fruit, before heading to the circus.

There, I placed my makeup on and train for a pair of hours. I perform some cardio, and stretch, and do handstands. I take a break for around an hour in the middle. After a show, i come home and also something before I go to bed, perform a little an ext stretching, and then finally autumn asleep.


Instagram content

View ~ above Instagram


I witnessed that you are a NASM-certified trainer and also behavior adjust specialist. Why walk you select to obtain those certifications, and also how execute you usage them?

I want to enhance my English, and I thought taking a course would be the finest way. Ns did the an individual trainer certification to uncover out much more about the human body. The behavioral readjust course was exciting to obtain to know exactly how our mind works, too.

Is over there a specific order or regimen to your stretching?

No, yet during the food of the work I have to stretch my whole body—each component of it. So of course, the is structured in the way, however it additionally depends on once it happens. Because that example, mornings are the most difficult time for stretches, but I still have to do it since my human body asks me to stretch.


Developing my regime was a joint effort between me, the choreographer—Sylvia Gertrúdix González—and her assistant. We would certainly film me, and we climate decide, like, “Okay, this movement looks good and we’ll store it,” or “This activity doesn’t look very good, therefore we’ll conserve it for a back-up movement, if we need one.”


Do you have a favourite stretch?

There’s no such point for me. The doesn’t matter what the is, I just love stretching.


Watch:

TJ Dillashaw runs Us with His Tattoos


*

Heidi's Bridge
*

Heidi's Bridge
How does that feel once you're in this crazy positions? go it feeling uncomfortable or chop or anything choose that?

No, the doesn't feel tight. It constantly feels pretty great because ns take in between 40 and also 45 minutes to heat up before I walk on stage.

The warm-up is composed of pretty straightforward stuff—I carry out cardio for 5 minutes, and also then start with slight movements. They space not extreme, lock are very small, but get bigger ~ that. I haven’t ever before been injured, due to the fact that my dominion is to constantly do the warm-up first, climate stretch, and then practice.

Do friend have any type of advice for human being who want to end up being contortionists?

If you desire to it is in a expert contortionist, the younger girlfriend are, the far better it goes. If you shot to begin when you're 16 or 18, you deserve to start, yet you're not going come be an extreme contortionist. Friend will achieve some results, and they have the right to be really great if you work-related hard! but it's not going to be extreme.


This interview has actually been edited and also condensed.


Get Your inquiries Answered by experts in the invernessgangshow.net wellness Newsletter


Enter your e-mail address
Sign increase Now
Will be supplied in accordance v our Privacy Policy.

See more: What Is The Difference Between Kinematic And Dynamic Viscosity ?


Since 1957, invernessgangshow.net has actually inspired guys to watch sharper and live smarter with its unsurpassed coverage the style, culture, and beyond. From award-winning writing and also photography to binge-ready videos to electrical live events, invernessgangshow.net meets millions of modern-day men where they live, creating the moments that produce conversations.
More indigenous invernessgangshow.net

Connect


Do Not market My personal Info