I think it's the most beautiful thing ever. That's why I do it. That's why I practice it. But some people just can't wrap their head around what it is or that it has a lot of calmness behind it. And it's kind of about expanding as well, not just squishing and packing things nice and tightly. It's about finding space, finding freedom, and finding the breath together.

~ Tori Kubick 2:02

Tori Kubick exudes a sense of calm and focus that belies the physical challenges of her art. In this fascinating conversation with Craig Constantine, Tori discusses the mental and physical aspects of contortion, and how she finds the calmness and focus necessary to connect with her body and move with grace and control. Tune in to learn more about this unique and captivating movement practice.

The Importance of Inner Calmness in Contortion

In the world of contortion, calmness is essential for success. Contortion, which involves the extreme bending and twisting of the body, is often seen as a physical practice only. Tori Kubick believes that it is just as much a mental practice, requiring a connection between the body and mind to truly excel.

To achieve this connection, Kubick emphasizes the importance of finding inner calmness and focusing on the breath and movement. She believes that this is the key to unlocking the full potential of contortion and allowing the body to move freely and easily. "It's not just about squishing and packing things nice and tightly," Kubick explains. "It's about finding space, finding freedom, and finding the breath together."

Contortion has often been associated with negative connotations, such as being seen as "freakish" or strange. However, Kubick sees it as a beautiful art form and is passionate about sharing its benefits with others. She encourages people to stretch their comfort zones and try out contortion for themselves, stating that it can provide both physical and mental benefits.

In addition to finding inner calmness, Kubick also emphasizes the importance of expanding in contortion. She believes that the art form is not just about achieving physically impressive positions, but also about finding freedom and expression within the movements. "It's kind of about expanding as well, not just squishing and packing things nice and tightly," she says. "It's about finding space, finding freedom, and finding the breath together."

Overall, Kubick's passion for contortion shines through in her belief that it is a beautiful and rewarding practice that can benefit both the body and mind. She encourages others to explore the art form and experience the benefits for themselves.

--- Hello, I'm Craig Constantine. 👋

In the Movers Mindset podcast, I talk with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. I'm interested in the nature and philosophy of movement and in exploring themes like independence, self-direction, and human excellence. My interests color each conversation and provide some structure to Movers Mindset. But since I like to take the scenic route, every conversation ends up going somewhere unique.

The purpose of Movers Mindset is to create and share great conversations with movement enthusiasts. Each conversation feeds my insatiable curiosity, but I share them to turn on a light for someone else, to inspire them, or to give them their next question.

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Since 2017, I’ve spent countless hours and dollars keeping Movers Mindset going. Everything has remained free and ad-free and alive thanks to patronage from listeners like you. I have no staff, no assistant… it’s just one maniac with a mic and a keyboard. If this labor of love makes your life more livable in any way, please consider contributing.

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My personal mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And Movers Mindset is one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by constantine.name for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more.

The Movers Mindset project grew from conversations I started having as part of my personal journey rediscovering movement. The project started late in 2015, and it was initially simply a web site that shared others’ writing. The project grew, and in 2017 I started the podcast. I’ve worked extremely hard, but none of this would have been possible without so much help from so many people.

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