If you have ever wondered what it takes to achieve those extreme back bends and flexible twists and turns seen on stage, a series of workshops in Nicosia and Limassol will reveal the tricks.

Iona, who is 28 and lives in West Hampstead, London, held a pose called the "Marinelli bend" for 33 seconds, beating the existing world record by 11 seconds. The Marinelli is an inverted backbend ...

In a semi-private fitness class at Manhattan’s Mercedes Club, a classmate and I eyed each other with apprehension. We were deciding which of us would attempt the backbend first. This was no relaxing ...