We talked to Patrick Irakiza, popularly known as "Maguru the Flexible", a Rwandan contortionist and performer who has amazed audiences across Africa and beyond with his incredible flexibility.
@maguru_the_flexible
I started when I was very young, maybe around 8 years old. I saw some performers in my neighbourhood in Kigali and I was fascinated by what the human body could do. I started practising on my own, bending and stretching every day after school. Eventually a local circus group noticed me and invited me to train with them.
I train for about four hours each day. I start with a long warm-up — at least 45 minutes of joint mobilisation and light cardio. Then I work on my specific skills, usually focusing on backbends and balancing. I finish with conditioning work to keep my strength up. Recovery is also a big part of my routine.
