Whenever I’m warming up my shoulders for backbends, I like to include some conditioning exercises as well. Like I’ve said before flexibility training is as much about strength as it is about stretching. If you are trying to get more open shoulders, like in a bridge, you’ll see more progress incorporating some strength and active flexibility exercises like these.

Shoulders are a critical part of any circus practice, whether you’re backbending, handbalancing or doing aerials - so it’s important to give them the proper love and attention they need in your warm up.

Here are some great exercises to help warm up your shoulders, get your joints moving, and start explore your mobility. I like to start with mobility work, then move on to conditioning.