Julia Günthel, also known as Zlata, has a downward facing dog that will put even the most dedicated yoga guru to shame. Described as one of the most flexible women in the world, Zlata has made a living off of her extraordinarily flexible ligaments via performance art, modeling, acting, fetish magazines, and one-of-a-kind stock photos. Being one of the most skilled contortionists in the world also means Zlata’s skills in the yoga studio are second to none.

Zlata
One of the world's most flexible women doesn't hold anything back in the yoga studio. Getty Images

By the time Zlata turned 4, she started to realize that she was quite a bit more flexible than all the other girls in class. At 8, she decided to live out every little kid’s dream and applied for circus school. By the age of 10, she had become a professional contortionist for on-stage performances. After starting her life in Kazakhstan, Zlata moved to Germany to further her career as a contortionist.

Zlata
Doctors say this contortionist's ligaments are just as flexible as that of an infant's. Getty Images

During a Discovery Channel program on the self-proclaimed “Goddess of Flexibility,” Zlata performed her contortionist routine while going through an MRI machine. Doctors informed Zlata that her ligaments are just as flexible as those of an infant. At 31 years old, she has broken three Guinness World Records, including “fastest time to burst three balloons with the back,” BuzzFeed reported.