Think YOU are being overstretched in the office? Female contortionist brings new meaning to the term flexible working in incredible calendar shoot

Blonde contortionist Julia Gunthel really means business.
The bendy bombshell has released a calendar for 2013 featuring herself in a variety of incredible positions around an office set.
Rubbery Russian Gunthel, who now lives in Germany and goes by the name of Zlata when performing, is pictured typing, answering the phone and making coffee all while bending her body in to unbelievable shapes.
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JANUARY: Contortionist Julia Gunthel - also known as Zlata - has released a calendar showing off her flexibility around the office

She is snapped operating a computer while performing a hand-stand, delivering a presentation with her head tucked between her thighs and even becoming a living table by bending over backwards for her boss.

Zlata, the self-titled 'Goddess of Flexibility' produces her head-turning calendars by contorting her body with a different theme each year (this year was obviously eighties working girl) and previous themes have included Marie Antoinette and domestic goddess.
She has a rare condition which makes all her tendons extremely pliable, and discovered her talent for contortion at the age of four.

FEBRUARY AND MARCH: Rubbery Russian Gunthel goes by the name of Zlata when performing

APRIL AND MAY:  The self-titled 'Goddess of Flexibility' produces her head-turning calendars by contorting her body with a different theme each year

JUNE: The blonde has a rare condition which makes all her tendons extremely pliable

The 5ft 9ins blonde weighs eight-and-a-half stone and spends most of her day working out and training for shows around the world.

One of her favourite acts is bending herself backwards at a perfect 90 degree angle, virtually cutting herself in half so the back half of her hands touch her feet.

Her talents also include squeezing herself into boxes just 50cm squared.

Zlata, who has ambitions to head to Hollywood to turn her hand/head/legs to acting, has previously said: ‘Doing these poses just feels natural to me. Sometimes it can get a bit uncomfortable if I have to hold a pose for a long time in photoshoots.

'But I think that’s like anyone who sits down for a long time – their muscles get stiff.

'I don’t really diet but I have to train very hard to keep my muscles in shape and to be as flexible as possible.’

JULY AND AUGUST: The 27-year-old discovered her talent for contortion at the age of four.

SEPTEMBER: She spends most of her day working out and training for shows around the world

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER:  Her talents include squeezing herself into boxes just 50cm squared

DECEMBER: 'I don't really diet but I have to train very hard to keep my muscles in shape and to be as flexible as possible,' she says

'We're not prostitutes': The sex surrogates helping real life 40-year-old virgins overcome crippling inexperience with one-on-one coaching

After the recent award-winning film release of The Sessions, a true story about a sex therapist who helps a polio-crippled man experience sex before he dies, several real-life 'sex surrogates' are now opening up about their controversial profession.
Fern Arden, the founder of a private clinic close to Manhattan's Central Park West, is a sex therapist who provides treatment for psychosexual problems.
Her female staff of 'surrogate partners' give clients, mostly 40-something virgins, one-on-one coaching in 'caressing techniques, kissing, feeling relaxed with another person in the nude and, inevitably, the sex act itself,' according to the New York Post.
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The real life 40-year virgins: Sex therapists provides treatment for psychosexual problems, mostly to career-focused virgins who neglected their love lives

The film 40-year-old Virgin may have been a successful comedy of errors, however for these professionals, it is no laughing matter with overwhelming embarrassment and shyness crippling their self-esteem.
Ms Arden, who has a Ph.D from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, explained to the the paper's Jane Ridley: 'The focus is not sex, but familiarity and intimacy. We provide an environment, not for sexual pleasure, but for sexual learning.

 

'People tend to be ill-informed about what a surrogate partner does. They think of it pejoratively, the same as a sex worker, but it’s not,' she added.
'Just as you have legitimate massage therapists and people who run massage parlors, there is a huge difference between them.'
The Sessions, a real-life story about the late polio sufferer Mark O’Brien and his sex surrogate, Cheryl Cohen Greene, played by Helen Hunt, aims to shed light on what is a mostly under-the-radar profession.

'You need a partner to resolve most sexual problems and for single men that is obviously an issue'

Ms Greene, now 68, who still practices as a sex surrogate, said ten percent of her clients are academics or career-focused virgins who failed to concentrate on their love lives.
She said: 'They’re like "Oh my God, I don’t want to come across as inexperienced." They finally say, "Life is too short. I’ve got to go into surrogate therapy."'
Ms Greene, who is married to a 'wonderful, supportive partner,' says she makes $50,000 a year, charging $300 for a two-hour session. She says penetrative sex usually happens on the sixth visit.
Ms Arden charges clients between $3,000 and $5,000 for an average course of 12 to 15 sessions, some with herself, and some with the surrogate.

Sex surrogates: After the release of The Sessions, a film about a sex therapist (played by helen Hunt) helping a polio-crippled man experience sex before he dies, real-life 'surrogates' are opening up about their profession

One-on-one coaching: Sex surrogat

Today there are 30 sex surrogates registered in the U.S. under the International Professional Surrogates Association. Surrogates must complete a two-week training program with the society to become registered, and they mus also work for a licensed sex therapist.
Not everyone is convinced of the practice's legality, or ethics, however.
Derrelle Janey, a defense attorney at the Manhattan law firm Gottleib and Gordon, believes a sex surrogate is much the same as professional prostitution.
He said: 'It doesn’t matter if the client is disabled, it doesn’t matter if he is suffering from some kind of emotional distress - that just makes it kind of sad. They have agreed to pay money for a sexual experience, and everyone understands that’s the transaction. In my view, that’s prostitution.'

Based on a true story: The Sessions, about late polio sufferer Mark O'Brien and his sex surrogate, Cheryl Cohen Greene, aims to shed light on the profession

However Ms Arden, who founded the Abel 2 Counseling Center 22 years ago, and is not a member of the International Professional Surrogates Association, insists it is purely a public service.
Ms Arden’s staff have 'college degrees' and are 'professionally trained clinicians' who report to her after each session, with take place in the center's offices, she says.
'You would typically need a partner to resolve most sexual problems and for single men that is obviously an issue. Most of the men who come to my center are sexually inexperienced, so the surrogate program allows them to progress with their treatment.'
She continued: 'People have this perception of a sex surrogate as: "Oh wow, I am going to have a sexual teacher and we’re going to have hot sex!" but it’s not that way at all.
'The sessions with the surrogate evolve gradually. It’s a very gradual, sensual process of getting used to holding hands, caressing and kissing.
'[The clients] could come into treatment for several visits before they even take their clothes off.'
Ms Greene agreed, saying: 'I look at our work like this: If you go to a prostitute, it’s like going to a restaurant. You read the menu, you choose what you want, they prepare, they hope that you love it, and hopefully you want to come back.
'With a surrogate, it’s like going to cooking school. You get the ingredients, you learn to make a meal together - and then the point is to go out into the world and share that and not come back.'
Ms Arden’s 'surrogate partners' are required to be tested for STDs at least once every two months, as are the clients.
Sarah, one of the center's surrogates whose background is in sexual psychology and social work, said: 'I usually begin sessions by working on eye contact and the way they hold their bodies.
'We use massage and touch therapy, so the client can learn to be in the moment, be comfortable with their bodies and become aware of the sensations.
'We take a mind-and-body approach and slowly remove anxiety out of the equation.'
She would not comment on whether she had penetrative sex with her clients, however

There's high and there's skyhigh! Abbey Crouch is the latest star to try and 'do an Angelina' but accidentally flashes her lingerie with daring side-split

She's got some of the most enviable legs in showbiz land, so no wonder Abbey Crouch wants to try and show them off at every opportunity.
Although the pretty model showed off a bit more than she bargained for when she stepped out on Wednesday night.
Peter Crouch's wife became the latest celebrity to try and copy Angelina Jolie's side-split look at this year's Oscars as she showed up to the Lingerie London event.

Whoops! Abbey Crouch showed off a bit more than she bargained for as she wore a Jolie-esque side split dress to the Lingerie London fashion show on Wednesday night

She managed to look stunning in a dark red gown with the side split cut dangerously close to her nether regions.
So close, in fact, that she accidentally showed off her lingerie as she failed to contain her modesty while walking along the carpet with husband Peter.
Abbey could be seen visibly struggling to keep the frock in place and unfortunately revealed her black under garments as the split moved even further up while she walked.

Trying to contain her modesty: Abbey struggled to pose and walk on the carpet as she grew concerned about how much she was showing off

Mind how you go: Abbey looked stunning in the dark red gown but struggled to keep the revealing outfit in place

That's better: Abbey managed to cover up her lingerie while giving off a striking pose next to her dapper husband in a suit

Tied in a bow above her waist, Abbey's slender frame was shown off to the max, while she even showed off more flesh with a plunging neckline.
She completed the look with some black strappy heels and wore her blonde locks down and wavy.
Footballer Peter joined her by her side in a dapper suit and played the protective husband as he cradled her sides and helped her move along before they both headed inside at the event in Old Billingsgate Market.

Slinky: Girls Aloud star Sara Harding also dazzled in a plunging gown with backless cut

And pose: Sarah showed off her back tattoo as she ensured every angle of her glamorous gown could be seen

Post baby wow: Peaches Geldof showed off her slim physique in her strapless frock before heading inside to take to the catwalk

Ladies in black: She was joined by Zara Martin on the red carpet in Old Billingsgate

She tried out a number of poses to show off her leg in a glamorous way but seemed slightly uncomfortable as she tried to figure out the best way to stand.
But she soon got her confidence back as she took to the catwalk inside the event, modelling a number of stunning get-ups for the star crowd.
Although Abbey wasn't the only star to show up and draw attention by flashing her flesh.

Dressed up: Tamara Beckwith and TV presenter Laura Whitmore also took their seats ready to see the special fashion show, in which Agent Provocateur showed off its range in the UK for the first time in five years

Joining in: Even funnyman Chris O'Dowd was there to watch the many ladies on the runway

Dressed to the nines: The One Show host Alex Jones went for an asymmetrical Grecian-style frock and an up 'do for the evening

Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding also wowed as she arrived in a backless black gown.
Not only did she flash her skin on her back, posing to show it off at every angle, but Sarah also went for a plunging neckline at the bash.
Pouting to perfection, she was just practising as she also tread the boards inside.

Like a pro: Abbey Crouch stunned as she dressed out of her side-split gown to reveal even more flesh in an Agent Provocateur creation

Cheeky: She later wowed the crowd in another stunning item from the lingerie range as she dazzled in gold sequins

Playful: Peter watched from his seat proudly as Abbey flicked her hair and strutted across the runway effortlessly

Stiff competition: Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding proved a strong rival in the glamour stakes as she took to the runway in this all-black policewoman-inspired ensemble

Standing to attention: The singer stunned in her daring black number as she saluted to the star studded crowd

New mother Peaches Geldof was also a guest and a model at the event, first showing up in a strapless frock to reveal her small figure with gold clutch detailing all the way up the back.
Zara Martin, Tamara Beckwith and Chris O'Dowd were also on the stellar line-up ready to watch the fashionistas take to the catwalk inside.
And they didn't disappoint as a number of models shared the stage with Sarah, Peaches and Abbey.

Lady in white: Peaches Geldof showed off her post baby body in a figure hugging lace gown as she had her turn at modelling to raise funds for the Seven Bar Foundation

Impressive: Organisers pulled out all the stops to make it a show to remember, with lingerie brand Empowered By You also being featured

Revealing: A number of models, including Immodesty Blaize (L), flaunted their figures in the skimpy ensembles

Newlywed bliss! Anne Hathaway and her husband enjoy a caffeine fuelled Big Apple stroll

Anne Hathaway seems to be getting along very well with married life.
The Les Miserables star and her husband Adam Shulman were spotted enjoying a casual stroll through the streets of their Brooklyn neighborhood looking every inch the happily wed couple.
They'd just been to their local Starbucks for a caffeine pick-me-up, and Anne was gracious enough to hold a cup in each hand as Adam held the leash of their chocolate Labrador Esmeralda.

One month after wedding! Anne Hathaway and new husband, Adam Shulman, seemed the picture of bliss as they enjoyed a stroll in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday

Anne, 29, was bundled up against the cool East Coast weather in a black button-down coat with the collar turned up and she wore it over a pale blue dress.

 

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Black opaque stockings and ballerina flats completed Anne's laidback look.
The star looked studious wearing dark-rimmed glasses and at one point seemed to be talking about a serious subject while Adam, 31, an actor-turned-jewelry designer, hung on her every word.
Anne's pixie hairstyle framed her oval face perfectly and she even seemed to be enjoying the freedom of her shorter 'do.

Double-fisted: Anne held their coffee cups while Adam handled the leash of their Labrador, Esmeralda

So in love: Adam seems to be hanging on Anne's every word

A few months ago, Anne sacrificed her vanity by chopping off her long luxurious locks for her role as the prostitute Fantine in the upcoming musical Les Miserables opposite Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman.
'I wasn’t expecting [cutting my hair] to be a big deal,' Anne said during an appearance on Live! With Kelly last July. 'It was my idea to do it, since it was something the character did.'
Once the haircut occurred, 'I realised I couldn’t take it back,' Anne said, adding that she went through ‘a mental patient level of crying…I was inconsolable.'

Her own version of chic: Anne paired her button-down coat with a blue dress and black opaque tights

Chopping off her gorgeous brown tresses was more difficult, she said, than 'doing back flips out of windows and jumping off of buildings,’ which other roles have required her to do.
For her wedding, her short hair was actually a benefit. Anne wore an elaborate veil and headdress that concealed most of her dark tresses.
As a bride, Anne looked stunning and her pale pink wedding gown by Valentino will long be remembered.
The couple exchanged vows on September 29 in a romantic ceremony set in Big Sur on the scenic northern California coast, with more than 150 guests in attendance.
Anne and Adam, who announced their engagement last November, began dating in November 2008.

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