In the world of celebrity, diet trends and workout fads seem to come and go as quickly as one's 15 minutes of fame. Some fitness-loving stars, however, have remained loyal followers of yoga over the years, claiming its life-changing power one pose at a time. These famous women are all yoga devotees.
When she's not busy running an empire, Martha Stewart can be found on the yoga mat. The domestic diva somehow finds time to devote to an hourly session every day. She's even taped segments of her show practicing with fellow yogis Trudie Styler and Donna Karan.
At 52, Madonna appears to be in the best shape ever, thanks in part to a strict macrobiotic diet, hours at the gym and Ashtanga yoga. She was apparently first introduced to the strenuous form of yoga by Sting years ago and has remained a fan ever since. "Yoga is a metaphor for life. You have to take it really slowly. You cant rush. You cant skip to the next position. You find yourself in very humiliating situations, but you cant judge yourself. You just have to breathe, and let go. It is a workout for your mind, your body and your soul," she said.
Meg Ryan's been caught once or twice before by paparazzi carrying a yoga mat to and from classes in Santa Monica. America's sweetheart claims it helps her find balance: "It changed my life. It made me calmer. It puts you right in the place of witness, which is great."
Donna Karan is well known for her love affair with yoga. The native New Yorker has been practicing for decades, holds two-hour sessions every morning. The fashion icon is a staunch believer in the healing power of yoga and launched Urban Zen, an initiative to bring yoga and other healing practices into the healthcare realm. Karan's even practiced yoga with the Dalai Lama.
Trudie Styler is probably best known as Sting's wife, but the 55-year-old mother of four is a powerhouse of yoga and even launched her own line of DVDs entitled Warrior Yoga in 2009. Practicing an hour daily, Styler has said, "Yoga is the best holistic workout and body toner there is. It sorts out a chaotic mind and calms the body - it is how I de-stress, or stop myself getting stressed in the first place."
Parker Posey (no pun intended) is a fan of Ashtanga yoga. The 42-year-old "Indie Queen" cites the mental benefits of the ancient practice which focuses on breathing techniques and movement. "It centers me. It gives me a community," she says.
