Yoga is one of the most popular forms of exercise in our time and more and more studies find good things about this ancient practice. Yoga has become so popular that celebrities all over the world has resorted to it yoga for inner peace, maintain their bodies, better health and for coping with the stress associated with being in the spotlight. Especially in the United States the yoga industry has spread like fire and many celebrities in Hollywood practice yoga on a regular basis. Today a lot of people practice yoga because their favorite heroes and heroines are doing the same.

One of the most talked about yoga celebrities is Madonna. She put yoga on the hot topic list for every woman’s magazine and TV show. This 50 year old celebrity with the body of a 20 year old is the unofficial pop guru of Yoga. She practices the asthanga yoga which makes the body healthy with strong muscles. Madonna once quoted “Yoga is a metaphor for life. You have to take it really slowly, You can't rush. You can't skip to the next position. You find yourself in very humiliating situations, but you can't judge yourself. You just have to breathe, and let go. It is a workout for your mind, your body and your soul." Latino pop star Ricky Martin has also embraced yoga, using it as a technique to restore inner peace and relaxation. Practicing a calmer type of yoga than Madonna (Hatha yoga) he practises yoga daily and is one of the celebrities that do yoga at home. Other singers that have gone public about there friendship with yoga are Sting and his wife Trudie and jeniffer lopez.

Hollywood is today filled with yoga freaks. Gwyneth Paltrow is one of many actors and actresses who have dedicated their free time to practicing yoga and has a home studio built in her London home just to practice yoga. Meg Ryan is one of the first celebrities that took to yoga and has always been interested in educating her audience about yoga in interviews. Her husband Dennis Quaid who is also an actor joins her in her yoga workouts. In sports the well know boxer Evander Holyfield has been practicing yoga for years, to keep him focused on his games and to help him concentrate in daily life. The entire los angels Lakers team practices yoga few times a week, to improve performance and to help prevent injuries during games. Some other celebrities who are addicted to yoga are model Sophie Anderton, ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Nick Cage, Barbara Streisand and Cameron Diaz. Back in India where yoga originated there are many in the movie and music industry who attend yoga classes regularly.

The far reaching benefits of yoga can be realized from the fact that it has attracted even the high profile people of show biz who normally are associated with drugs and other bad habits. Thanks to the celebrity status yoga has also been globalised and people from all parts of the world get to learn, practice and enjoy yoga.