In her 2003 hit single, American Life, Madonna proclaimed “I do Yoga and Pilates/And the room is full of hotties”. Now, this may be just a lyric, but Madonna, always a keen adopter of celebrity fads, has been known to get down to a bit of Yoga. And Pilates. It only makes sense that as she crosses over into her 50s, she does all she can to stay in trim with a young family and a newly single lifestyle to keep her occupied.

Another keen practitioner of Yoga is Gwyneth Paltrow – well known for living on a macrobiotic diet with her musician husband Chris Martin, it’s hard to believe that Gwyneth is in her late 30s. She always looks fresh and young, and this has got a lot to do with the healthy way she lives and the way she exercises.

Famously attuned to the world beyond Hollywood and London, Sting is known for his work to protect the Brazilian rainforest and his interest in world music. He, too, is a devotee of the Yogic lifestyle, and looks better on it than many men half his age. A practitioner of the Ashtanga form of Yoga also favored by Madonna. Not only this, but the Yogic concept of Tantra has famously been a boost to Sting’s sex life.

For men, the best way of clothing your bottom half in advance of a Yoga session will be a pair of loose trousers. Not too loose, you don’t want them to fall down when you’re attempting a hand stand, but if you’re looking for the right trousers, a pair that are baggy in the groin is simply essential, given that there will be no little movement in that area. A bit of leg space will also be desirable, just to give you that space.

For ladies it actually goes the other way. A pair of tight leggings would be beneficial for getting yourself twisted into some of the more challenging shapes. Anything loose will begin to travel south, and no matter how relaxing Yoga may be, you’ll feel pretty darn uptight if you end up flashing everyone in the middle of the lotus position.

On the top half, men should go for a t-shirt which is not too baggy nor too tight. Too tight will cause difficulty and restricted breathing, too loose and it will get in the way. For ladies, a camisole top is your best bet. Giving enough support to avoid back pain while not making you feel like you’ve been cut in two, it really gives the best of all worlds.

Oh, and no shoes. That’s just a given.