The entire nation is fascinated by Geri Halliwell's new ultra toned 'yoga body'. Linda Buttle tracked down Geri's yoga teacher Katy Appleton for some expert advice

Katy Appleton is a fantastic advertisement for the benefits of yoga. Her energy and enthusiasm are apparent from the moment you meet her, so it isn't hard to imagine how she inspires her celebrity client Geri Halliwell. Katy has practised yoga her entire life, even before she was born - her mother practised yoga throughout her pregnancy and later practised with Katy as a child.

As a dancer with the English National Ballet, Katy got into yoga as a form of relaxation. On finishing her ballet career she decided to teach full time, which she has done for the past five years. Based in south London, she runs classes at the Open Door Community Centre in Southfields, where she offers personal training sessions.

Katy puts yoga's recent popularity down to the fact that more and more people are looking for a holistic approach to life. 'We all want to be fit and healthy but not everyone enjoys going to the gym, so yoga is a great alternative,' she says.

Transforming your body
When people find out Katy is Geri's trainer, they all want to know how they can transform themselves like Geri did. She explains, 'I think too many people make the mistake of worrying about how they look rather than how they feel.' Katy adds, 'And not everyone is 5'2" or has Geri's petite body frame.'

While Katy notes that Geri's yoga routine is quite rigorous, no matter how much or little yoga you do, it can make a difference - even one class a week - depending on what works best for you. One of the most vital elements is finding the right teacher for you. Geri tried several different teachers before finding Katy, and has continued to work with her for the past year.

Geri on yoga
Geri took up yoga because she says, ' I was 26 years old and I felt like 80.' Although she has lost two stone in weight, she feels yoga has given her much more that just a new body shape. Geri describes yoga as 'a great way of healing yourself' and claims that the breathing exercises give her a natural high. She also finds that if she feels tired she can re-energise herself simply by doing a headstand. Geri's yoga sessions with Katy, including a number of Geri's favourite exercises, are included in her new yoga video Geri Yoga.

Getting personal
Katy explains that yoga is a personal journey that can be tailor-made to suit the individual. 'Personal training sessions are a good idea for anyone learning yoga so you don't pick up any bad habits,' she explains. 'One-to-one sessions are also ideal if you have a particular goal in mind, such as losing weight or gaining more energy, as your teacher can design a specific routine to suit your needs.' However, given the cost and the time involved this may be unrealistic for many people, in which case finding a class with a good teacher can be equally helpful.

It's a lifestyle thing
After battling with eating disorders for over 10 years, Geri says she has left fad diets behind and now claims to simply eat three sensible meals a day. The classic yogic diet is a strict vegetarian one, with lots of fresh vegetables and wholegrain cereals. Katy herself follows such a diet but still eats fish. However, she never has dairy products, claiming they tend to act like glue, clogging up your digestive system. For more information on a yogic diet, check out The Yoga Cookbook.

Katy's tips for beginners

• When starting yoga, concentrate on learning the basic postures and breathing techniques. You can then gradually progress to more complicated postures and learn how to stay in them for longer.
• After a hectic day it can be difficult to focus your mind in the present, so don't worry if your thoughts start to wander - simply bring yourself back to the here and now. You'll find that concentrating on your breathing really helps.
• A common misconception with yoga is that you need to be very flexible, but this simply comes with practice. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere.
• Often people seem less flexible than they really are because they're holding in a lot of tension. When you release this tension, your body will instantly feel a lot more relaxed.
• Yoga is more than just a way of keeping your body fit. Techniques such as focusing your thoughts and practising yogic breathing can help in all kinds of everyday situations, such as dealing with stress.
• Combine yoga with a healthy diet and you'll definitely notice a change in how you look and feel.
• Finally, as Geri says, 'yoga is not easy but give it a chance, keep at it and you'll soon see the results.'

If you fancy training with Katy, take a look at her website at www.appleyoga.com

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