Expert reveals who’s stretching credibility with celebrity show-off pose… and who’s the top dog 

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For thousands of years, yoga has provided devotees with a path to enlightenment. 

But now it has suddenly become everyone’s favourite lockdown exercise — and a brilliant way to boost your social media profile. 

No wonder the internet is awash with A-listers showing off their newfound skills — as nothing quite says ‘look at me!’ like a photo of yourself folded in two, legs akimbo, with a perfectly toned bottom in the air. 

But who’s a bonafide yogi — and who’s just posing? 

Here, writer and yoga teacher LIBBY GALVIN reveals who knows their asana from their eagle pose…. 

Liz Hurley: Wheel

Everyone’s favourite embarrassing mum Liz Hurley, 54, has been practising social media yoga for a good few years — in a bikini. In this 2017 snap she wiggles into wheel pose, a strenuous back bend which opens the chest and shoulders. No wonder all the other stars want a bit of what Liz has got! Rating: 3/5

Difficulty rating

1: Unrolling your mat

2: A gentle stretch

3: Bendy and trendy

4: Approaching enlightenment

5: Full guru 

Lilly Becker: High-flying whale 

Boris Becker’s estranged wife shows she’s a doubles star by balancing on top. This pose has more in common with circus performance than real yoga — but all credit to Lilly, 43, for making it look elegant. Rating: 5/5

Boris Becker’s estranged wife shows she’s a doubles star by balancing on top. This pose has more in common with circus performance than real yoga — but all credit to Lilly, 43, for making it look elegant. Rating: 5/5

Britney Spears: The side plank 

There’s nothing to say ‘Oops’ about here — Britney’s pose is strong, and throwing one leg in the air adds to the power during one of the 38-year-old’s home dance videos. Rating: 4/5

There’s nothing to say ‘Oops’ about here — Britney’s pose is strong, and throwing one leg in the air adds to the power during one of the 38-year-old’s home dance videos. Rating: 4/5

Naomi Watts: Tree  

Before her acting career took off, Naomi, 51, considered yoga teaching as a calling. She clearly kept up her practice, which she’s credited with helping her avoid injury on set. This pose is great for improving balance and posture. While it looks easy, getting the foot to the thigh, rather than the calf, takes extra flexibility. Rating: 3/5

Before her acting career took off, Naomi, 51, considered yoga teaching as a calling. She clearly kept up her practice, which she’s credited with helping her avoid injury on set. This pose is great for improving balance and posture. While it looks easy, getting the foot to the thigh, rather than the calf, takes extra flexibility. Rating: 3/5

Jenny Powell: Camel pose

TV presenter Jenny, 52, has been doing yoga every day of lockdown. This heart-opener —the name for any kind of move that spreads the chest out — can let loose a flood of emotion, as opening up the body in this way feels vulnerable. Which is perhaps why Jenny posted this picture in honour of Mental Health Awareness Week. Rating: 2/5

TV presenter Jenny, 52, has been doing yoga every day of lockdown. This heart-opener —the name for any kind of move that spreads the chest out — can let loose a flood of emotion, as opening up the body in this way feels vulnerable. Which is perhaps why Jenny posted this picture in honour of Mental Health Awareness Week. Rating: 2/5

Karen Hauer: Shoulder stand 

Strictly pro Karen, 38, teaches ‘stretch’ classes on her Instagram page, incorporating staple yoga postures such as this. She makes it seem easy, but tapping her toes behind her head creates a real effort for the abs — and she’s not short of those. Rating: 3/5

Strictly pro Karen, 38, teaches ‘stretch’ classes on her Instagram page, incorporating staple yoga postures such as this. She makes it seem easy, but tapping her toes behind her head creates a real effort for the abs — and she’s not short of those. Rating: 3/5

Fearne Cotton: Crow pose variation

‘Are you stuck? Shall I send help?’ jokes one of her followers — but bendy broadcaster Fearne, 38, has been posting her yoga progress since long before lockdown. Fearne’s flying in this tricky variation of an arm balance called crow pose. Although this may look like it’s all about the arms, it also involves squeezing your abs like mad. Rating: 4½/5

‘Are you stuck? Shall I send help?’ jokes one of her followers — but bendy broadcaster Fearne, 38, has been posting her yoga progress since long before lockdown. Fearne’s flying in this tricky variation of an arm balance called crow pose. Although this may look like it’s all about the arms, it also involves squeezing your abs like mad. Rating: 4½/5

Gabby Logan: Straddle headstand

As a former gymnast, it’s perhaps no surprise to see sports television presenter Gabby popping up into a tripod headstand with about the same level of effort it takes some of us to get out of bed. But at 47 it’s still no mean feat, and splitting her legs while in this pose shows buckets of core strength and good balance. Rating: 4/5

As a former gymnast, it’s perhaps no surprise to see sports television presenter Gabby popping up into a tripod headstand with about the same level of effort it takes some of us to get out of bed. But at 47 it’s still no mean feat, and splitting her legs while in this pose shows buckets of core strength and good balance. Rating: 4/5

Eva Longoria: Tripod headstand 

The Desperate Housewives star proves she’s just as comfortable on the yoga mat as the red carpet. Eva, 45, shows off a strong headstand in this video, and pauses to create a funky little variation known as butterfly pose with her legs halfway through. But what is she wearing on her feet? Every true yogi knows shoes are banned from the yoga shala. Rating: 4/5

The Desperate Housewives star proves she’s just as comfortable on the yoga mat as the red carpet. Eva, 45, shows off a strong headstand in this video, and pauses to create a funky little variation known as butterfly pose with her legs halfway through. But what is she wearing on her feet? Every true yogi knows shoes are banned from the yoga shala. Rating: 4/5

Reese Witherspoon: Easy pose

Enjoying some quality time with her pooches, Reese, 44, describes this as ‘treat pose’. She’s in a classic seat for meditation known as ‘easy pose’ — though that’s a misnomer if you have tight hips. Rating: 2/5

Enjoying some quality time with her pooches, Reese, 44, describes this as ‘treat pose’. She’s in a classic seat for meditation known as ‘easy pose’ — though that’s a misnomer if you have tight hips. Rating: 2/5

Rita Ora: Downward-facing dog 

Pop star Rita, 29, brings it back to basics with her downward-facing dog, a foundation pose yogis keep returning to in vinyasa and ashtanga sequences. She says she likes to think about banoffee pie while she stretches . . . as long as she eats it afterwards, not before, she should be fine. Rating: 2/5

Pop star Rita, 29, brings it back to basics with her downward-facing dog, a foundation pose yogis keep returning to in vinyasa and ashtanga sequences. She says she likes to think about banoffee pie while she stretches . . . as long as she eats it afterwards, not before, she should be fine. Rating: 2/5

Cara Delevigne: Head-to-knee pose

Cara, 27, credits yoga with keeping her ‘balanced and focused and sane’ and this picture suggests she’s more into getting centred than showing off. She is entering head-to-knee pose, or janu sirsasana in Sanskrit — a soothing, stress-relieving position which encourages introspection. Rating: 3/5

Cara, 27, credits yoga with keeping her ‘balanced and focused and sane’ and this picture suggests she’s more into getting centred than showing off. She is entering head-to-knee pose, or janu sirsasana in Sanskrit — a soothing, stress-relieving position which encourages introspection. Rating: 3/5