Thins ain't what they used to be

IT'S been hailed as the sensation of the summer: ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell on a romantic holiday in the south of France with ex-Take That heart-throb Robbie Williams. But to anyone who saw the stunning newspaper pictures of Geri looking super-toned in a red bikini, the real story needing to be told wasn't how did she get that man, but how did she get that figure.

As Ginger Spice, Geri's image was buxom babe: she had love handles and wasn't afraid to show them off.

Today - as the pictures revealed - the only extra inches she is generating are of the column variety in the tabloids.

So how did she do it?

Well, Geri is a devotee of Ashtanga yoga: which combines postures, dynamic movements and slow, steady breathing in a unique workout for the mind and body.

However, she also does a variety of other exercises, including jogging and cycling.

And she's not the first well-known face to undergo a reincarnation.

TV presenter Vanessa Feltz has achieved a remarkable revamp following the break-up of her marriage. She gave up chocolate and underwent a rigorous five-month exercise regime: shedding five stones in the process.

And who will think of Tory leader William Hague in the same way again after it was revealed in this month's GQ magazine that he has a 'washboard stomach'. So that's what Ffion saw in him all along.

Another headline-grabbing reinvention was that of Countdown hostess Carol Vorderman, who ditched her staid, bank manageress image for a raunchy new look. She was quickly rewarded with a clutch of new TV shows to host and became the highest paid woman on telly, earning £2 million a year. Carol revealed a detox diet helped her achieve her new elfin image.

Earlier this year, TV's other Carol - Smillie, of Changing Rooms-fame - boasted that Pilates-style exercises helped her get her trademark svelte figure back in just 18 weeks after the birth of her third child.

There's no doubting that where the celebs lead, the public follows. Gyms in Britain are reporting record membership growth, with around five percent of the adult population belonging to a fitness club.

Fitness First at Clifton Moor, York, is the city's newest exercise outlet. Opened just six months ago, it already boasts more than 3,000 members.

General manager Rachel Armstrong says: "Celebrities do help raise awareness. They tend to start crazes and people want to do what they are doing."

But can we achieve the same astonishing results?

Without doubt, says Rachel, who adds that strength training and cross training are key elements in a fitness regime.

"Strength training is a big thing. We try to encourage people to build muscle as the more muscle you have in your body, the higher your metabolism is and the more calories you will burn: even while sitting on the sofa watching TV." Cross training means doing different types of workouts - as with Geri's yoga, jogging and cycling mix - so your body doesn't become too accustomed and comfortable with your exercise regime.

"Your body reacts to new and interesting things, if you only do one activity you get to a point where you don't achieve any more," explains Rachel. So how do the stars' fitness regimes measure up?

Here's our guide:

Gym

A good starting point for anyone who wants to get back into shape. Gyms have qualified fitness instructors who will show you how to use the equipment and work out a personal programme for you to target the parts of your body you want to change.

By combining cardio-vascular work such as rowing and power walking which burns off fat with strength building by using weights, you should reap the rewards - but it will require two or three 60-minute visits a week.

If you want more one-to-one attention, you can use a personal trainer. Many gyms offer such a service or can put you in touch with a personal trainer.

For details of a gym near you, look in the Yellow Pages. Membership costs vary, but at Fitness First, prices start from £21 a month.

Ashtanga yoga

If you thought yoga was all about quiet reflection and meditation, this will change that. Geri Halliwell is the latest convert, but Madonna was the first celeb to sing the praises of Ashtanga.

It is a complete work-out for mind and body, says Harrogate-based instructor Amanda Latchmore. "You can change your body, increase your fitness and still the mind."

It works by combining a sequence of postures with 'ujjayi' or deep breathing and 'sun salutations' which are a series of dynamic moves.

You will get hot and sticky and it is recommended that beginners aim for one class a week plus practising at home at least three times a week for up to 90 minutes at a time where possible.

For more details, call Amanda on 01423 561173 website: www.harrogateyoga.com. For details of classes in York, contact Peter Finch 01904 641732. Prices are around £3.50 a class.

Pilates

This works by strengthening the core postural muscles of the body, rebalancing the body and bringing it into correct alignment which leads to a longer, leaner body.

Other benefits include better posture, stress relief and muscle toning.

Pilates (pronounced pee-lah-teas) is practised by tennis player Pat Cash and supermodel Sophie Dahl, but one of its great pluses is that it is suitable for all.

It is particularly good for people who have injuries which prevent them from doing other types of exercise. As ever, only take up exercise on advice from your doctor.

To get maximum results a weekly class should be supplemented by regular practising at home. It goes without saying that the more you do, the quicker you'll notice a difference.

Catriona Skidmore runs classes in the York and Harrogate areas. To find out more, call her on 01904 492605. Prices start at £8 for a 75-minute class. New courses begin next month.