Mary Allen
Due to the corona epidemic, many fitness studios are currently closed. For many, the usual yoga unit currently takes place in their own four walls. Some people use the time to try yoga for the first time with the help of online courses. Cat owners ask themselves: How does yoga work with cats (cat yoga)? We give tips!
The “Cat” as a Yoga Exercise
Graceful movements, powerful body tension and casual relaxation – what is the goal of many yogis, most cats master from the inside out. One of the most famous yoga asanas – that’s what we call individual yoga postures – is named after her for good reason. Because the asana “Marjariasana” is known by yogis in Europe as the “cat”. Here the practitioners are in the four-legged position. The wrists are below the shoulders and the knees below the hips. When you exhale, arch your back for the “cat” and pull your chin towards your chest. This is reminiscent of a “cat hump” that many velvet paws make when they stretch extensively after sleep. The “yoga cat” should have a balancing effect and keep the spine supple. By the way, the opposite position of the “cat” is the “cow”.
Practice Yoga with Cats
Do you want to practice yoga at home and do you have a cat? Wonderful! Many yogis assume they will benefit from the cat’s vibrations. For example, some yoga studios specifically offer “yoga with cats” (cat yoga). This does not mean that every participant takes his or her furry friend with them – Katzenjammer would quickly disturb the relaxed atmosphere. Instead, a serene studio cat roams the room. She looks at the different positions with interest, lies down, or serves as a model: either for graceful stretching or for absolute relaxation. The cat decides according to its mood, because: Every cat yogi has his own mind. You can support particularly relaxed velvet paws with certain lifting figures as additional weight. Make sure that the cat cannot fall down and is comfortable. Because the velvet paw is a self-determined yogi, you cannot actively involve it in exercises. That doesn’t make any sense either. It is true that cats can master the “looking down dog”. But at the latest with the “tree” or the “pigeon”, it becomes difficult.
Relaxing with a Cat – No?
Young velvet paws in particular will be curious when you spread out in strange positions on the floor. Suddenly there is no longer any question of graceful movements or relaxation: the cat prefers to play with its outstretched feet or sink its teeth into the yoga mat. What to do? We recommend: breathe in, breathing out – and staying strong! Do not pay any attention to the velvet paw. She soon gets bored of trying to distract her so you can concentrate on your exercises again. Of course, the cat should be properly exercised and not hungry when you relax. If the fur nose deliberately runs in front of your feet during the sun salutation or starts to throw the flower pots off the windowsill, this is an exercise in serenity for every yogi. Do you think about whether the fur nose is bored? Lone cats that are kept purely at home often have too much excess energy. Safe outdoor access or a second cat with a suitable character are possible alternatives.
Meditate with Cat
Whether cuddled up or stretched out: cats love to doze off. That is why – at least well-behaved cats – are ideal office companions in the home office. Those who diligently hit the keys and have to meet deadlines can recharge their batteries by looking at the curled-up cat. This also works with yoga. Purring cats are in tune with their bipeds’ breathing exercises and help relax. This works particularly well if you pay little attention to the cat. You can use yoga to lure shy or cautious cats out of the reserve. By meditating together, you strengthen the bond between you and the velvet paw. By the way: some music that we humans find relaxing can irritate sensitive fur noses. If you practice yoga with music, consider choosing the right tone for your cat. Some four-legged yogis also have to get used to the sound of singing bowls.
Cat Yoga: Tips about Yoga with Cats
Would you like to practice yoga at home, the cat is with you? Here are our summarized tips for a relaxing exercise session:
- Play around with the cat beforehand.
- Consistently ignore prompts to play during the yoga session.
- During many asanas, relaxed fur noses make themselves comfortable on a soft blanket next to you.
- The cat does not come to rest? Valerian pillows, sniffing carpets, or intelligence toys help.
- Choose relaxing music that the cat will enjoy too.
With a relaxed cat in the room, you have an ideal training partner on four paws by your side. With this in mind, we hope you enjoy yoga with cats: Namasté!