Cats seem to have a natural attraction to people doing yoga. They loop around, stretching as if imitating yoga asanas or fall to the floor opening their bellies to be petted.
This feline trait is how Yoga With Cats classes began spreading around the world, with some of the feline experts arguing yoga as well as some forms of martial arts were invented based on careful observation of cat behavior.
Cats on Mats resumes at Crawford County
Humane Society Serving Crawford County as well as many others organizations introduced Cats on Mats yoga series to the community a few years back, and now they are resuming after the pandemic.
“We decided that it would be a perfect time to get things started back up, and now we’re doing Cats on Mats and the Lap,” said shelter manager Hannah Schafer.
Class instructor Kay Smith said she came up with the idea after hearing other communities did similar events.
The proceeds from the event are split in equal shares between the Humane Society and Smith.
Smith said the class was intended as a fun event to draw people out to spend some quality time together in a friendly environment with potential pets roaming around.
She said she also does similar events for the seniors citizens in the community.
Fun opportunity to enjoy family time
Erin Ross came to the first yoga event after the pandemic on Saturday at the Humane Society with her two daughter,s – Norah, 9, and Charlotte, 7. She said she thought it would be a fun event to attend with her daughters.
“My older daughter is really into animals,” Ross said.
Norah had participated in Cats on the Mats before the pandemic, and said she remembered it was fun. She said she played with the cats at the time. Norah said although they don’t have a cat at home, there are nine cats at the barn next door.
Charlotte spent most of the yoga class chasing the cats around. The younger cats participating in the event – Mango, Yoda, Heather, Moon, and Midnight – turned out to be not very sociable.
The next Cats on Mats and Cats on Laps events are planned for Feb. 24, March 2, March 16, April 13 and April 27.
The class fee is $10. Attendees get a 15% discount on pet adoptions if they want to take a pet home.