Yoga with cats

[mamculuna]

I know this topic has been addressed before, but it's clear that my son's two cats are experienced yogis and have a lot to offer those of you who practice in this tradition. Here are some of the poses they've been "helping" me to do:

Uttanasana: Stand up straight, hands by sides, feet parallel. Bend at hips and touch fingers to mat. Pick up cat and scratch ears, being careful to keep your own shoulders back.

Down Dog Cat: From Uttanasana, place hands flat on mat. Step feet back to end of mat, keeping hips pointing up and maintaining slight curve in lower back. Reach face down to kiss cat.

Plank pose to chattauranga: From pose above, press body forward until back is straight, without moving hands or feet. Stop one inch above cat. Press chest forward toward cat and tuck tailbone. Lower slowly, until touching cat. Hiss at cat to move while arm muscles begin to shake uncontrollably.

Cobra: In prone position on floor, place hands on mat midway between waist and shoulders. Hold feet together and tuck tailbone. Cat moves to sit on rear, assisting you in pressing tailbone. Slowly raise head and shoulders, keeping navel on floor and pressing shoulders down and back. End pose when claws enter skin.

Savasana: Lie flat on back with arms at sides and start to relax completely until cat takes position at top of head and begins to tangle hair in claws. Lie in terror of scratched scalp for ten breaths or until blood runs into eyes.

Comments

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

Really cute. Now, our cat Ben, rather than helping *us* do yoga (since we don't do it), does poses of his own, mostly involving lying on his back with tummy exposed and all feet outstretched in various directions.

Looking forward to seeing you in Oakland on Sunday evening.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to it, too--but crossing my fingers. I hope I'm not going to wind up getting invovled in a Father's Day party (my son's partner's family)that evening. Right now it's planned for afternoon, but I heard talk of changing it. What would be the latest time for me to reconfirm with you? I think I have your contact info in the first post when we talked about this.

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

*belly laugh*

I'm convinced cats think we are finally acknowledging our true feline natures when we step onto our yoga mats and get down on all fours! Their interference in 'plank to hover' is particularly amusing/grr arghing! LOL

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Their unerring instinct for putting their bodies exactly where our hand or feet need to go!

[maeve-rigan.livejournal.com]

LOL! If I can convince our cats to involve themselves, these helpful hints may get me back to regular yoga practice!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Some cats are definitely more into yoga than others, be warned. My own cat Mop has total disdain for human amateurishness in twisting into weird positions (or possibly is too lazy to get off the couch).

Downward Dog and smelf

[(Anonymous)]

Doing yoga on the floor was how I learned the meaning of dogpile.*


(*Note: Perfect breath control is essential)

Re: Downward Dog and smelf

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

whoops, tis my-smelf.

Re: Downward Dog and smelf

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I once did yoga with two cats and two dogs, all recent acquaintances. They weren't shy, especially about which parts of their bodies went in my face.

the way i heard it...

[anomster.livejournal.com]

..."Cats are Taoists. They know the Way, and they are always in it." Well, that's more like the way I read it--it's a button. @>)

Re: the way i heard it...

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Hee-too true.

[wombatina.livejournal.com]

that is perfect! you captured it so well. especially liked the downward cat. i think kissing kitties is one of the top ten pleasures of my life. hmmm. top 5 easy.

[lakrids404.livejournal.com]

lol, yes truely