There’s a weird rumor going around — well, it’s kind of been going around for, like, ever — that you have to be a dog person or a cat person. You have to choose a side and stick to it. Even if you’re the proud owner of both canines and felines, there’s a silent understanding that you secretly prefer one species over the other.
The world will tell you that you have to choose a team — but we’re not going to tell you that. We’re equal opportunity pet lovers around here, and we fully embrace you if you relate. Even though the word “dog” is in our name, we will take a cuddly kitten to play with any day of the week.
Seriously. Have you ever seen a kitten? They’re so cute it’s unnatural.
It’s only human nature to try to combine multiple things we love, and since we’ve already shown you the sheer perfection that is dog yoga (and goat yoga, too), it’s time to turn our attention to the adorable marriage of cats and yoga. Luckily, we’re not the first yogis to have this brilliant idea, so there are already plenty of photos out there floating on the Internet that we can share with you in the name of making your day just a little cuter. Like yoga classes that incorporate other animals, cat yoga is on the rise as a fitness trend, and it’s thought to encourage participants to relax and stay in the moment during their practice. Is there any other option when you’re trying to manage a potentially unruly feline doing whatever they please on your yoga mat? Doubtful. You’ve just gotta go with the flow.
Here are a few of our favorite cat yoga photos. You can thank us later.
Plucked from a New York Post article entitled “Screw cat yoga — kitten yoga is here, and it’s adorable,” this pic proves that you’re never too young to give downward dog a try. You also don’t have to be a dog.
This cat seems to have gained a bit more mastery in the downward dog pose. See? We can all grow and improve.
When it all gets to be too much, sometimes you’ve just gotta take a snooze on your mat. This is essentially the feline equivalent of taking a minute in child’s pose. No judgement.
This particular kitten was so excited to participate in a yoga class that he put on his best bow tie for the occasion. In terms of enthusiasm, we could all take a page from his (likely very small) book.
Remember when we told you that cat yoga is thought to encourage yogis to stay present? Well, this pic illustrates that pretty well. When a cute cat is sniffing your hair mid-flow, it’s necessary to figure out how to focus in spite of distractions.
A little extra resistance never killed anyone. Thanks, buddy.
If there happens to be an extra mat already rolled out in the studio, anyway, you might as well let someone put it to good use. This feline yogi couldn’t be bothered to sit on the floor. To be fair, it looks like the linoleum could be cold.
We applaud the effort that it took this cat to get into this position. Everyone’s getting a great workout.
How long do you think they can hold this?
And sometimes, we all just need a little love. After all, yoga is about community.
Which cat yoga pic is your favorite? Tell us on Facebook + Twitter!
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Featured image: CNN