Thanks to the Edmonton Humane Society, animal-loving local yogis can now destress with a new series of cat yoga classes.
"What do cats and yogis have in common? They both love to stretch!" reads a description about its "Cats On Your Mats" classes on the humane society's website.
The classes give yogis the chance to exercise and meet some of the society's felines up for adoption every week.
The idea to pair adoptable cats and yoga was inspired by Vancouver's Stretch Yoga, who were the first to hold a "Cats On Your Mats" event last year.
All eight cats at the studio were adopted after the first class, according to Stretch Yoga's owners Emmanuelle Rousseau and Boyd Thomson.
“It was quite amazing — most of the people that came to that class had never done cat yoga before,” Rousseau told The Georgia Straight. “A lot of people come because they either can’t have a cat of their own, or they’re interested in getting one.”
Karen Meurer, a humane society spokesperson, said the classes are designed with both humans and cats in mind. People get to exercise and meet prospective cats up for adoption and the felines get time to socialize, according to Metro News.
The classes are being taught by Charlene Bergenstrom, a Hatha yoga instructor based out of Stony Plain, Alta.
Hatha classes are designed for beginners, and each cat yoga class is one hour long — which includes 15 minutes to meditate, relax and visit with kitties.
Classes are held every Saturday morning at the Edmonton Humane Society and cost $20 to attend. Each class accepts up to 21 yogis, but the society warns they usually sell out, so it's important to register in advance.
"Just bring your own mat and we'll supply the cat, no worries," Meurer said, in an interview with CBC News.
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