Cat yoga brings new crowds to the human society every third Sunday of the month. Photo by Carla Jean Whitney Tessa Case - News & Science Editornews@insideuab.com
I am not what anyone would call a yogi through any stretch of my body or the imagination. I am what many would describe as a “crazy, cat lady,” which is how I ended up at my first cat yoga class.
“Everybody wants to be a cat because the cat’s the only cat that knows where it’s at,” the speakers sang to me as I cursed and muttered my way through yet another “downward cat.” The lyrics were correct; the cats did know where it was at. In fact, a green-eyed beauty stared at me seemingly mockingly as she lounged and chewed on the edge of my yoga mat.
The Greater Birmingham Humane Society is the largest and oldest humane society in Alabama, according to their website, and their mission is to “promote the humane treatment of people and animals through education, advocacy and services.” Their programs include animal cruelty investigations, humane education, adoptions, pet surrendering, disaster preparation and volunteer opportunities. The third Sunday of every month, they now also host cat yoga sessions.
“We are always trying to brain storm ways we can get people involved in our organization,” said Courtney Underwood, the director of volunteers and community engagement at the GBHS. “A cat loving member of our community approached us about doing a cat yoga birthday party. We loved the idea so much that we wanted to keep the program running.”
The cat loving member of the community is Carla Jean Whitley, a features writer for al.com, a certified yoga instructor and the owner of two orange tabbies: McCartney Jane and Harrison Vann.
Whitley has a gentle voice and an elegant way of moving. Even cats weaving through her legs and arms didn’t deter her flow. The only distraction was when the allure of huge eyes and soft fur become too much, and she decided to take a break to play around with the cats while she instructed the class, who were also mostly just playing with the cats.
“I’m a big birthday person, and this year I celebrated my 35th. The party had to live up to the importance of that number, so I solicited ideas from my Facebook friends,” she said.
Picking a winner was simple for her. A friend of Whitley’s and a fellow yoga instructor, June League Hall, had the perfect suggestion.
“Find a shelter or rescue where we can do a yoga class while the cats up for adoption move around. As ‘payment’ for the class, everyone should bring an item to donate to said shelter/organization. Then go get coffee at a few places or beer depending on the time of day . . . or BOTH,” the comment read.
“Cats, yoga, coffee and beer are among my favorite things,” Whitley said. She e-mailed Underwood, who said the organization had already been thinking of having a cat yoga class. Whitley’s party served as the test group, and the following day she sent a proposal for the monthly classes.
According to the American Osteopathic Association, yoga provides benefits such as increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone and improved respiration, energy and vitality. For the cats at the humane society, the yoga class offers something more: the opportunity to find a forever home.
Underwood said the yoga class was so appealing because it serves as a way to socialize the cats, meet potential adopters and have people become more intimately involved in the organization.
“I think the first cat café opened in Japan. Due to population and apartment size, most don’t allow pets making cat cafés a popular destination for young workers looking for companionship. Shortly after, cat cafés began opening everywhere,” Hall said, discussing her inspiration for the yoga class. “As for [cat yoga], I think it’s a perfect combination. In a cat yoga class, you are secretly hoping one of them will end up on your mat, and the more you ignore them, the more curious they are about you.”
Spots are limited as the cat yoga trend continues to expand, garnering attention on sites such as CNN, NPR and New York Magazine. I suggest you book early, and don’t stress —no one expects you to do that much yoga.
