The official "cat yoga" primer

[tuxluvr]

Inspired by 2kitties original thread, here is a brief 'How to". Like Hooman yoga, it is always wise to start with the beginning poses:

Try these to limber up
"Be the floor"
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/images/maya's%20belly.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid53/p7c497a6fd560729da4d6975747355af6/fc929a4d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p27217d8d6506606449c7faf53ef73c85/fb7bcdc2.jpg

As you become more comfortable, you can add a little "twist" to the above move, called "clean the floor" or, on light carpet is also referred to as "furring the floor"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/pedd35e3e40575783a0d2f8f19a0ca15d/fb76464e.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p27f82cea9cbbc0dce188feb13b03f71e/fb309b43.jpg

For added stretch to the "be the floor" try lifting one leg high, or what some refer to as "airing the privates"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid65/p949d73bee5ce65e44c05fbb2ce751e0f/fbea6b41.jpg

[tuxluvr]

Once you have mastered the "floor exercise" (this can take, days, hours, months of practice to perfect...always with a snooze in between), you are ready to move on to the more complex moves

Here is the "twist and stretch"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p78afaaa0a6880d42428d960bb95bff78/fd6b7eeb.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid72/p6846ccea9f3a79c8d4d51dcf495dea97/fb7e300e.jpg

The audacious "clothespin" stretch
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid58/p5b79f7cce70775659de38ec99b663418/fc60e28f.jpg

Some prefer to take the floor exercise outside

Here's the "dirt nap"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p098904c33ed6968576d0907577e71d47/fb742561.jpg
which is similar to the 'mud roll'
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/pea4cebdf5408f0199de638f65218fdfc/fd6e0bca.jpg


Moving up, we have the basic "upper torso" reach
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p39b332390a921ee128c409da7345b759/fb2f625d.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p810a7d2156663381ae300db4b130fd0f/fb6e9b3f.jpg

As Lady Edwina Mountbatten demonstrates, if a "full reach" is not appropriate "regal behavior", one can always pause by the posies for a brief stretch and still maintain that necessary poise and propriety! http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/p6c3e14e0e76db80fdaa0a46e0230f270/fda888fe.jpg

[momoffuzzyfaces]

So that's what the boys have been doing!!!! Leonardo has mastered the 'be one with the floor' exercise!
Great pictures!!!:D

[tuxluvr]

Once you feel up to it, you can attempt some additional "twists", but as noted, if youare not limber, you could be stuck like a drunken snake in a truth-or-dare Twister match.

Rocky demonstrates the high-difficulty "be the floor rear dismount". It is wise to keep those back claws trimmed to avoid unnecessary strain! Use the tail for balance!
http://www.kericommunications.com/images/kittypics/yoga.gif

Use those house props! Here is the "vertical velcro" demonstrated by Storm (Good on any free-standing fabric covered surface, but check with meowmie and dadcat before assuming it's yours)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p6a56ae6e2323bd5da736d4e3861eb7f9/fd651f5a.jpghttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid65/pa9900dfb0f77df7fa6e9615fbb2ec559/fbf17f92.jpg

A variation of the vertical velcro, the "claw prayer"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p96e3d975352c13d85c2a9e7715d5beba/fc4417aa.jpg

And EVERYBODY knows the classic ELEBATOR BUTT
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/images/stretching%20Inka%201.jpg

[tuxluvr]

A variation of "be the floor"
"Be the flowerpot"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pabfb7e17a53d37401cb866227f5927ad/fb2f1846.jpg

[RedHedd]

There's also the sideways reaching to heaven pose:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid74/p61ae345c745071605df98c9aa6327bcb/fb64b504.jpg :D

[tuxluvr]

Originally posted by RedHedd
There's also the sideways reaching to heaven pose:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid74/p61ae345c745071605df98c9aa6327bcb/fb64b504.jpg :D


LOL...remember the song lyric
"And she's buying the stairway to heaven"?

well...I looked at this picture and sang the lyrics as

"..and she fell down the stairway to heaven"

great picture!

[tuxluvr]

the "saddlebag" (similar to the indoor version practiced on the back or arms of a sofa, often referred to as the "full doily cat"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p723f0e57d3fc51664500f7f08d00eded/fb7425f3.jpg


And a personal favorite, called "popsicle cat" with one leg extended and the rest of the cat in a ball, is also referred to as "exorcising poo" or "detangling the dingle"
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p37f4066526ea6a9c53c6c865531636e3/fb30101b.jpg

[zippy-kat]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p2606fc6e49941942c2982ea12c520e7a/fc47b194.jpg
Nose to knee and hold for 5 counts. Ready? One....Two....

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by tuxluvr

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p37f4066526ea6a9c53c6c865531636e3/fb30101b.jpg

... is also referred to as "exorcising poo"
or "detangling the dingle" :p

We need ta menshun dis to da Kat!

Dad offin spotz da Boots in dis pozishin an axks ~
BOOTS!!!! What the {heck} are you DOIN!!???

Da Kat alluz seemz ta be atta loss fur wurds... :rolleyes:

[NoahsMommy]

ha ha!! Too cute! :)

[jazzcat]

Very entertaining, thanks tuxluvr!

[krazyaboutkatz]

LOL This is great Tuxluvr. :D

[Vio&Juni]

8Tuxluvr, you have a great sense of humor9

There must be a special code of Pichu and maybe you understand what he meant with the 8 and 9 :confused: tr5

[jenluckenbach]

Here is Sterling limbering up with the "bow down to tha all mighty cat god" pose:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid37/pf0d6d8d66bfe7305092c7678e72668ed/fd19bc08.jpg
Now ready to strike the yoga pose:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid36/pb68a5012ffcc91cb1164ceaeb838d227/fd26d4d8.jpg
Biddy in the "BE THE CHAIR.....the heck with the floor" position:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid56/p6d20eba1710933ce27099a6aa0e66c15/fc75e2be.jpg

[bisi.cat]

HOW TRUE!!!
I wish we could manage to just get in one of the poses (of course I wouldn't want to try the "excorsing poo"...lol...btw, Nellie refers to it as "pear-falling-from-tree-pose"...);)

Great job, tuxluvr...I really had a lot of fun reading this!!!
:D :D :D

[2kitties]

Rocky is very interested in yoga. He is quite advanced.

This is a highly advanced position. It requires great strength and concentration. We call it "hold for dear life" pose
http://www.kericommunications.com/images/kittypics/at_the_top.jpg

This is an easy stretch that most kitties can do. It's is very good for the hamstrings. Also allows for cleaning of the underbelly.
http://www.kericommunications.com/images/kittypics/rockysittingugly.jpg

This pose is easiest for very young kittens. Now that Rocky is a bit more plus sized, he's not quite this limber:
http://www.kericommunications.com/images/kittypics/Rockyupsidedown.gif

And last, this stretch is not unlike the others in this thread. It is great for the shoulders and rear deltoids. Also, it often results in great belly rubs. (that's important, kitties. All your yoga poses should make your hoomans want to give you rubs)
http://www.kericommunications.com/images/kittypics/fatty.jpg

[Barbara]

Another of the themes we should make a printed book from!

The Pet Talk Life of the Rotten Spoiled Cat Series!

[ScantyNebula]

Kitty-Yoga ...

PRICELESS!! This is adorable, great captions tuxlvr :D

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

:D :D :D

[slick]

OMG this is one of the funniest threads I've seen. I'm laughing so hard I have to pee :D :D :D :D

....be right back......

[jazzcat]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p37f4066526ea6a9c53c6c865531636e3/fb30101b.jpg

We call this "You've Got Mail!" because that leg in the air looks like the little flag up on a mailbox.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Here's Peanut's version of the reverse camel position. I know that's not the official name of it, but I can't remember exactly what they call it right now. I call it "the old gray mare just aint what she used to be" position. ;) :rolleyes: :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid52/pe25283487ade876b7559551f6ded9148/fc9d6cbe.jpg

[RedHedd]

Aww Peanut! That's a PERFECT reverse camel! :D

[Cataholic]

I can hardly type I am crying so hard..that is a great commentary, Tuxluvr...wonderful!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

What a great thread - thanks for making me smile:)

[tuxluvr]

Even today's Cat Of the Day is into the act! Very "Feng Shui", Sharky!
http://www.catoftheday.com/archive/2003/September/06.jpg

[jonza]

What a great thread. All your pics are hilarious! :D

I found a few of Fister - captions are welcome!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/p281c560ca99fd5a89f25d108bad01e90/fb2a9893.jpg

I don't think he can look more silly than this:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/p15cbf963e65a5851b5a9872955d48d12/fb2a988c.jpg

[tuxluvr]

I found a few of Fister - captions are welcome!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/p281c560ca99fd5a89f25d108bad01e90/fb2a9893.jpg
This is often what "exorcising poo" and "detangling the dingle" look like from the front view. Fister has chosen a method that works for all , ahem, "kitties of dimension" by creating a deep hole in the bed linens that has come to be known as the "duvet divot". This allows the larger puss to anchor its girth and reach far into the nether regions! While I have no pictures of this (Miz Ritz would not permit it), my "little" tuxedo princess prefers to wedge her substantial "loins" into the corner of the sofa for the proper leverage to attempt the "dingle detangle"....

I don't think he can look more silly than this:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/p15cbf963e65a5851b5a9872955d48d12/fb2a988c.jpg [/B]

Well, any cat can "high five" with the front paw! It takes something special to do it with the hind-hand!

[tuxluvr]

Originally posted by zippy-kat
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p2606fc6e49941942c2982ea12c520e7a/fc47b194.jpg
Nose to knee and hold for 5 counts. Ready? One....Two.... http://www.kericommunications.com/images/kittypics/rockysittingugly.jpg

Rocky, you and KC would make a PURRFECT couple, I think...you could practice the "mirror split" and even lick each OTHER's tummies!:eek:

[RedHedd]

Originally posted by jonza
What a great thread. All your pics are hilarious! :D

I found a few of Fister - captions are welcome!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/p281c560ca99fd5a89f25d108bad01e90/fb2a9893.jpg


I call that one the "flying drumstick" :D

[krazyaboutkatz]

Here's another "high five" with the back paw pose.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/pab2bc8948ffaa9dbb588b66c4fecc41f/fc8026de.jpg

Yet another "high five" back paw pose while washing at the same time. I'd say this is a very difficult maneuver. :)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/pba1c68a0de3d4865a8bd03f73c23087d/fc8026dd.jpg

[ScantyNebula]

Originally posted by krazyaboutkatz


Yet another "high five" back paw pose while washing at the same time. I'd say this is a very difficult maneuver. :)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/pba1c68a0de3d4865a8bd03f73c23087d/fc8026dd.jpg

LOL I always say "How do you do that?? Doesn't that hurt??" hehe

such flexible creates

[tuxluvr]

There is an advertising jingle that keeps going through myhead when I see this picture

"Raise your paw, raise your paw, if your sure!"

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid55/pba1c68a0de3d4865a8bd03f73c23087d/fc8026dd.jpg