Introduction to Pet Yoga
Pet Yoga: The Myth
Many people believe yoga was invented thousands of years ago in India, but in fact, pet yoga (as it was originally called) was invented in the 1800s by a dog named Scout. Undeniable proof of Scout’s pet yoga genius is seen in this rare photo, which, due to its old-timey nature, is clearly authentic. If you look carefully, you can see Jesse James standing behind the tree as Scout perfects “downward facing dog.” |
 Credit: Whitney @itisprettyblog |
The Shame of Pet Yoga
Because humans have taken credit for the invention of pet yoga, some animals don’t understand their natural inclination to practice the art. For these poor furry souls, their deep devotion to pet yoga is actually a source of great shame. You’ve probably walked in on a pet scrambling out of Warrior I pose and not even realized it. |
 Doing what!? Heh… I don’t know what you’re talking about. Credit: Winston Smith @gobuymeadrink |
Pet Yoga Equipment
Before starting a pet yoga routine, it is important to possess the right equipment. Edible equipment is a recent fad popular among dogs. |
 Wait, who took this bite? Credit: Jennifer Berthiaume @iheartmaps |
Pet Yoga Safety
But remember, whatever equipment you choose, SAFETY FIRST. |
 Credit: Eric @EricDynamic83 |
| Pet yoga doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. Grab a friend or work with a trainer. German Shepherds in particular make excellent trainers, though they can be quite strict. |
 Butt-to-Butt stretching. Credit: Courtney Bressack  Get on your mats, maggots! Credit: Karen Horn (Skye)
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| If you’re considering learning yoga from a true pet yoga master, there are any number of pets willing to share their secrets. Here we see several widely renown cat trainers demonstrating stretching techniques. |
 Credit: Adam @AdamMiguel  Credit: C.L. Boretos  Credit: Eric @EricDynamic83 |
Advanced Pet Yoga Postions
|
| “The X-Factor” |
 Credit: Amy Cornell |
| “The Infinity” |
 Credit: Eric @EricDynamic83 |
“The Halt Who Goes There Crane Pose”
This cat actually held this pose for over one week.
Done with two paws, it is known as the “Trick or Treat Smell my Feet” pose. |
 Credit: Jesse Grant @JGrant3974 |
| “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Kitty”
Advanced pet yoga masters are often recruited as ninjas. |
 Credit: Lizzy Grubbs @lizzyneverlies |
| “The Face Plant”
I happen to know this dog’s owner, and the caption should read “I learned it from YOU, Dad!” |
 Credit: Dave Martinko |
| “The Inverted Chinese Dragon”
Note the deep concentration in the eyes. |
 Credit: Jennifer Berthiaume @iheartmaps |
| “The HolyShitWhattheFuckWasThat” |
 Credit: Karen Horn |
| “The I Got Your Yoga Right Here”
A popular pose in the Northeast United States.
This true master practices the art balancing on a sofa. Do not try this at home. |
 Credit: Tammy @itsprkles |
| “Downward Facing Hustler Model” |
 My Gordon Labradoodle |
| “The Throw Your Hands in the Air Like You Just Don’t Care” |
 Credit: Eric @EricDynamic83 |
| If practiced long enough, Pet Yoga can provide you with strength, tranquility and even lengthen your body. |
 Credit: D. Brit @SnarkyTwitg |
| … as well as help you reach TOTAL NIRVANA. |
 Yogi Ferret Oreo. Credit: Karen Horn |
Thank you to all the Twitter and FB fans who submitted their photos for this post. If I mismarked anyone or you see a caption that is off or missing, please just let me know and I’ll fix it faster than you can drop to Child’s Pose.
Here are some spares…
Credit: Karen Horn
Credit: Martinko
Credit: Courtney Bressack
@baige58
Sarah @travelswithberg
cj: 9 comments
Damien: 5 comments
Abby: 4 comments
Charlotte: 4 comments
Carrie - Cannibalistic Nerd: 3 comments
Ha! I love this and saw your call for pictures. While my hairball cat appears to be quite flexible herself, she isn’t that photogenic (in that I get out the camera and she hauls ass away.)
Love these
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Yeah, the cats win paws-down for flexibility!
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I love the nirvana ferret! It looks like it is beginning to glow gold as its spiritual ascension begins.
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That ferret was golden. As soon as I got that photo I was like YES. I am so writing this post…
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lmao amy ………..
I appreciate the short comment – you don’t have to spend a bunch of time thinking about it, but I get the sweet sweet knowledge that someone actually read this and enjoyed it. Perfect.
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i know what it takes to do what you do for us and i want you to know i do appreciate it and the laugh that starts my day . thank you amy
bill
Sure, we can call it yoga. The reality is he’s licking his balls. Would that be the “Go Down On Dog” pose?
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Well you know the old joke… why does a dog lick his balls? Because he can…
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I never tire of the look of indignation cats give you when you interrupt their butthole licking. I didn’t realize it was for the betterment of their soul. I’ll be more respectful.
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Dogs get embarrassed, cats don’t CARE. If the dog trips and we laugh at him he get visibly shaken. A cat would flip us off.
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I can always count on you to make me laugh out loud. I saw most of the pics on Twitter, but your commentary was priceless. I, myself, do the “Holyshitwhatthefuckwasthat” pose and “Halt Who Goes There Crane Pose” on the reg. As for human poses, I can hold the “If I Balance on This Toe and Clench My Buttcheeks, I Won’t Slip and Fall Whilst Shaving in the Shower” Pose. Love. Every. Minute.
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Thank you! Hm.. Yoga would be good for showering shaving. I never thought of that… and I might for ONCE get that spot on the inside of my right leg just above my ankle…
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This was great!!!!!
My Great Dane would do the “face plant” on a regular basis. My pointer and Bernese both do downward dog on command. I like them to do their stretches with me in the morning. Works great until one of them decides to try and sit on top of me.
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Martinko says faceplant dog is a “plotter hound” but he is vaguely great danish… maybe the faceplant is in their blood.
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Oh man I’m sorry I missed this. I have some crazy pictures of my cats flying through the air in awkward positions. Actually, I should clarify. They are jumping through the air, not necessarily flying. I would also like to add that they were jumping on their on accord. I just want to make sure people don’t think I was throwing them. I should probably just end this comment now.
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You hung the catnip on the fan again, didn’t you?
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This reminds me of when I worked in the Music/DVD department at Barnes & Noble and we had a copy of “Naked Yoga” and “Naked Palates”. Thank Jobu that I never had to sell it to someone.
I just tweeted: There should be some sort of warning alarm that goes off before a naked man with his back to you bends over.
So I can’t even imagine the horror of that book…
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“German Shepherds in particular make excellent trainers, though they can be quite strict.” Funny. Very funny. I bet they have quite the frightening accent too.
Now I want to drive out to the Humane Society and sign up for yoga classes.
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That was how I pictured it:
Ze pose you have azumed is UNACCEPTABLE!
Amy Vansant recently posted..Zombie Breath: A Love Story
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Awesome – the ferret is my favorite. How exciting! This is my cat’s internet debut – I hope to sponge off her wealth when she eventually becomes famous and makes millions… I will make sure she gives due credit to KFL! =]
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That’s how I roll… making cat celebrities, one kitty at a time…
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Love these! I wish I had a pic of our cat’s yoga pose…we call it the “Super Pretzel.” The bottom half of her body is facing in one direction, and the top faces the opposite direction. (Already sounds pretzel-y uncomfortable, doesn’t it?) The “Super” part of that is she extends her paws out in front of her, like a flying caped crusader! She can sleep like that for hours. But she’s camera shy…she hates the camera and goes running the second we turn it on.
We need the vacuum to scare the dog. I think we took so many photos of him as a puppy now he actually poses for us whenever we whip out the camera.
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This is brilliant. My cat practices yoga only when I’m trying to use the computer or do yoga myself – she plants herself in “affection” pose riiiiigggghhhht in the center of whatever I’m doing.
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That’s definitely in the pet handbook. Every time Mike gets on the floor so I can crack his back Gordon Labradoodle has to be right in the middle of the whole thing…
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Love it!
My elderly chihuahua is a total yoga master, but she’s camera shy:)
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In a world so full of serious cynicism (and I always find that word hard to type :-/), to find this site and this zany humour made me giggle till my sides ached. Thank you for putting humour back into blogging.
If it were within my power (aside: O, excuse me, it is?), so it seems it is within my power, I would therefore be pleased to offer you citizenship as an honorary Brit, to take your place alongside all my Goon Show and Monty Pythonesque heroes! Very well done and, by the way, I just put my back out, trying to clean my… Oh, yes you did issue the health and safety warning! My bad
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Whoo whoo! As an anglophile I am especially honored. And now I get to break for tea at 4 every day – scones and clotted cream for everyone!
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LMAO I absolutely love this!!! xxx
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