A WHITE PERSIAN CAT MILLS AROUND TO ATTENDEES, AS ANOTHER ATTENDEE COOS FOR ITS ATTENTION. ALIYA HALL/ THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
What’s the perfect way to relax on a foggy, Sunday morning? Yoga and cat cuddles will do the trick!
Greenhill Humane Society held one of its popular events – Cat Yoga – on Sunday, Nov. 11. From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., attendees got to participate in a 60 minute yoga class with cuddles from feline friends during and afterwards.
Although the event has been going on for years, Megan Brezovar, events and community engagement manager, said that it’s been a positive experience for everyone involved.
”So many people come up for different reasons,” she said. ”The Cattery is a great place itself. Very clean and beautiful – you can turn it easily to a yoga studio.”
Greenhill has partnered with Eugene Yoga for each event; for this session, instructor Valerie Morris hosted the yoga portion.
”I love kitty cats and it’s great to help raise funds for the shelter,” she said. ”(It) might even help get these beautiful animals adopted into forever homes. (I’m looking forward to) just seeing how (cats) respond to the bodies, and how the bodies bond to the cats as we work through our practice.”
All levels were welcome to the class. It was only required that attendees were over 15 years old and brought their own mats. The class was $20, with proceeds going to Greenville.
”The yoga community comes out and if they meet the cat of their dreams; that’s wonderful. Otherwise they can love and pet on cats, and I know it brings the cats joy,” Brezovar said. ”I love watching the animals interact with the humans. Humans go in to pet the animals, and it’s the cat’s turn to pet back. It’s good for the cats to have that interaction without being constantly handled.”
She said although adoption is one of their goals, Greenhill also wants to promote education that there are ”beautiful, homeless animals looking for homes,” as well as the idea of ”adopt don’t shop.”
Cat Yoga is held every other month. The next events will be Sunday, Jan. 13, March 10 and May 12.