Most have heard of the downward dog position in yoga sa国际传媒� whether theysa国际传媒檝e actually tried it or not.

Well, 10 people tried out the modified downward facing kitten pose Saturday in Aldergrove.

Much like kittens, instructor Ann Marie Walsh wants her students to learn to stretch and push the limits through yoga.

sa国际传媒淭hink of it as being curious as to how your body can move and respond to the different poses,sa国际传媒� said the Langley City resident, who is leading a new kitten yoga program over the next five weeks as a fundraiser for the local animals shelter.

Animals have been incorporated into a number of yoga programs in Langley recently, including goats and pigs.

But, as far as Walsh is aware, her new kitten yoga classes, which she started today in Aldergrove, is a first sa国际传媒� at least locally.

Kittens will be a part of each class, she said, explaining how sa国际传媒� through the years she was involved in sa国际传媒渉igh intensitysa国际传媒� physical activity for example running, triathlons, cycling, and swimming.

Four years ago, at the age of 54, her pattern of working and playing hard was starting to take its toll on both her body and mind.

sa国际传媒淵oga was something that my doctor had suggested as a way to alleviate stress and reduce my cholesterol levels,sa国际传媒� she recounted, noting shesa国际传媒檚 already been practising meditation for a number of years.

The combination changed Walshsa国际传媒檚 life sa国际传媒� and yes it reduced her cholesterol and decreased her stress levels sa国际传媒� and now shesa国际传媒檚 endeavouring to help change the lives of others by sharing what shesa国际传媒檚 learned.

So how did she come up with the idea for kitten yoga?

Admittedly, itsa国际传媒檚 not new initiative. It is done in other parts of the world.

But Walsh said her inspiration came from her daughtersa国际传媒檚 kitten, Luna, who was adopted more than a year ago from the Langley Animal Protection Society.

Her daughter, Lydia, did some research and liked what she saw and heard about LAPS. Today, they insist they were able to find the perfect kitten.

sa国际传媒淟una has been with us for approximately one year and is a delight,sa国际传媒� Walsh said, adding sa国际传媒淚 love animals and have always had cats or dogs in my life.sa国际传媒�

In the process of Lydia learning more about LAPS, so too did Walsh, who said recently came up with this unique way to support LAPS sa国际传媒� and specifically the homeless, neglected, and abandoned animals in Langley.

sa国际传媒淚 teach and love yoga and love animals and felt this was a great combinationsa国际传媒� and we now have kitten yoga,sa国际传媒� she said, giving all the money from course registrations to LAPS.

sa国际传媒淚 will not accept any payment for this event,sa国际传媒� said Walsh, the principle of . sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 really excited about this event.sa国际传媒�

Shesa国际传媒檚 convinced the infusion of kittens to the yoga program will offer students some insightful perspective into the practice of yoga.

sa国际传媒淭hey will be roaming around as we transition from one pose to another,sa国际传媒� Walsh said. sa国际传媒淜ittens are curious and like to stretch and play sa国际传媒� my yoga philosophy is similar, it is all about stretching and playing. When I teach, I always want the students to be curious about movement and enjoy the process of moving in and out of a pose.sa国际传媒�

If these sessions go as well as she expects they will, today and over the course of the next four weeks, Walsh would love to expand on the concept.

sa国际传媒� I think there is a great opportunity to use this as a means to provide information and education to the public. It is about health and wellness; for both the human and animal population.sa国际传媒�