There were no Downward Facing Dog poses. Instead, yoga instructor Michelle Ihry, owner of Healing Touch Yoga, instructed the dozen guests in her studio to get into their Downward Facing Kitty, as five cats and four kittens weaved between bended legs or took a break lying on the top of someones turquoise-colored mat.

In the corner of Ihrys studio on Wednesday were a couple of litter boxes and lattice balls with bells rolled across the floor as relaxing flute music played in the background.

Some of the felines would occasionally get into a playful scuffle hiss, swat or pounce causing the crowd to smile and momentarily break focus from their poses.

We giggled and laugh and we knew it was going to be like that, Ihry said. I have done yoga for a long time [six years], but this is the first time with cats and it's awesome. If you're a cat lover, this is the perfect way to relax.

Homeward Animal Shelter, formerly Humane Society Fargo-Moorhead, and Ihrys studio, located in the back of Healing Touch Chiropractic, 45 21st Ave. E. in West Fargo, teamed up to host meow-maste to attract clients and get exposure for adoptable pets, said Heather Klefstad, with Homeward.

Yoga is good for the mind and body and cats are good for the soul, so its a perfect match, all-in-one, Klefstad said, adding that all the cats at meow-maste are looking for forever homes and can be found online or at the shelterin Fargo, 1201 28th Ave. N.

Ihry approached Klefstad about collaborating for cat yoga after hearing from a friend in Florida who signed up for a similar session down there. Interest in bringing this exercise trend to the F-M area was immediate. In recent years, yoga with cats or goats have become all the health rage, with classes coming to cities like San Francisco and Des Moines.

Cat yoga in West Fargo was a big hit, the organizers said, and there was even a wait list for Wednesday nights sessions. So they definitely plan on hosting more classes in the future.

Time spent with a cat is never wasted. Namaste, Ihry said at the close of the first session.

Tiffany Johnson, Ihrys daughter and owner of Healing Touch Chiropractic, said overall events like this help build a community.

There are going to be some people who come for yoga and the cats are a bonus, or people who love cats and they havent been to yoga before, Johnson said.

Tasha Ullrich, of Fargo, who participated in Wednesdays class said, I came for the cats.

How do you even explain that to someone? she said when asked to describe her first meow-maste experience. Ullrich wouldnt let go of a string toy the entire yoga session. I was kind of a kitty hog, Im not going to lie, she said jokingly.

It was so relaxing, said her friend Callie Bowen. Cats and yoga are such a fun combination.

Meow-maste sessions are $13, or $10 with the purchase of an $80 punch card. All proceeds are donated to Homeward Animal Shelter.

For more information on Meow-maste Yoga with Cats, visit: http://www.htchiro.com/yoga.

To see adoptable pets at Homeward Animal Shelter, visit: http://www.homewardonline.org.

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Meow-maste: Animal shelter and yoga studio team up to heal - INFORUM