December 11, 2022
We recently adopted a stray kitten that was living between several neighbor’s houses. They were all feeding him, but no one wanted to adopt him because they had other pets. Our neighbors also were all aware of our recent loss of our 14-year-old tom and hoped we would fill the void in our life with this sweet homeless baby. It took a couple of weeks to gain the kitten’s trust, but William joined us in early October and has been a great addition to our family.
William or “Wild Bill,” as he is known upon occasion, has warmed our hearts, terrorized our 2-year-old cat, Lily, and changed the yoga we practice each morning. Now, it is a requirement that William have some lap time as I do my breathing exercises. I have also learned that I need to give him some special attention as I start my practice or there will be constant interruption of my asana. Nick has frequent sneak attacks as he does his PT exercises as well. There are many toys he uses to distract William so that we can successfully complete our morning exercises. Still, I will be transitioning into downward dog or a warrior pose and have to carefully check my foot placement to avoid squashing a kitten. Lily has taken to standing in the doorway to watch the antics from a safe distance. I can tell by the look of amusement on her face that she is grateful we are the ones under attack for a change.
What a blessing it is to have William to remind me to be more mindful as I practice yoga. I have gained greater awareness of my pranayama and am certain that his gentle purring is the rhythm I need to start my day. Who can’t become more mindful when gently stroking a soft furry being who looks up at you with total devotion in his eyes? In my morning rush, there have been times when I did not allow enough time to settle in before practicing. Thanks to William, I have changed my ways. And, I am increasingly aware of my alignment and foot placement in asana.
Who needs goat yoga? Our regular house pets can fill in nicely. I highly recommend kitten yoga to all who have that as an option.
Mindful Musings 