*Meet the Fantastic Beasts of Hearth Yoga*

Greetings and salutations!

One of the many benefits of practicing yoga at hOMe is the ability to share practice with our loved ones. Over the past 4 years I have LOVED getting to meet the pets of Hearth Yoga. What fantastic beasts they are!

This album represents *just some* of the wonderful creatures who have inspired, watched over, and guided our yoga practices while we breathe, move, and meditate at hOMe.

Have a wild or pet like creature that inspires your practice to feature on our Wall of Pet Inspiration?

Share with Hearth Yoga here: ProfYogini@gmail.com

Our Beasts:

River Bader Ginsburg,HWV practices with Professor Yogini every day [and at times, serves as a highly inspirational teaching assistant]. In addition to "all the dog poses" she enjoys Malasana [pictured below], Salamba Bhujangasana [Sphinx] and Ananda Balasana [Happy Baby].

Hester Molly Weasley, HWV joined the Hearth Yoga family in 2021. She diligently supervises and provides inspiration during Adaptive Hatha, Chair Yoga and Private Yoga. Her favorite style of yoga is Restorative Yoga.

Hester's favorite shape is savasana and she highly recommends finding it every day.

Meet Kona. Kona hails from Central NJ and is an avid pranayama practitioner. She enjoys Adaptive Hatha and Adventure Yoga. Pictured here: Simhasana pranayama [Lion's Breath w/forward fold adaptation].

Part I: This source of inspiration was captured mid-sun salute in Parvin State Park. They served as inspiration for this Yoga4Cancer and Adventure Yoga participant to partake in 27 sun salutes during this June's virtual Yoga Together Festival.

Part II: Fiona is grandpup to the student referenced above. On the day of the Yoga Together Festival, Fiona decided that side-lying, savasana [while snoring] was preferable to 27 sun salutes. Fiona understands that a benefit to yoga at hOMe is that you can adapt your practice to how you feel and choose your own path.

Her human points out that appearing here won’t be the first time she’s famous. Fiona's story started in an Ikea parking lot. She was picked up and taken to Street Tails Rescue in Northern Liberties Philadelphia. She was heavy with pups and delivered 11 healthy Amstaff Terrier puppies. Her pups were the IKEA 11. All adopted and doing well. She is such a love. Fiona joins us from NJ.

Remus and Dudley understand the usefulness of blocks in Yoga4Cancer and the importance of a solid savasana. They appreciate that sometimes, lying on your side is the more comfortable way to go. Remus and Dudley join us from NJ.

This distinguished gentleman is Maxwell. "Max" enjoys Adventure Yoga and Yoga4Cancer. Here you can see him mid-transition as he demonstrates one of River Bader Ginsburg's favorite balance shapes: Dandayamana Bharmanasana [Bird Dog]

In addition to balance, Maxwell appreciates that yoga can help you to build strong bones. He has attended almost as many classes as RBG as he has made appearances in Adaptive Hatha, Yoga4Cancer, Yoga for Strong Bones, and Adventure Yoga. He loves his human's very much [so much that his tongue is heart-shaped--see below for evidence]. Max joins us from NJ.

Meet Jeffrey, the female Mississippi Map Turtle doing her Bhujangasana [cobra] pose.  This is her favorite yoga pose.  It's easy to see why Jefferey inspires her human. Such grace and elegance... Jeffrey joins us from NJ for Adventure Yoga and Yoga4Cancer.

Sammy loves his human and a good prop. Sammy watches over his human in Yoga4Cancer in NJ.

At the start of every class Sammy warms his owner's mat so she can truly sit in Sukhasana [easy seat].

Sammy is joined by Chloe who takes bone building in Yoga4Cancer very seriously. Here she is demonstrating a lovely long spine as she transitions from Utkatasana [Chair] to Tadasana [Mountain]. Tongue out for extra concentration.

Meet Marco [yellow belly] and Will [red belly]. Inspiring models of both cooperation and Bhujangasana variations, these fantastic beasts join us for Yoga4Cancer from NJ each week.

Nothing beats a satisfying supine twist and Isabella inspires them every week in Yoga4Cancer and Yoga for Strong Bones. Here, Isabella models lovely preparation for a clamshell twist while performing the valuable service of warming her human's mat. She supports her human throughout practice with frequent snuggles and gentle nose bumps of encouragement. Isabella hails from NJ.

Meet Pigwidgeon or Pig (named for Ron Weasley’s owl). She enjoys either resting atop her human's shoulders, or launching herself full claws [just like an owl] onto her human's legs mid-pose. Pig joins us for Adventure Yoga from Utah and has traveled to many magical lands with her human.

Goose also hails from Utah and enjoys Adventure Yoga. Here we see Goose practicing netra vyayamam [eye exercises].

Padfoot rounds out our team from Utah. Seen below, Padfoot is demonstrating the luxurious side of home practice: all the blankets and sunshine you desire.

Robbie joins his human EVERY time she practices. His warm eyes and smile exude pure love. Robbie practices from the wilds of his living room in New Jersey and joins us for Yoga 4 Cancer & Osteo Yoga.

This Robbie's more contemplative side. Here he is enjoying an adapted Salamba Bhujangasana [Sphinx].

Robbie also enjoys joining his human for Adventure Yoga and the Yoga for Strong Bones Series. He fully supports the series although he didn't quite understand that we meant yoga to help build strong HUMAN bones.

Meet Babie! Babie hails from the wilds of New York! Their human enjoys Adaptive Hatha and Adventure Yoga. No surprise here, Babie is enjoying Happy Baby with a hint of Bananasana from Yin Yoga.

Meet Banshee. Hailing from the tech center of Pennsylvania, this flexible and focused feline does not mess around. Captured by the camera mid-Supta Eka Pada Sirsasana [Reclining Foot-behind-the-Head Pose], Banshee enjoys life with her humans and appreciates sharing practice with them when they join us for Adventure Yoga, Adaptive Hatha, and Celebration Yoga.

Meet Pepper! Pepper hails from the wilds of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. She is a fan of partner poses [seen below] and enjoys joining her human for Adventure Yoga, Celebration Yoga, and Yin Yoga.

To be continued...

Have a wild or pet like creature that inspires your practice?

Share with Hearth Yoga here: ProfYogini@gmail.com