On the mat: The flexible primates are happy to join in with yoga practitioners. Photo / Owen Humphreys, Getty Images, PA
On the mat: The flexible primates are happy to join in with yoga practitioners. Photo / Owen Humphreys, Getty Images, PA
You might have heard of 'downward dog' but how about the 'leaning lemur'?
This latest yoga craze might stretch belief – but a hotel in north west England has begun offering fitness classes with lemurs.
Warm belly pose: lemurs do some of the poses naturally. Photo / Getty Images
The stately Armathwaite Hall Hotel in the English Lake district has become a sensation after inviting the furry and flexible primates to attend their yoga sessions.
During 'Lemoga' these sociable animals are free to climb and wander the mats during sessions, adding an element of unexpectedness to the class.
Ring tailed yogis: Armathwaite Hall hotel in Cumbria has begun inviting lemurs to take part in its yoga classes. Photo / Owen Humphreys, Getty Images, PA
The animals which are native to Madagascar might look out of place in the gardens of wet and windy northern England, but they have found a niche in the outdoor yoga classes at the hotel.
The Lemurs are on loan from the Lake District Wild Life Park, and they are natural yogis.
Striking poses with the class, they have appeared to imitate class members.
Sitting cross legged, arms outstretched is not an unnatural position for the long and supple animals.
Lemoga: Lemurs mingle with the class to create a personal yoga experience. Photo / Owen Humphreys, Getty Images, PA
The park manager Richard Robinson said it is not unusual to see lemurs stretching out in what appear to be yoga poses.
"When you watch lemurs they do some form of the poses naturally — that typical pose warming their bellies in the sunshine," he told the BBC.
"It seemed to be a really good combination to encourage people to have a go and spend time with a lemur."
Ring tailed yogis: Armathwaite Hall hotel in Cumbria has begun inviting lemurs to take part in its yoga classes. Photo / Owen Humphreys, Getty Images, PA
Speaking to the Cumberland and Westmorland Chronicle, the hotel owner Carolyn Graves said "Lemoga offers our guests the chance to feel at one with nature, at the same time joining in with the lemurs' play time."
This is hardly the first time animals have been invited into the yoga studio, but the Lemurs do seem to be naturals at it.
In 2017 Goat Yoga was another barnstorming craze that had taken hold in the fitness world.
Lainey Morse, a farmer in Oregon, began stretching out with her goats after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
When images emerged of fitness classes with cute baby goats it was an instant hit. Goat classes were taken up by celebrities including Kevin Hart and Khloe Kardashian, during filming the YouTube series What The Fit.
We imagine it will only be a short time before fitness fans will be clamouring for yoga with a lemur.
