Mooch is trying his hand..uh...paw at yoga. Strictly speaking, his attempts to meditate are also a form of yoga. Here in the west though, yoga is equated with hatha yoga, mostly known for its postures (like standing on your head!). However, this physical type of yoga is only one of many pathways open to us. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is a Sanskrit word which, translated into english, means: 'to unite', to join', 'to attach' or 'to add'. It is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system for the body, mind, and spirit. The promise is that a continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and well-being. The practice of hatha yoga makes the body strong and flexible, and it improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, integumentary and hormonal systems. Yoga also brings about emotional stability and clarity of mind. While this is true, some practitioners are hoping/aiming at something more than a healthy mind and body. The 'true seeker' wants nothing less than the (presumably) pure bliss of 'enlightenment', 'union with God', 'atonement', 'white light' or... well... you-name-it. That indefinable bit that we have heard of and that seems to be missing from who and what we are right now. Or so it seems.... Mooch is definitely a seeker of this kind. 'Just sitting' in meditation is not enough- even though cats in general excel at it. Now he will try to bend his body in every possible way; making it obey his will- also something cats excel at. Something cats do not excel at: standing on their heads.
Disclaimer: I do not recommend doing a headstand without having had the proper guidance of a qualified teacher. Nor am I an expert on yoga, meditation, enlightenment or even cats....
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