Northwest Animal Companions Teams With Meraki Fitness to Offer Kitten Yoga Class Featuring Adoptable Rescued Kittens
All ticket proceeds from the class, which is open to the public, will be donated to NWAC, a Portland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing cats and dogs.
HILLSBORO, OREGON —Northwest Animal Companions, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit cat and dog rescue based in Portland, OR, has partnered with local fitness studio Meraki Fitness in Hillsboro to offer Kitten Yoga — a yoga class filled with free-roaming, adoptable, rescued kittens — on Saturday, September 30. Meraki Fitness has generously agreed to donate 100 percent of this class’ proceeds to NWAC and its rescue efforts.
At this special event located at the Meraki Hillsboro studio, students will be guided by a Meraki yoga instructor through a stress-relieving, 45-minute yoga session — suitable for beginners and experienced yogis alike — while an array of social, adoptable kittens romp around the studio. NWAC volunteers will be on hand to ensure safety and fun for humans and animals alike. After the yoga class concludes, students will be treated to a 15-minute “kitten social” in which they can continue to play, snuggle, and snap photos with the adoptable felines. If attendees fall in love with any of the kittens, they can fill out digital applications to adopt through the NWAC website (nwac-oregon.org).
Passes for the yoga class, which takes place from 10:45 am to noon, are available to the public for $20 per person. They can be reserved by phone at 503.451.0958 anytime or online via MindBody starting September 10. Space is limited to 20 students, aged 14 and up; children under 18 require parental supervision.
Kitten Yoga — combining the mind-body benefits of yoga with, well, kittens — is designed to offer benefits to both humans and kittens. Studies show that when humans pet and snuggle cats, their bodies release the feel-good “love” hormone oxytocin and decrease cortisol production. Rescued kittens also greatly benefit from interaction with humans, particularly during the critical socialization window that occurs when they are four to 16 weeks old. Given this opportunity to work on their social skills with new people, the kittens increase their odds of finding a successful adoption placement through NWAC.
NWAC is an all-volunteer, no-kill, foster-based animal rescue nonprofit founded in Beaverton in 2004. NWAC rescues stray and surrendered cats and dogs, sheltering them in foster volunteers’ homes until they are ready to be adopted by loving families. Although most of its cats and dogs come from Oregon’s Multnomah and Washington counties, NWAC has rescued pets from all over Oregon as well as Washington, Hawaii, California, and Mexico.
About Northwest Animal Companions
Northwest Animal Companions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill, all-volunteer animal rescue located in the Portland metropolitan area of Oregon. It was founded in 2004 when a group of independent animal rescuers decided to pool their resources and talents for the benefit of all dogs and cats in their care. They opened their homes and hearts to create an organization where animals could have the best possible quality of life.
To this day, NWAC remains completely volunteer-run, relying on loving foster homes for cats and dogs in rescue and donations to cover the needs of those animals. With minimal overhead costs, NWAC channels funds toward veterinary care, spaying/neutering, grooming, nutrition, and enrichment for animals in foster, then finds them permanent, loving homes.
Northwest Animal Companions’ mission is to ensure respectful and humane treatment of animals by providing assistance, rescuing and educational services; bringing people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives through adoption and companionship; and creating a society in which all animals’ inherent value is recognized.
To learn more about Northwest Animal Companions, visit nwac-oregon.org.
About Meraki Fitness
“Meraki” is Greek word to describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put something of yourself into what you're doing, whatever it may be. Meraki Fitness’ mission is to provide you with a place where you can connect your mind, body, and soul. It strives to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to create a healthier, happier, stronger sense of self, and become the best version of themselves. Their team will be with you every step of the way to provide encouragement, support, and coaching to keep you motivated throughout your journey. At Meraki you are more than just a client, you are a part of the team.
Meraki offers circuit, strength, cycling, and yoga classes in its Hillsboro studio. All classes are led by highly skilled coaches who motivate and encourage you to achieve the results you strive for. Classes are also appropriate for any fitness level. Whether it’s your first workout ever, or your 1,000th workout, you’ll find our classes to be just what you are looking for.
Meraki Fitness is located at 1300 NE 48th Ave., Suite 1600, Hillsboro, OR 97124. To learn more, visit merakihillsboro.com.