In pictures: Lemur yoga is now a thing

Downward facing lemur is the new go-to yoga pose

Armathwaite Hall hotel in Keswick, north west England has launched lemur yoga, "lemoga", yoga sessions with lemurs. AP

The classes aim to create a personal yoga experience which aims to heighten the sense of wellbeing for both lemur and human. PA

"When you watch lemurs they do some form of the poses naturally – that typical pose warming their bellies in the sunshine," Richard Robinson, manager of the adjoining wildlife park, says of the mammals. PA

"It seemed to be a really good combination to encourage people to have a go and spend time with a lemur," Robinson continues. PA

Carolyn Graves, the owner the hotel adds: "Lemoga offers our guests the chance to feel at one with nature, at the same time joining in with the lemurs’ playtime." PA

Of the moral boosting qualities, Robinson adds: "[As zookeepers,] we know how it makes us feel and if we can give a little piece of that to people then great."

The hotel's Meet the Wildlife programme also includes walks with alpacas. PA

We have had goat, puppy and even hedgehog yoga, but now lemoga is a thing: a British hotel has launched yoga classes with a troop of lemurs.

Armathwaite Hall, a hotel in the Lake District in the north of England, has introduced "lemoga" to its selection of wellness services as part of its Meet the Wildlife wellness programme.

According to the hotel, the mammals' "friendly, outgoing personalities and love for human contact make them the perfect yoga buddies, helping people to laugh, unwind and stretch away their troubles".

Lemurs are native to Madagascar, there are 105 varieties of lemur, but the Cumbrian hotel is home to ring-tailed lemurs, which weigh between 2.2 kilograms and 3.4kg.

Richard Robinson, manager of the adjoining wildlife park, said of the mammals: "When you watch lemurs they do some form of the poses naturally – that typical pose warming their bellies in the sunshine ... It seemed to be a really good combination to encourage people to have a go and spend time with a lemur."

Carolyn Graves, the owner the rural hotel adds that the sessions make a perfect escape for people with busy city lives: "Lemoga offers our guests the chance to feel at one with nature, at the same time joining in with the lemurs’ playtime."

The hotel's Meet the Wildlife programme also includes walks with alpacas, a chance to meet meerkats and apprentice keeper sessions.

"I don't think you ever see an unhappy zoo keeper. We spend all our time with animals," Robinson adds. "We know how it makes us feel and if we can give a little piece of that to people then great."

Ring-tailed lemurs are currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Other varieties of animal yoga 

It seems as though there is no animal humans won't practice yoga around. Here are a few more animal yoga sessions made popular by Instagram:

Dog yoga 

Hedgehog yoga 

Goat yoga 

Cow yoga 

Cat yoga 

Horse yoga 

Alpaca yoga 

Elephant yoga