Exercise is a fantastic way to get your body into shape, but it’s also good for the mind, especially when there are cute animals involved. And while you may run with your dog on a daily basis, this list of animal-orientated activities is more than that and is guaranteed to be good for your soul.

Cat Yoga is a perfect exercise for cat lovers and was undoubtedly started by one. Various yoga studios (particularly in the United States) decided to open their doors to cats, who walk around the room as if it was their own. Yoga enthusiasts do their normal routines with cats on their mats, or simply lounging in various places in the studio.

In keeping with animal yoga, we also bring you Bunny Yoga, which is exactly what it sounds like: yoga surrounded by a group of adorable fluffy bunnies. In 2016, a facility in Richmond, British Columbia in Canada, made headlines for their Bunny Yoga, which was done in the hopes of raising awareness for abandoned bunnies in the city, as well as money for charities dedicated to caring for them.

And what yoga would be complete with goats? Goat Yoga is a bit of craze that involves miniature goats (which are absolutely adorable, may I add) who roam about freely (and sometimes on top of) yogis who are going about their stretches.

The idea of including animals in yoga, apart from raising awareness, also boosts the mood of the participants, who are left feeling as though they’ve not only had a great workout, but also a lot of fun. And apart from having animals walk on you, there are also aquariums, like the Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, that allows men and women to do yoga surrounded by sharks and other fish swimming behind the big glass tank.

And then there are various exercises with dogs. Dogs are often used in physical rehabilitation programs, and there are multiple exercises that you can do with your pet pooch, including paddleboarding, kayaking, soccer, and even rollerblading. And then, there is doggy boot camp, which is a program designed for individuals who want to work out with their dog, and while it focuses on fitness for the humans, it also includes obedience training for the dogs—plus, it's a great a way to keep the owners motivated, because they have their best friend doing the exercises with them.

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