What Cats Can Teach Us About the Spine

And Why Pilates Is the Closest We Can Get to Moving Like Them

Have you ever watched a cat stretch, twist, leap, or land—and thought, “How do they move like that?”

There’s something mesmerizing about feline movement. It’s equal parts grace and strength, elasticity and control. Whether they’re stalking a toy or curling into a nap, cats move with the kind of spine-led fluidity most of us left behind around age six.

At SOMA, we’re in constant conversation with the spine—teaching it to articulate, support, stabilize, and express. So it’s no surprise that the cat is one of our favorite anatomical muses.

The Cat Spine: A Marvel of Nature

The spine of a cat is uniquely structured for movement. Unlike the human spine, which has 24 moveable vertebrae, a cat’s spine contains around 50 vertebrae (depending on the length of the tail). This extra segmentation gives cats an exceptional degree of flexibility, especially in the thoracic and lumbar spine—the mid and low back.

Cats can:

• Arch and curl their spine to extremes (that Halloween-cat pose? Pure spinal articulation.)

• Compress and lengthen their body to fit through tight spaces or spring into action

• Rotate and twist the spine with incredible fluidity, aiding in acrobatic landings and mid-air adjustments

• Transfer force efficiently through the spine and core to generate speed and power with minimal effort

It’s not just flexibility—it’s intelligent, integrated, whole-body movement.

Contrology: Channeling Your Inner Cat

While we may not have 50 vertebrae or the ability to leap six times our body height, the Pilates method trains the spine in ways that reflect—and respect—this feline philosophy.

Joseph Pilates emphasized spinal mobility, articulation, and alignment as central to health and vitality. He believed that “a man is as young as his spinal column” and designed exercises specifically to restore natural movement to each segment of the spine.

Think about:

• Spine Stretch Forward & Extension – mirroring the cat’s stretch through the thoracic and lumbar spine

• Rolling Like a Ball & Roll-Up – building core control and smooth spinal articulation

• Bridging – strengthening spinal extensors while moving one vertebra at a time

• Twist & Saw – training safe, supported spinal rotation and integration with breath

In Pilates, we train the spine to both move and stabilize, giving it the adaptability it needs to meet the demands of life. Just like a cat.

The Core-Spine Connection

Cats don’t just have flexible spines—they have strong, responsive cores. Their deep stabilizing muscles support every leap and stretch, allowing their spine to move freely without strain. This mirrors the Pilates approach to core training—not as rigid bracing, but as dynamic yet consistent support that frees the spine to move intelligently and powerfully.

When we move from the center, lengthen through the spine, and let breath guide control, we’re not just training muscles—we’re reawakening a primal intelligence within the body.

Want to Move Like a Cat?

You might not land on your feet from a rooftop, but with consistent practice, you can develop the kind of spinal strength, length, and agility that makes movement feel joyful and effortless again.

At SOMA Movement Studio, we help you explore the full potential of your spine—segment by segment, breath by breath.

So the next time you see a cat stretch luxuriously or twist mid-leap, remember: your body is capable of its own version of that grace. You just have to wake it up.