If you want to become an expert at yoga, it is advisable to study the positions of a lemur, according to a Lake District hotel. The friendly and enigmatic creatures often naturally sit in the lotus position as they "warm their bellies," the spa at Armathwaite Hall, near Keswick, says.

Guests are encouraged to practice their poses alongside the hotel and spa's troupe of ring-tailed lemurs, in sessions named "lemoga".

Richard Robinson, manager of the adjoining wildlife park, said: "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.

"I don't think you ever see an unhappy zoo keeper. We spend all our time with animals.

"We know how it makes us feel and if we can give a little piece of that to people then great."

Other animals are apparently well-suited to yoga.

Goat yoga took off as a craze in 2016, with studios from Devon to London bringing the four-legged animals to classes.