Ricarda and Max, how did the idea for your own blog come about?

I founded the blog CATS & DOGS in 2008 during my studies in English and German literature because I enjoyed sewing and writing. Max joined around 2015, first as a photographer behind the camera and then eventually in front of it as well.

Did you ever think you would become so successful?

I founded the blog in 2008; at the time, it was one of the very first fashion blogs in Germany and quickly gained a lot of attention, was featured in many magazines, and so it all developed quite organically. We had virtually no control over it, except that we simply did what we enjoyed.

On your website you state that you are your own production company. What services do you offer?

We offer content production. We produce image and video material according to the customer's wishes, organize locations and everything else that goes with it.

What motivates you to write new blog posts time and time again?

The joy of beautiful things, photography, and writing.

What do you wish for in the next 10 years? Are there any dreams you still want to fulfill?

In 10 years, we'd like to own a small house in the South of France and live there permanently. Regarding Cats & Dogs: perhaps a picture book, but more on a travel theme than on the blog itself.

Do you have a motto that guides you in life?

My motto in life is more of a mantra and it's "I am enough." I find that very beautiful and profound.

As I read on your website, only Ricarda practices yoga?

Yes, I practice and teach yoga, and Max joins in occasionally. But he enjoys basketball, skating, and weight training more.

How long have you been doing yoga and what motivated you to start?

I've been practicing yoga since about 2014. Before that, I tried running, swimming, weight training, and Pilates, but never stuck with anything for more than a year. With yoga, I've stayed with it ever since I started. I don't see yoga as a sport in that sense, but rather as a holistic practice that is so much more than just asanas.

What does your perfect yoga class look like?

Since in yoga we want to direct our attention inwards, I don't find external stimuli like music or incense particularly helpful; in fact, I find them rather distracting. Besides, not everyone likes every scent, and music is a very sensitive topic. In my classes, I usually teach without any external stimuli, unless it's a very playful class or one specifically focused on music.

What fascinates you most about yoga and how do you practice it in everyday life?

For me, yoga now takes place in every moment. I practice mindfulness, gratitude, and all the Yamas and Niyamas as best I can, always. Being less in the past and the future and more in the here and now is the most difficult, but also the most rewarding yoga practice we can do in every moment.

Has yoga changed your outlook on life?

Absolutely. That's also why I wanted to become a yoga teacher. I want to share with others what I've experienced through yoga: living more in the here and now, dealing with stress more calmly, and treating others with more kindness and love. To perceive the beauty of the world more often. All of that is yoga.

You were planning to complete your yoga teacher training in Bali in March? Did it work out despite everything?

Yes, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training in Vinyasa and Yin Yoga in Bali, am an RYT 200, and teach in studios in Düsseldorf, as well as private classes and individual sessions. I am also a Yoga Alliance Certified Meditation Teacher and always incorporate that into my classes.