Puppy yoga, also known as “doga,” is a type of yoga practice that involves performing yoga postures and exercises with the presence of puppies.
Types of Puppy Yoga
Puppy yoga can take many forms.
- Puppies may roam freely around the yoga studio
- Interact with practitioners as they move through their practice
- It may involve incorporating the puppies into the practice itself, i.e. by holding them, or incorporating them into poses.
Who Practices Puppy Yoga?
Puppy yoga is a popular activity for animal lovers and yoga enthusiasts, as it combines the physical and mental benefits of yoga with the joy and companionship of puppies. It can be a fun and unique way to practice yoga, and can also help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
In addition to being a fun and enjoyable activity, puppy yoga can also have benefits for the puppies themselves.
Benefits of Puppy Yoga
Some potential benefits of puppy yoga include:
- Reduced stress: The presence of puppies can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation, making puppy yoga a great activity for those looking to destress and unwind.
- Improved mental health: Interacting with puppies can also have positive effects on mental health, as it can help to reduce anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
- Increased physical benefits: While the primary focus of puppy yoga is on the mental and emotional benefits, the physical practice of yoga can also have a range of physical benefits, such as improving flexibility, strength, and balance.
- Socialization and acclimation for puppies: Puppy yoga can also be beneficial for the puppies themselves, as it can help to socialize and acclimate them to new environments and people. This can be especially important for rescue puppies who may have had limited socialization in the past.
- Increased mental and physical stimulation: Puppy yoga can provide both mental and physical stimulation for puppies, helping to keep them active and engaged.
What are good poses for puppy yoga?
There are many different yoga poses that can be incorporated into a doga practice. Some good poses to try with your dog include:
- Child’s pose: This pose involves sitting on your heels with your arms stretched out in front of you. Your dog can curl up next to you or rest their head on your back.
- Downward-facing dog: In this pose, you will be on your hands and feet with your hips raised and your body forming an upside-down “V” shape. Your dog can lie underneath you or walk their paws up your legs.
- Seated forward bend: In this pose, you will be seated with your legs extended in front of you and your torso bent over your legs. Your dog can sit in your lap or rest their head on your knees.
- Warrior pose: In this pose, you will stand with one leg bent and the other leg extended behind you. Your dog can stand or sit next to you.
- Corpse pose: In this pose, you will lie on your back with your arms and legs relaxed. Your dog can curl up next to you or lie on top of you.
It’s important to remember to be gentle and mindful of your dog’s comfort level during dog yoga!
If your dog seems uncomfortable or uninterested in a particular pose, it’s best to skip it and move on to something else. Be careful not to do anything that may injure your dog, or puppy!
Things to Know Before Trying Dog Yoga or Puppy Yoga
Puppy yoga should only be practiced with well-behaved, healthy puppies who are up to date on their vaccinations.
It’s also important to ensure that the space is safe and clean for both the puppies and the practitioners, and to follow any guidelines or rules set by the studio or instructor.
Extreme care should also be taken to avoid injuring dogs. Common types of injuries during puppy yoga may include loss of balance and falling on puppies, accidental kicks, and other accidents.
Extreme care should also be taken to avoid straining the fragile joints, muscles and ligaments of dogs and puppies! Stretches and poses should only be practiced by, or under the supervision of, trained veterinarian professionals who understand dog anatomy.
Overall, puppy yoga can be a fun and rewarding experience for both humans and puppies, and is a great way to incorporate some joy and companionship into your yoga practice. Extreme care should be taken to ensure the health and safety of both humans and dogs.