There are at least two wonderful things in life – yoga and pets. So, it was only a matter of time before someone thought of combining the two. And that’s how we got Doga, or dog yoga/pet yoga. There are quite a few reasons to try it. Let’s see what they are!
Dog yoga or pet yoga is gaining in popularity for so many reasons. Doing yoga with your pet, you both get to exercise, have fun together and bond. It’s a great way for you both to release excess energy and calm down. Also, Doga helps with your pet’s mental stimulation. And if you go to a group Doga class, you and your pet get to improve your social skills.
The concept of Doga was created by Suzi Teitelman, a yoga teacher, in 2001. And it has gained popularity ever since for its many benefits.
Benefits of Doing Dog/Pet Yoga
1. Your pet’s safe and friendly energy affects how you interact with the world and yourself
We have a special connection with our pets. This makes it easier to go through certain experiences if we have this loving energy following us around. For some people, it’s easier to relax, be more friendly and communicative when they are in the company of their pet. They feel safer to express themselves. Also, once they extend this energy towards their pet, it is easier for them to do this for themselves in a Doga class.
2. Developing trust and bond between you two
Assisted poses for you and your pet are really fun and you two get to bond. The goal of dog yoga or pet yoga is to induce relaxation and focus. When this energy is generated, you create space for your pet to develop trust in you, especially when you repeatedly assist them with doing certain movements. And once this trust is established, it’s much easier to train them and to work on their behavior. And dog/pet yoga is great for dogs with problematic behaviors. They will learn to calm down and be still. Of course, this won’t happen overnight. So, just like with any other habit you are looking to introduce for yourself or your dog, start small and be consistent.
3. It’s great for physical health
The health benefits of dog yoga/pet yoga are pretty clear. If your pet has gotten a bit chubby or out of shape, this is the way to go. They will lose weight and build muscle. Not to mention the other health benefits of yoga, such as flexibility, arthritis, blood circulation, heart health and more.
Dog/pet yoga can help dogs who have pain issues caused by aging. Also, it’s great for dogs recovering from an injury or an accident.
It’s also great for hyperactive dogs because it can calm them down. The active asanas help your dog lose that extra energy and the stretching and the massage part will relax it.
Also, dogs can pick up on anything, your stress and anxiety included. So, when you are relaxed, chances are, your dog will feel that too. Just like we wrote in our article Mindfulness for Special Needs Parents, when you yourself are happy and taken care of, your child picks up on that energy. The same goes for pets.
Speaking of which – did you know that now there is also Reiki for pets? If you find your pet has been feeling under the weather for longer than usual, perhaps consider trying Reiki for pets?
4. It’s fun!
We shouldn’t disregard fun as a valid reason to do just about anything, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. Fun is important and the older we get, the more likely we are to forget about it. So, having fun with your pet doing pet/dog yoga might be just what the doctor ordered.
For most of us pet owners, everything is more fun when we add our pet(s) to the equation. Pets can be a distraction but that’s only when you don’t include them into your yoga routine. Especially if you attend a group dog/pet yoga class where all the other pets are participating as well, your pet is sure to have some fun.
5. Improving social skills and making friends
We wrote an entire article on how pets can help with your mental health. The contributions we received from other pet owners testifying to this were so emotional and tear jerking for me. We also discussed the global pandemic of loneliness and how yoga can help here. With dog/pet yoga, you can get two for the price of one. You can work with both your loneliness and your mental health challenges.
Also, you get to socialize with others and feel more at ease as you do it because you have your best friend to support you. And, it’s great in case your little one has fear of strangers and other dogs because they get to meet in a safe and controlled environment. Doga is a great way to improve your pet’s social skills, especially since dog parks are pretty much the only other place where they can do it, and these can be too noisy. It’s also tremendously beneficial for your pet’s mental stimulation. Aside from social stimulation, other ways to develop your pet’s mental faculty are olfactory, auditory and visual stimulation.
Criticism of Doga
Yoga purists object to Doga. They say that although it is in accordance with yogic principles to live in harmony with all living beings, yoga class might not be the best place to do this. Yoga classes have a different purpose, they say. It is to connect with one’s mind and body. According to them, yoga was never meant to be distorted in the ways it is today.
However, yoga enthusiasts have started so many new interesting trends, such as beer yoga or chicken yoga. And many object to these too, as well. I am of the opinion that as absurd as it may sound, beer yoga and chicken yoga can be great for those who have problems with mindful eating and drinking. And I am sure you can think of at least one person from your life who has this problem.
I’ve also tried hula hoop yoga – why not? Although we should have respect for its roots, it is my humble opinion that we should allow something as beautiful as yoga to develop and grow. Even when people object to the Western approach to yoga, saying that it’s all about looking sexy and having a nice background, I am inclined to think that people who practice yoga for those reasons are, nevertheless, still reaping some of its benefits. So, that’s good.
But is it real yoga? Definitely not.
Things to Bear in Mind Before Starting Dog/Pet Yoga
As I was going through the Doga Youtube tutorials, what I saw in most of them was dogs trying to go and the owners begging them to come back. It looked funny. So, unless you are a professional pet trainer and you have a super well-behaved pet, do not have high expectations of your pet and doga. Whatever you can manage to do with your pet is great enough.
Although dogs can’t really do all the yoga poses, the warm soothing energy that yoga is known to generate is something they will definitely feel during this interaction with you. Moreover, the group energy a doga class creates affects all the dogs milling around and their mutual interactions.
We wrote about the scientific evidence behind this phenomenon here. It is mind blowing to see how much research has been done over the years to show how collective energy created through meditation can affect the countries nearby or far away.
Always monitor your pet’s behavior in social situations. If you know that they are not the best ones at following your commands, start with some basic training before going for a group doga class. If your pet is not properly trained, they can cause disruption in class and we wouldn’t want to cause this to other dogs and their humans.
Adapt to your dog
It’s important not to force your dog or pet to do yoga with you. You need to be sensitive to their body language and what they prefer doing. You should adapt to your pet’s movements, and not the other way around. Do not force the movements on the dog. If it looks like your dog is not in the mood for yoga, best leave it for another day. Just like with all other habits you are looking to introduce into your dog’s life, stay sensitive, gentle, and playful. You probably wouldn’t want to do yoga either if someone forced it upon you.
Be gentle and let your pet know what you plan to do next. For example, if you plan to stretch your dog’s hind legs, slowly approach from their back and start touching them slowly from there towards the legs. Give him/her an option to leave any time.
Just like with any other partner yoga class, it’s not about the poses themselves and whether you and your pet can get into them. It’s about you two sharing time and energy together.
How to Start With Dog or Pet Yoga?
- With pet yoga, you are more than welcome to use blocks, balance balls, bands, and other yoga props. Anything that makes it more fun for your pet.
- Add treats to prolong your pet’s attention span.
- You will naturally hold each of the asanas for a shorter time than you would normally because of your dog’s attention span. Also, sessions can be as short as 15 to 20 minutes. The usual is 30 minutes.
- Dogs and other pets are known to like stretching (guess how the famous Downward Dog pose got its name). And although there are many poses that your pet won’t be able to do with you, they will nevertheless enjoy hanging out with you as you do them. And the all time favorite pose they will definitely enjoy is of course Shavasana.
Which Yoga Poses to Try at Home With Your Dog/Pet?
- Start with gently stretching your pet’s legs. Then proceed to massage them to get them to relax. As you do this, become aware of your breath. Become aware of you breathing in and out. Perhaps you can deepen your inbreath and extend your outbreath if it feels right. You can then close your eyes and keep breathing and massaging your dog.
- Lie on the floor and lift your dog up with your feet and hands. Then you can gently sway him side to side or stretch out his body parts.
- Now move your pet onto your shins, which should be perpendicular to the floor. Lift your head and stay there. You can open the arms or extend them by the body.
- Boat pose. While staying on your bum, lift your arms and legs so that the toes are at eye level. If this is too difficult to do with legs straight, you can bend them. Next place your pet on your stomach and keep balancing on your bum.
- Sit with the soles of your feet touching, and your legs forming a diamond shape. Then, place your dog in that shape you’ve created. Fold over your dog if possible or just let your hands, head and neck drop down.
- Sit on your bum and open your legs wide. Perhaps you can get your pet to do the same. If not, fold over and cuddle with your dog.
- Have your dog lie on its belly and extend its front paws. Kneel behind your dog, place your head on its back, and your hands on its paws. Then turn your head side to side and breathe.
- Shavasana. As you lie on the ground, have a physical connection with your pet. Perhaps put one of his legs on your body and just hold it. Or place your hand on their little heart and feel it beat. You could also put your hand on their belly and feel it rise and fall, rise and fall. Switch your attention between your breathing and theirs, or your heart beats and theirs.
Conclusion
There you have it, there are all too many reasons to try doga. Although yoga purists object to it, it’s fun, healthy, mentally stimulating and helps with improving your and your pet’s social skills. Plus it’s a great bonding activity for you two. And once your pet gets into the habit of doing doga, their enthusiasm will infect you with excitement as well. So, why not welcome doga into your life?
And if after reading this far, you still think this whole idea is ridiculous, take a look at this Britain’s Got Talent video for a few laughs about Doga:
Tatjana Glogovac, Senior Contributor At L’Aquila Active
Tatjana is a writer and educator in mindfulness, emotional intelligence, learning, psychology and self-development. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher. Her goal is to make yoga and meditation a practical daily tool for everyone looking to find some peace of mind and a healthy physical practice for their bodies. This especially goes for people struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, excessive worrying, overthinking, and other ailments of the modern man. You can connect with her via LinkedIn.