DOGA - Dog Yoga (And How To Start Practicing)

To celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21, we decided to introduce DOGA (dog yoga) on our blog this month.

If you practice yoga as well as own a dog, you must be familiar with the situation where you open your mat for a peaceful practice, but your pup keeps bringing toys to you, lick your face, or even jump on you… This can create annoyance when all you are looking for is to connect to your inner self. But have you thought about involving your furry friend to your yoga sessions?

What is Doga?

Doga is the practice of yoga with your dog. Of course, they are not able to do many of the yoga poses us, humans can, but they do benefit from the massages, meditation, and gentle stretching exercises. After all, where do you think the ‘downward facing dog’ position came from? 

Benefits of Doga

In 2 words, it’s healthy and fun. Practicing yoga creates mental clarity and calmness, and it is well known that dogs can take over their owner’s energy. Relaxed human = relaxed dog. Not to mention that the stretching and the massage will also help any hyper or anxious pooch to get more calm. Besides getting the physical and mental benefits of the exercises, doga is also an excellent way for bonding. New activities bring you closer to each other, they’ll learn to trust you even more while strengthening your relationship.

How to start getting them involved in your yoga practice?

First of all, make sure the environment is relaxing and your pup can focus on you. Turn off the Tv, close the windows, and take their toys away. Aromatherapy and candles (pet safe natural soy wax candles of course) could set the calming mood right away. Your pooch is most likely to be interested in what you’re doing once you are on the floor, but if not, you can invite them over to the mat. Just sit in front of them, and try to match your breathing with theirs. Gentle strokes and massages on your pup’s head will calm them, and make them focused on what’s next.

There are many yoga poses you could practice with your pooch, and today we’ll introduce our six favorite:

Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Kneel and sit on your knees. Lean forward, keeping your bum on your heels. Rest your forehead on the floor. Move your arms so they're next to your legs, palms facing up. This is a superb pose to use your dog for your own benefit. If possible, have your pup climb onto your back or just place any of their weight on your body. This will warm you up while getting the prefect stretch. Plus, your doggie will find it fun!

Plank (Kumbhakasana)

We all know that the plank is an excellent abdominal and core exercise. This pose could either be done with your forearms on the ground or just with your hands. If you have strong abs, you could consider having your furry friend help you with some extra weight… If you are advanced, try push ups with them on your back!

Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

The tree pose improves your balance, strengthens your core, stretches your feet, opens your hip joints and it’s also an extra fun one to share with your dog. Small or large dog, holding them or keeping them between your legs, this really is a pleasurable way to practice together. 

Warrior One (Virabhadrasana)

Warrior One is a standing yoga pose that helps build focus, power and stability. This foundational pose stretches the front side of the body and is perfect for building strength in the legs, core and back. The strength of this pose lies in your legs! Having your doggie support there is always a great upgrade.

Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)

This posture typically comes toward the end of your practice. It increases the range of motion and flexibility in your neck, and it’s also a great pose to relieve stress. Take the time to stay in it and have you dog there to catch you when you return to the ground.

The Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Everyone’s favorite pose, Savasana is a meditative posture in which one lies on one's back that is typically considered the final resting pose in the end of yoga sessions. It’s all about letting go. Letting go of everything material and just being in the present. For this one, you could choose to have no contact with your dog and just feel his presence, or slightly touch them and relax together.

Get out your doga mats!

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