What the heck is “doga”? It’s actually a great way to practice yoga while spending some quality time with your favorite pup! Sound like fun? Check out more of the great health benefits below.
Dog + Yoga = Doga!
Dog yoga – or doga – has grown increasingly popular over the last 20 years. And actually, doing yoga with animals has been shown to be beneficial in all sorts of ways! You may have heard of goat yoga—people doing yoga with goats. Well… in doga, you get to bring your furry best friend with you.
Yoga is known for not only helping people physically with stretching and toning, but also with relaxation, re-centering, and rejuvenation. In our crazy, fast-paced, go-go-go world… we all need a little help learning to be still.
And if that’s not enough, think about how much joy pets bring people. They are our emotional support animals, and they never fail to cheer us up. Now think about how wonderfully beneficial it could be for your mental, emotional, and physical health to combine these things together.
Can Yoga Help Dogs?
Believe it or not, dogs can do yoga. And it can be just as beneficial for them as it is for you. There are definitely yoga poses your pup can do right along with you. And although they may not be able to hold a tree pose or a classic warrior pose, they’ll enjoy resting peacefully by your side.
The more time you spend with your dog, the more you two will bond. And what better way to bond than with a sweaty yoga session?
Oh, and don’t forget to bring some treats! You’ll want to reward your dog as they master those new yoga “tricks.”
How to Teach Your Dog Yoga
First of all, it’s important to know that there are actually two different ways you can go about dog yoga.
Option 1: Bring your pup along to just hang out by your side. Your dog will enjoy the socialization and relaxing atmosphere, and you get to enjoy having your friend around.
Option 2: Help your dog do some of the yoga poses with you. If you want your dog to participate in trying certain yoga poses like downward dog, the chair pose, or the wheelbarrow… You can gently guide them by lifting their legs into position.
Just like any type of training, don’t underestimate the importance of those treats! This is a great incentive for your dog to listen, and it will help keep their attention longer. But also keep in mind that you cannot force your dog to do yoga. You have to listen to their body language, and just let them do as much or as little as they want to.
Make sure to keep your energy calm because dogs can sense your mood—and they will react accordingly. If you get frustrated with them, they will get anxious. And it won’t be fun for either of you.
Take your time, and let them go at their own pace. Use lots of positive reinforcement. And it’s helpful to use things like soothing music and essential oil diffusers to help set the calm and peaceful mood.
Benefits of Dog Yoga
There are many benefits of traditional yoga that you will still receive from doga like:
- Improved respiration and energy
- Less chronic pain
- Better sleep
- Lower blood pressure
- Mental clarity and calmness
- Body and self-awareness
Below are some of the added benefits that your dog can get specifically from doing doga:
1. Improves your dog’s circulation – Just like stretching helps humans with our blood flow, it will help your dog in the same way.
2. Exercise that even obese or injured dogs can do – If your dog is obese or injured, it can be difficult for them to exercise. But the slower pace of doga could be the perfect thing for them.
3. Relaxation and stress relief for you both – Yoga is meant to be peaceful, relaxing, and a way to recenter. Both you and your dog will benefit from that.
4. Better physical health for you both – You will both gain extra flexibility and muscle strength.
5. You get a workout buddy – Sometimes it’s hard to motivate ourselves to work out alone. But if you get to bring your dog along, you will always have someone to do yoga with.
6. Strengthen your bond with your dog – Any time intentionally spent doing a focused activity with your dog will help your bond grow. And even more so because you will be training them to do the yoga poses.
7. Socialization for you both – Being around other people and other dogs will help them better understand how they should behave around others. And they won’t feel as threatened in future situations.
8. Behavioral therapy for anxious and hyper dogs – Intentional focused, calm, quiet time can help hyper dogs learn to calm down, as well as dogs who struggle with anxiety.
9. Hilarious & adorable entertainment – Let’s be real…every dog has their own personality. So when they start acting goofy or looking unbearably adorable doing yoga, just embrace it!
It’s Doga Time!
Not sure if doga is for you? Give it a try! What do you have to lose? Well, except maybe your balance. And you never know…maybe your little pup will become a dog yoga master!!
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