Yoga is an ancient practice and a way to meditate that has become increasingly popular in Singapore. The last time we counted, there were about 200 yoga studios here on our sunny island!

When we started practicing yoga at home, we noticed that our pup enjoyed being near us in a calm and relaxed state, and wondered if our practice was actually affecting our dog’s temperament. Since then, we put in time to research and speak to some yogis and yoginis about how we can practice yoga with our dog as pet parents and avid yoga practitioners - and doga was the answer!

What is Doga, or Dog Yoga?

Doga, or dog yoga, is an emerging trend that involves your puppy in your regular yoga practice. It is a great way to bond and build trust with your dog, whilst at the same time reaping health and wellness benefits for both you and your furkid.

Here are some benefits and basic doga moves you can start incorporating into your regular yoga sessions!

Benefits of Doga

Bonding with Your Dog

When you do assisted dog yoga poses with your dog, such as the Chaturanga (Low Plank), Savasana (Corpse Pose), or Utkatasana (Chair Pose), they encourage you to engage with your dog in a unique way that creates moments of tranquility, unity, and peace. The energy that flows during doga sessions are often calm and harmonious, and this translates to the same in your pups as they sense the positive energy you are giving out in your practice.

This evolves into an extraordinary bond that only you and your pup will ever experience because of this unique activity and practice you have with your dog.

Teaches Trust

Trust and respect are important factors that lead to successful pet parenting, especially with dogs. There are multiple ways to build trust with your dog, such as the simple setting of rules and boundaries at home, to walking your dog in a structured format.

Similarly, in dog yoga, certain poses that require you to support your dog in position will foster trust between you and your puppy. Getting your pup into a chair pose is one of those situations for building trust, as most dogs are not familiar with standing on just their hind legs.

Helps in Stress Relief and Relaxation

The relief and relaxation that comes with practicing yoga is one of the important reasons it is popular today. Doga also reaps similar benefits by helping your dog engage in calm and relaxing poses that make up the cornerstone of the Doga program.

The stretching and massaging in dog yoga practice helps to make your furkids mentally calmer, whilst helping you deal with stress and anxiety as well. In fact, interacting with your furry friend in a mentally stable state is without a doubt one of the biggest benefits of yoga. There are many activities out there that you can do with your dog which has plenty of physical health benefits, but Doga is one of those activities that boosts mental health at the same time too.

Improves Your Dog’s Circulation and Range of Motion

Dogs have a natural instinct to stretch, and Doga appeals to this whilst helping to improve their flexibility and range of motion.

If your dog is overweight or out-of-shape, dog yoga is also a good way to get a bit of much-needed exercise. It can help them to build muscle and improve their blood circulation just like most forms of exercises.

All exercises help to improve your dog’s circulatory system but Doga’s unique poses and methods benefit both your pup’s heart health and muscular health. Dog yoga is a low-intensity form of exercise for your dogs. Therefore, dogs of all ages and health conditions are able to participate in the practice.

Injured dogs can also benefit from Doga depending on the type of injury. Dogs who are recovering from an injury or accident can receive significant pain relief through gentle stretching, which helps to relieve muscle tension. It can also help them to rebuild their strength, whether they lost it due to age or injury.

Can Mellow a Hyperactive Dog

In a city-living environment such as Singapore, pawrents might find it challenging to exhaust your dog’s energy levels, especially with active dog breeds such as huskies, terriers, retrievers, and collies. Doga can work wonders for hyperactive dogs as it can calm them down and mellow them out.

The exercise portion of Doga can help burn off some of your dog’s energy, whilst yappy and anxious dogs will learn how to become still and relaxed thanks to Doga, but you shouldn’t expect any visible results right away. It takes time for them to achieve this, so try to make Doga a regular part of you and your dog’s schedule for at least once a month.

Basic Doga Poses

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xo
Nellie