Doga: Involve your Dog in your Yoga Class

Doga also known as Dog yoga isone of the top trends in pet care for 2016 in which you and your petdogcarry out traditional Hatha yoga postures. Dog yoga or yoga with dogs is growing in popularity all over the world thanks to the amazing experience that offers you.Dog Yogaprovides an experience that is truly unique and accessible to all. You can spend some quality time with your dog that doesn’t have to be limited to walks and couch cuddles.

A number of people seem to think that doga is yoga for dogs. To be clear Doga, or “doggy yoga”, is the practice of yoga with your dog. According to the writerof “DOGA: Yoga For You and Your Dog” (Hamlyn), Mahny Djahanguiri“the yogi does most of the work while the dog is the bystander and a “casual participant” who serves as a weight, yoga block or prop”. In other words your pet is your new yoga partner.

“There is definitely more and more desire for pet parents to incorporate their pets into their own activities”.They’re part of our families and we want them to do the things we do. We want them to eat similar things to what we eat. If we travel, we want them to come with us,” writesNew York veterinarian Dr. LouiseMurray,  author of the pet health guide “Vet Confidential” (Ballantine Books).

Although everyone has a different size pet, Doga can be done with any size dog. For example you can put your legs around your dog, while it is in a seated position. Start to massage your dog and and then add a light stretch to the legs.To get a deeper stretch, you can lean forward over your pet. Also you can lift him up high while doing a warrior lunge. This is a very gentle practice for your dog, since there is a lot of massaging, light stretches, relaxing and bonding.

Here’s what you should know before you take your dog to Doga class:

1. Do not force

It is crucial not to force your dog to do poses, it doesn’t feel comfortable doing. Moreover, do not lift him up when he is asleep or when he wants to cuddle.Doga should be fun and relaxing for your dog but try not to stretch your dog out, since you can hurt his tendons and ligaments.

2. Consult your vet

Always consult your vet, when it comes to health of your pet. See if there are some reasons to never start a doga practice.“Make sure [the yoga poses] are nothing that will cause your dog physical discomfort. We know when to stop, but dogs have a hard time telling us. They’re very stoic,”said Murray.

3. Less is more

Do not make your pet to participate in every pose. Sit with your dog and practice breathing techniques side by side on the mat. Through these techniques he can absorb your calm and you can calm down your nervous system.When it comes to Dog Yoga, you just have to go with the flow and enjoy your dog’s company.

4. Truthfulness

If your dog doesn’t want to collaborate, leave him alone. If he wanders across the room and goes to sleep, let him be. The purpose of this practice is “for your dog to absorb your calm, not to become stressed by your experience,” Djahanguiri said.

5. Tolerance and satisfaction

First of all dogs need time to learn, so repetition is the key.  If you want to teach your dog on anything you have to be patient and calm. It could be a 3- to 6-month practice but after a while making space for yourself and your dogis an achievement in itself.