Practicing Doga: Yoga With Your Dog

Guest post!

At a Glance

Most people think that yoga and pets don’t go together, but “doga” or dog yoga – one of the latest pet trends – proves them wrong.

If yoga can be done by nearly any person, whether you’re a senior, a pregnant mom, or in almost any stage of life, then surely it can be done by your dog.

Why Doga?

Doga has a lot of benefits both for you and for your dog, such as the following:

• Quality time – You spend more time with your dog, much like when you train him in your backyard or take him out for park walks.
• Relaxation – Dogs with anxiety (especially separation anxiety) can greatly benefit from yoga because it helps them relax and soothe their mind. It also builds a positive mood for your dog.
• Improves dog health – Yoga is not just for the mind but also for the body. Your dog will benefit from the stretching such that his muscles and bones don’t stay stagnant and his blood flow will be just right.

How To Get Your Dog Into Doga

Always remember that you shouldn’t force doga onto your pet. All you need to do is to set an example by doing some simple poses which will get your dog’s attention.

This will encourage him to try to do the same thing. Setting the mood is important because dog yoga is all about relaxation and positive vibes.

Doga Poses You Can Perform

Here are a couple of yoga poses that you can do with your dog:

Warrior Pose I

Also called the Virabhadrasana I, this pose is good for pet owners with a small dog breed, since you can be able to lift him up, which means it’s also a workout for you.

Four-Limbed Staff Pose

In this pose (also called Chaturanga), you support your dog’s paws as he raises them up. This is a good way for your dog to stretch out.

Child’s Pose

Source Mirror.co.uk

You can also try the Balasana if you have a bigger dog breed since this pose allows you to put your forehead into your dog’s back instead of being on the ground all the time.

Downward Facing Dog

This is a cool yoga move that your dog can do by himself, which you can simply imitate. It’s an inverted-v pose that your pet can do naturally, and he’ll be thrilled to see you do it as well!

Upward Facing Dog

Much like the downward-facing dog, your pet will find it easy to do, so doing this move together will be a breeze. It’s simply lying on the floor but upwards as if kneeling but with your knees backward.

Camel Pose

This might be a bit hard to do for some people since it requires some flexibility for reaching backward to your legs while kneeling, but it will get your dog curious enough. Your goal is to rest your forehead onto your sitting dog’s head. The Wheel Pose is also a similar yoga move to that.

In Conclusion

Doga is a great way to alleviate your dog’s stress (and yours as well) so why not give it a try? Besides, nothing beats quality time with you and your pet – and doing fun and unique things will get your canine friend energized, especially in the early morning if it rains outdoors or during lazy hours in the afternoon.

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