Puppy Yoga
Going up to a downward dog whilst an actual dog is running under you, the irony.
Puppy yoga may just sound like a craze, another wellbeing activity where the buzz surrounding it will fizzle out as quick as it comes. However, it may be a craze here to stay if you can get past them weeing wherever they please.
By spending time with puppies, dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin levels are increased. These feel-good chemicals may be why celebs such as Reese Witherspoon have been seen to take part in this worldwide trend.
Based in the trendy Manchester neighbourhood, The Northern Quarter, you can take part in ‘Paw yoga’ at Yoga Soul. They claim, ‘puppy yoga has so many benefits beyond just making you smile and feeling all fuzzy inside.’ So, I went along to see truly what benefits this unique experience would offer.
Puppy yoga is not about the yoga at all I quickly learned. Although the instructor will get you bending into positions that will have you barking, there is no notion of the relaxation many would expect. Your attention will wander and instead of being lost in the yoga flow and dreaming of calm thoughts as I settled into a chaturanga, I was very aware of the seconds counting down until we could freely play with the puppies. Also, we aren’t the only ones benefiting from the playtime, as puppies require this for ‘an essential part of their socialising and development.’ This lets the puppies be more socialised before adoption.
At ‘Paw Yoga’ the breed of the puppies is kept secret until you get your booking confirmation email and changes from class to class, the breed you will get is almost unlimited it seems. One thing that is for sure though is ‘Paw Yoga’ only work with trusted ethical breeders, therefore available spaces vary on the size of the litter, so tickets go fast. For the class I attended it was Golden Retrievers so instantly before even getting to the studio I was extremely excited as, well, a puppy.
The session consisted of 30 minutes of yoga whilst the puppies roam freely and 30 minutes of cuddles. Jacqueline Usher, mental health nurse and yogi, led the session with moves comfortable for beginners however did require some concentration, which when there is a puppy asleep on your mat, was obviously not there. In fact, three people out of the eight-person class didn’t attempt any yoga moves and just let the puppy-love inundate them. Although as someone who practices yoga, I craved the deep mind-body exercises that usually come with yoga. The introspection was missing as you are encouraged to take pictures and post to social media.
The idea to pet your stress away by combining yoga and puppies has been around since 2002 but really took off properly in 2019, in the health-conscious city, Los Angeles. Research claims that being with animals has stress-relieving benefits. This combined with yoga, which boosts blood flow to minimize stress, positively impacts your mental wellbeing, drastically boosting your mood.
The studies were correct. I was sceptical beforehand; I thought the whole idea was just a gimmick. However as soon I entered the room, I forgot every stress, worry, and the to do list that was adding in my brain just vanished, every thought I had was puppy orientated. Just being in a room of stumbling puppies puts everything into perspective which is many yoga instructors aim, teach people to be in the moment and carefree. After this I realised the two go hand in hand and I understood why the two classes, which are released every month, sell out every time despite being a steep £35.
At that costly price, if you want an in depth, calm, mind relaxing yoga session this activity is not for you. However, you are guaranteed to leave beaming ear to ear and want to stay fur-ever.
How will I ever go back to a puppy-less downward dog?
