Just about the time you thought you’ve heard it all, along comes doga, a form of yoga adapted for canines. In a typical doga session, dogs and their owners work through a yoga routine together.
Suzi Teitelman, an American yogini and the director of yoga for Crunch Fitness NYC, devised the concept of doga after noticing that her dog was interested in her yoga sessions. As she began including her dog Coali in the sessions, Teitelman realized her furry friend enjoyed working out and benefited from the stretching sessions.
Doga is said to have a calming effect on dogs and it is good for forming bonds between pet and owner. In addition, the dogs, especially those that are older or those that suffer from muscle and ligament ailments, benefit from the physical exercise.
If you think you and your pooch might want to try a little doga, check your area for classes. Doga is fast becoming popular and classes are becoming much more common. If you can’t find a class, there are several videos available online that can help you and your dog enjoy doga.
If your dog is new to doga, consult with the veterinarian to make sure your puppy is physically fit for the exercise. The vet can also identify areas of your dog’s body that you will want to specifically target.
Start a doga session by taking your dog for a walk to burn off excess energy. You want your dog to be calm when you begin.
If you are trying doga at home, here are a few basic exercises to try. Start with sun salutations. This is done by standing behind the dog and picking up the front paws in a move that lifts them over the dog’s head. Hold and gently let the dog’s legs return to the floor. This move stretches the whole body and helps to relax the dog.
Next, try having the dog stand calmly. Place your hands under the dog’s hips and lift his or her feet off of the ground. Hold for a few seconds. This helps to stretch the lower back.
Now try alternating the sun salutation with this maneuver. Repeat the two exercises three or four times.
The doga pose is one of the easier moves. Have your dog lie on his or her side. Lift the front paws gently and stretch them across the dog’s stomach. Repeat several times.
Another doga move is the locust. The dog needs to lie on his or her belly. Gently stretch the front and back paws. While the dog is in the stretch position, gently massage the muscles in his or her back. Repeat several times.
As in the practice of yoga, doga usually ends in a meditation pose. Lie on your back on the floor. Keep your arms and legs stretched out. Have the dog lie by your side. Spend five minutes in this relaxing pose.
Be sure to praise your dog for exercising with you.
Doga can be repeated as little or as much as you and your dog want. There is no harm to doing several doga sessions a day.
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