Dog Yoga "Doga" & Meditation

Dog Yoga offers many benefits to both humans and canines. In this session, you will be guided through a unique bonding experience for you and your furry friend.

All suggestions for movement are gentle and optional. This practice can be done on a yoga mat or a blanket with your pet.

Transcript

Hello,

My name is Melissa,

And I'm a certified yoga instructor and meditation coach.

Today,

I'm going to lead you through a session of dog yoga or meditation practice with your dog.

This afternoon,

I am joined by my own dogs Molly and Hank.

So you might hear them in the background.

Dog yoga is a great way to spend quality time with your dog,

And it's as simple as just doing some yoga alongside of your dog.

When you invite your dog to join you on your yoga mat,

Your bond can hit a whole new level.

It lets you treat your dog to some one-on-one attention that is just infused with range of motion movements and nurturing mental connections.

Much like a traditional yoga practice,

As long as you come to the mat with an open mind and a sense of humor,

You'll receive some sort of benefits.

Maybe you won't be making a big pretty shape today,

But this practice is more about creating a connection with your dog and just slowing down together.

The benefits of dog yoga can include an improved posture,

Better sleep,

And can alleviate stress and anxiety for both you and your dog.

Dog yoga is for all pups,

All sizes and breeds,

And it's never too late to start practicing.

We can all benefit from spending some intentional quality time with our dogs,

Some intentional quality time on our mats.

It's key to remember that each dog and human are individuals and will have unique needs based on our ages and our health.

A spike in heart rate or an uncommon movements may not be recommended for all,

Especially if your pet is on prescription medication or has an active medical condition.

That is what's so great about yoga as a form of exercise.

It's perfect for our aging pups.

In our yoga practice today,

It will be a combination of quiet moments,

Focused breath work,

And gentle movements.

You can make yoga as strenuous or as slow as you want to suit almost any dog or human body.

Yoga can be as simple as just sitting comfortably and doing focused breathing while your dog lies next to you,

Incorporating some intentional movements and breath work into your daily routine.

Begin by making yourself comfortable.

Seated or lying down close to your dog,

If you'd like to follow along.

Set up your space so that you can feel relaxed and comfortable with your dog.

Check in.

Make your spine nice and long by slightly tucking your chin towards your chest and notice how the back of your neck begins to lengthen.

Take a few cleansing breaths.

Breathe in deeply through your nose.

Breathe all the way in and then exhale,

Releasing the breath through the mouth,

Emptying all the way out.

A couple more breaths like that.

Breathe in deep and breathe out fully.

Noticing what is happening in your body physically.

Is there tension?

Is there somewhere where you can holding on,

Where you can let go?

Drop your gaze and notice what your dog is doing.

Can you imagine what they might be thinking right now?

And if you feel called to do so,

Or maybe you already are,

Begin to stroke your dog's fur and notice the texture under your fingertips.

How does it feel?

Notice the color of your dog.

Did their energy shift or change when you started to pet them?

What if you were to pet them a little firmer?

How do they respond?

Gentle massage is something that you will typically find in a dog yoga class as this can help soothe your dog and relieve any pain that they might have,

Making them feel comfortable and at ease.

Like any yoga class,

It's nice to set an intention for our practice and for this class,

I think we'll just make the intention to be present here with your dog.

Just maintaining that focus and connection with your dog.

Being aware of their state and their energy.

Of course in dog yoga,

We don't ever force our dog to do any position that they're not comfortable in.

This is just about enjoying the human to animal bonding experience.

Adding in a few gentle movements,

Inhale and lift your arms high above your head.

And then exhale,

Just let them fall back down.

Let your shoulders soften away from your ears.

Inhale,

Maybe open your arms wide.

And then exhale,

Hug them in and give yourself a nice big hug here.

And then inhale,

Open your arms wide again.

And then exhale,

Bring your hands back to your puppy,

Back to your dog.

Letting your dog be involved,

But not forcing them into any specific experience.

Trying new things is exciting,

But could also sometimes come with a little fear and anxiety.

So notice that and just be gentle with yourself and your dog.

If your dog is getting up and wandering around and not wanting to sit with you,

That's okay.

Note that this practice won't look the same every time.

And I encourage you to find ways to move with your dog on your mat.

You can forward fold and have your dog in front of you so that you can fold over them.

You can fold from side to side and engage them in some silly play.

Perhaps if they'll allow,

You can roll them onto their back and give them a little belly rub.

Of course,

This will look different for every dog,

Whatever they're comfortable with.

They'll let you know.

We'll move into the meditation part of our practice and begin to settle into stillness.

Dropping your gaze or closing your eyes if you'd like.

Settle in.

Let your breath be natural and calm.

Allow your shoulders to soften.

Let your jaw relax.

Feel the weight of your body on the ground beneath you.

Notice the sensation of your breath.

Cool air in.

Warmer air out.

Belly and chest expanding when we inhale.

Inflating when we exhale.

Now bring your attention to your relationship with your dog.

Sometimes life as a dog owner can be challenging or stressful.

And often there are things that are completely out of our control.

Regardless of which species you belong to,

Just one meditation has the power to reduce stress.

Each time we allow ourselves to enter into a state of awareness,

We encourage the release of our accumulated tension.

We are the leaders of our dog's pack and they look to us for direction.

When we can maintain a calm composure and sit in stillness,

Connect with our own intuition,

It sends a message of control to our dogs so that they feel safe.

Giving them a sense of calm and peace and balance.

This can both benefit your emotional well-being and your overall health.

It's also a fun opportunity to just hang out with your dog.

Dogs are excellent teachers of meditation.

Dogs just live in the moment.

Allow yourself to just be here now with your canine companion.

Not thinking of the past or anticipating the future,

But rather just existing right here,

Right now with yourself and your dog.

And this wonderful dog loving insight timer community.

Just breathing together in peace,

Love and harmony.

Listening to the sounds around you.

Taking in the smells.

And if your mind begins to stray to thoughts outside of this moment,

Away from your mat,

Just bring your attention back to your dog and back to your breath.

I will watch the time while you mind your space and relax into this moment.

And then into the next.

You can teach your dog a great deal.

You can teach them to understand a meaning of many words and phrases.

You teach them the skills they need to be safe and calm in our frightening human world.

You provide them with food,

Shelter and love.

But all great teachers know they learn more from their students than their students will ever learn from them.

We learn from our dogs how to be healers.

Dogs heal the sick and lonely by simply offering their company and companionship.

We learn how to love unconditionally and accept people as they are.

Your dog doesn't care if you've gained weight,

Your dog doesn't care if you've gained weight,

How much money you make.

They just love you.

We can choose to accept our friends and ourselves as always being the same,

Regardless of our exterior circumstances.

We can learn to live in the moment.

When your dog is playing fetch,

They're not thinking about anything else,

Just the game.

They just want that ball.

We can learn to use all of our senses to learn the truth.

Dogs use all their senses to gauge a situation or a person as safe or not.

Our dogs are a bridge between the universe and the world that humans have built for themselves.

Dogs bring us back to our sense of nature.

They are a loyal,

Loving and kind friend.

The way that dogs and humans bond together today is just truly incredible.

Dogs act as the eyes of the blind.

They are the ears of the deaf.

And they even assist people who cannot walk.

We often hear stories of dogs that save people from fires and rescue people from drowning.

We have the honor of sharing our lives with dogs and with this honor comes great responsibility.

Our dogs deserve to be treated with the same kindness,

Loyalty and respect that they provide us with.

Meditation teaches us to stay centered and create inner peace.

These benefits extend well beyond the session that we've done today.

Having a daily meditation practice can help you maintain calmness and inner peace as you move throughout your day.

If your eyes are not already open,

Slowly open your eyes.

Take a look at your dog with the space around you.

Welcome in some movements,

Wiggling your fingers,

Your toes,

Nice gentle circles with your wrists.

Remember to thank your dog for joining you on your mat and in your practice today.

Remember to give gratitude to yourself for showing up.

And of course,

As always,

I thank you.

I appreciate you so much.

I hope you have a wonderful day.