Each year
fifteen million Americans engage in the practice of yoga. Many of the
same Americans own some of the over seventy-three million dogs owned
in the United States. If you put yoga and dogs together, you get doga
(pronounced DOH-gah). Doga is sweeping the nation including large
American cities and small towns. Doga provides a unique opportunity
for humans to calm and focus themselves while working on improving
their flexibility and while sharing the experience with man’s best
friend.
So what really is doga? Simply explained doga is when humans and dogs
work together in relaxing and calming poses originally thought to only
be practiced by humans. If you watch the movements your dog makes on a
daily basis, you will see how dogs are natural yogis.
After much study, human yogis (yogis are people who engage in the
practice of yoga) started to notice their pets would always stretch
and position themselves in certain ways before and after naps or
during playtime with other dogs. Watching closely, people realized
dogs were natural yogis, always stretching themselves before engaging
in new activities.
The nice part about doga is that anyone can participate. Most dogs
just love the interaction with their human. When attending a class in
a studio, dogs take the chance and opportunity to visit each and every
mat and meet new dogs and their owners.
To share the experience of yoga with your dog, all you need is a yoga
mat and a dog! Start by leaving your yoga mat out in the open where
your dog can investigate the mat, smell it, feel it, and even lay on
it. After your dog feels comfortable on the mat, go ahead and join
them. Your canine companion might not understand at first what it is
you are doing but soon you will both find a way to incorporate each
other into the poses.
In the all famous “Downward Facing Dog Pose” many dogs will simply lay
on the mat under their owners, looking up for an occasional kiss on
the face. Other poses such as the triangle pose, where the human is
standing in a wide stance with one arm reaching up and the second arm
is used to for balance, so now is a great opportunity to use the
trusty canine companion as a prop to balance themselves while gently
rubbing their pet.
Dogs love doga because they are given 45 minutes to an hour of
undivided attention from their human. When going to a yoga studio for
yoga, there is also the car ride to and from the studio, which most
dogs love! There is also the opportunity to meet new dogs and their
humans. Humans love doga because of the unique bonding experience they
share with their pet.
Whether an experienced yogi, or just a beginner, go ahead and give
doga a chance! There is no right or wrong way to do doga as long as
you and your dog are relaxed and calm while enjoying some good
stretching! |
Did you know?
Most people
who practice yoga refer to the poses and terms in Sanskrit. Sanskrit
is known as a classical language once used in India. Here are some of
the most common terms:
Doga:
Yoga for dogs
Dogi:
A dog who practices yoga.
Yoga:
The union of mind and body.
Yogi:
A human who practices yoga.
Tadasana:
Mountain Pose
Adho Mukha
Svanasana:
Downward-Facing Dog
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