BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Yoga Yoga and Dogs

This a super cool and I don't know if other people have experienced it, but my dogs seem to LOVE when Dan and I do Yoga. They sit on the floor near out mats, respecting our mat space, and watch us. They seem so happy and content when we do it. One of them was even looking at the Yoga DVD and then looking at us, apprently making the connection.

And then after the yoga they were super calm for hours. I am assuming they are responding to the "calm assertive pack leader energy" we created doing yoga, as Cesar Millan would say.

I have also been noticing them as they move about their lives naturally doing what look like yoga moves. Downward facing dog and all.

LOL that is way too cool Jill Maybe it's the calming voice of the instructor too and the ocean waves! I was just reading how dogs react very powerfully to different kinds of music ...

Funny this: I was just reading right now over dinner in "Be the Pack Leader" (dog whisperer book) about how certain activities put humans into a calm, assertive state. He had YOGA at the top of the list.

He also mentioned that dogs are the only non-primate animals that look at human expressions with purpose. I guess it's b/c we have co-evolved together for such a long time.

In any case, we are going to do one of the yoga sessions tonite together and we will see if the dogs respond like that again.

Hmm maybe that will keep my puppy from running circles till midnight.. will have to invite him in on my next yoga session

Yes definitely Skeeter - I think if you are relaxed and calm and doing slow movements with a slow calm voice guiding you that the puppy will pay attention to that Give it a try and let us know how it works!

well it went well! The dogs are very interested in the whole thing, but not in an excited way, in a calm and mellow way.

i have never really seen them like this.

I don't have any dogs, but my black cat is always right there when I practise yoga. Mainly I think it's because I'm on the floor, which is unusual, and if he's lucky I will have a hand free to give him a scratch. Whatever is the draw, he recognizes when a yoga DVD goes on and shows up to help me out.
Our pets are tuned into what we are doing, more than we realize!

It's funny that you mention this. I try and do some yoga every evening, even with the kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats around. The kids have started joining in and all our animals camp out nearby watching.

It's become a real group activity in the evenings before bed.

When I do Yoga my dog will roll over on his back and stick his legs in the air like he is trying to imitate me. He loves watching!

He's doing "Upward human", Kiki!