Dogs taken to yoga classes

When people take pets on, they have a responsibility to look after them. This means providing them with appropriate pet food, health care, shelter, affection, exercise and so on. However, it seems as though some people are taking pet pampering to a new level.

Enthusiastic dog owners in London, England, are now taking their canine companions along to special yoga classes. Dog yoga, or ‘doga’, is said to help both owners and their animals to relax by slowing down their breathing and even boosting their immune systems, the London Evening Standard reports.

During the classes, owners are encouraged to lift their pets up into certain poses and give massages to them.

Mahny Djahanguiri brought dogs to London. She admitted that the first 30 minutes of the sessions can be a bit “chaotic” as dogs tend to run around before settling down.

Smaller dogs like chihuahuas or dachshunds can be hoisted into stances and used as weights to increase endurance during classes, while larger dogs like Labradors can be used as a cushioned “bolster” for owners to rest their heads on.

Ms Djahanguiri, who owns a Maltese dog called Robbie, remarked: “As an owner starts to relax and slow down, the dog will feel that too. Their heart rate drops and they benefit”.

Meanwhile, one woman who has attended the classes along with her pets is Michelle Spurr. The 50-year-old remarked: “The dogs love it and I get exercise from it. It calms them down, as they home in on meditation sounds Mahny plays”.