Yoga has developed into an absolute trend sport in recent years. So it’s no wonder that dog owners like to do yoga with their four-legged friends. From the first attempts by individual dog owners, Doga quickly developed, which is now also causing a stir on social networks. There are always great videos on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and co, in which sporty, meditative four-legged friends practice Doga with their owners. Of course, Doga is not to be taken so seriously. Still, it’s a nice pastime. Doga strengthens the bond between dog and owner and also ensures that the four-legged friend is both physically and mentally busy.
What is Doga – Definition Doga
The term is made up of the two words yoga and dog. These words already describe this trend sport very aptly. It is yoga for and with the dog. It is often a matter of course that the four-legged friend participates in yoga. Anyone who often does yoga at home will have noticed that the dog is almost magically attracted to the yoga mat. It seems like yoga and dog are a perfect match. There is also an asana that was inspired by a dog. Even those who have never done yoga before are probably familiar with the term downward-facing dog. This is an asana, a yoga exercise. The attitude of a dog is modeled on.
Yoga is more than just a sport. Everyone, even people who are generally not athletic, can do yoga. The same also applies to dogs. As a rule, there is no breed of dog that is not suitable for Doga. It may just be that some four-legged friends are too lively or have too short an attention span, but this can be worked on together.
How does Doga work?
Doga works just like yoga. The only difference is that your dog can actively participate.
Where does Doga come from?
Jennifer Brilliant is officially considered the inventor of dog yoga. In addition to her posts on social media, the yoga enthusiast from New York has also written books about yoga with dogs. As a result, this special dog sport became popular with the general public. She herself was the first to offer Doga courses in her yoga studio. Other dog-enthusiastic yoga trainers quickly took up this idea and Doga spread virally all over the world. Especially in western countries, Doga is almost hyped.
But the Doga expert Mahny Djahanaguiri is also committed to yoga with dogs and writes many articles about this meditative dog sport. Doga has been officially practiced since around 2003 and is popular and represented in all media. But much earlier, yoga enthusiasts did yoga with their animals without knowing that doga would one day become very fashionable.
How do I teach my dog ​​yoga?
Start with just one exercise at a time. Find a simple pose that you can do well yourself. Now you try to integrate your dog into it. Above all, patience is important. Look for suggestions on the internet. You are guaranteed to find numerous helpful tutorials.
Requirements for yoga exercises with a dog
Actually, everyone can do Doga with their dog. The dog can be big or small, old or young, all breeds and mixed breeds can participate in yoga with owners. Nevertheless, there are some requirements that both dog and the owner should bring with them.
Above all, yoga should be fun. Yoga requires a certain calm and serenity. There are hardly any sporting requirements for humans. In yoga, there are almost countless asanas that suit everyone. Beginners and advanced, people who are partially restricted in movement and also absolutely unsportsmanlike people can practice yoga. It is important for four-legged friends that they can concentrate to a certain extent. It is important that the dog participates voluntarily in the Doga. Some four-legged friends do not bring the necessary and long rest. They run away or jump around wildly during exercises. It also happens that they push masters or mistresses out of an exercise. But that is also part of it.
Doga is a good way to teach your four-legged friend a little more calm and prudence. Doga is therefore an alternative option for dog training.
What does doga do?
Yoga gives us relaxation and calm. In addition, yoga helps to train the body, to build certain muscles, to stretch, and lengthen. Yoga is good for balance and inner and outer balance. Many people also practice yoga to improve mental and physical ailments. There is a coordinated asana for all complaints. It doesn’t matter whether it’s back pain, cramps, insomnia, or inner restlessness – there is a yoga exercise for everything.
What is good for humans cannot be bad for four-legged friends. Above all, it is a great opportunity to spend time together and possibly to relax as a couple.
What do you need for Doga?
For Doga you need a yoga mat and possibly a block or pillow, depending on which asanas you want to do. Put on comfortable clothes and you are perfectly equipped for Doga. But the most important thing is the dog. Doga goes exclusively with the four-legged friend.
What are the advantages of Doga?
Doga can improve the inner restlessness of humans and animals. Especially with fearful dogs, Doga can be a great way for the four-legged friend to calm down a little better. Many also swear that Doga is particularly helpful in certain situations. Dogs can be distracted by doga during a thunderstorm, and doga can also be a good way to keep the dog from sitting under the table when there are fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Above all, Doga strengthens the bond between animal and human. You better get along with each other. Responsible for this is not only the gentle way of yoga, but also the meditative and slightly spiritual atmosphere. You relax yourself and that transfers to your dog.
Confidence is improved and stress can be shed. Doga can also make itself felt through better digestion. Dogs that always have stomach pains can improve with regular Doga. The dog can sleep better and calm down, and a doga session before you leave the house can also make your dog have far fewer problems with being alone.
Who can do everything Doga?
Anyone can do doga. However, be patient. Don’t force your four-legged friend if he suddenly doesn’t feel like it anymore. Just go on. Most of the time, the dog will come back on its own and try to join in. But it’s also okay if the dog just lies quietly next to the yoga mat during your asanas. In this case, the four-legged friend simply enjoys the peace and relaxation.
Various doga exercises
It is important that you do not expect your dog to do all the yoga exercises exactly as you do. That is not the purpose of doga. Dogs like to imitate exercises such as the dog looking down and the cobra, but in other asanas the four-legged friend should simply be integrated appropriately.
So you can place your dog opposite the warrior and you give each other paw and hand. At the bridge, the dog can crawl under you or give you a kiss. The mountain or corpse pose are also simple asanas that dogs like to do.
The dog can also be incorporated into the breathing exercises. Cuddle up close to your four-legged friend while breathing in and out calmly. Your calm breathing alone will also bring the animal to rest. Simply integrate your four-legged friend into the respective asanas according to your possibilities. There are numerous videos and suggestions on the Internet on YouTube that you can easily imitate at home.
Perhaps there are also Doga courses in your area. If your four-legged friend is well socialized and gets along well with other dogs, this is also an option. It’s guaranteed to be fun and you also have the opportunity to meet other dog owners with similar hobbies.
