If you love yoga and have a dog, there is nothing better than dog yoga, also known as Doga. A way to spend time with your four-legged friend, relax, and feel good together.
If you love and practise yoga and have a dog, there is now an extra opportunity to combine the benefits of this ancient discipline with quality time spent with your beloved four-legged friend. Born in the United States, hugely popular and widely practised in Japan, and now finally being taught in our country too, dog yoga – called Doga by some – is a discipline that involves specific postures from classical yoga along with meditation and breathing techniques, performed together with your dog, under the guidance of an instructor and a specialist in animal stretching and muscle relaxation. The yoga experience, filtered through that of your own dog, helps to focus and strengthen the emotional bond between dog and human, encouraging relaxation in both, while also bringing about small and significant changes to physical fitness through specific stretching exercises practised in unison.
The Centro cinofilo amici di Gedeone has two demonstration days on the subject planned for January: "With Doga, the dog gets used to an intense relationship with its human partner, and the combination of breathing, movements, stretches and postures typical of yoga helps both of them to achieve total harmony, including through the pleasure of manipulation and the choice of the various 'positions' performed together. In particular, Doga helps to develop an empathetic relationship between the animal and the person in sync with the physical and tactile one, through a sharing of breath and physical exercise."
"Yoga practised with your own dog becomes a panacea for many problems, both human and animal. By practising the stretching exercises, dogs reap direct benefits. In this way the animal's musculature is supported, toned and made more flexible at the joints, just as happens in humans too. An immediate advantage is the release of internal tension, which in turn promotes calm and tranquillity in both the dog and its two-legged companion. Thanks to the exercises, many dogs have changed in mood and behaviour, and many turbulent and agitated individuals can thus release their stress and become calmer. Even a dog that is temperamentally unstable can become more sociable and less aggressive towards people and its surrounding environment," explains Debora Severo, osteopath, who began her journey in the human field before transferring her knowledge to the animal world.
Dog yoga is also useful for sporting dogs, those that take part in dog shows or are used for working activities, as the exercises allow them to relax, help them overcome stressful situations, and improve their concentration and calm. In any case, Doga is suitable and can be recommended for everyone: puppies, older dogs, and dogs with certain issues such as hyperactivity and lack of socialisation.
"Having no contraindications," Debora Severo continues, "dog yoga is ideal for a wide range of different situations and needs, both for people and for animals." The dog gets used to an intense relationship with its human, and the combination of breathing, movements, stretches and postures typical of yoga simultaneously helps the human companion to establish an optimal relationship with the four-legged friend.
During the session, one learns to handle the dog's body, move it and touch it, without invading its personal space, modulating its breathing with our own, and its needs and desires. "All of this," Severo concludes, "develops an empathetic relationship between the two. And it stimulates mutual understanding and growth." The dog yoga (Doga) session can be replicated, in the same way, at home, in the garden, in the countryside or in another quiet place. The equipment needed is minimal and simple: a rubber mat for both human and dog, comfortable clothing, and a little free time to relax together.
Dog yoga sessions make use of a yoga instructor and an animal osteopath specialising in stretching and muscle relaxation. They generally follow a well-defined structure that can then be repeated in private. The session begins with what is known as the Mantra (i.e. the vibrations of sounds that bring energy to the internal organs); 4–5 exercises for the owner while the dog, by their side, is left at ease and becomes familiar with the situation; joint breathing between the person and the four-legged friend (simply placing one hand on your dog's body is enough to understand how easy it is to synchronise your breathing with theirs); stretching exercises with the dog; a closing Mantra; and finally relaxation and meditation.
The dog training centre Gli amici di Gedeone (Località Caresana 157, San Dorligo della Valle (TS)) holds dog yoga sessions on Tuesday 3 January and Sunday 8 January 2017. Two days dedicated to the presentation and demonstration of Doga (yoga for dogs) with yoga instructor Gaya Ujka and osteopath Debora Severo.
For information
Telephone: 342 700 3732
Mail: [email protected]
Attendance is free, subject to prior booking with first name, surname, address, dog's name and telephone number or email with the same details.