Ask the Doga Instructor: Part 6

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

A Joyful Journey

CARRIE:  Finally, the main reason I started this workout regimen was to find a way to build strength and flexibility at home while bonding with my dogs. It’s working so well that I am building a deeper bond with Tanner and Oliver, while seeing benefits for my health which I know will be helpful going forward. Can you elaborate on these benefits based on your relationship with Nikki B. and her participation in your practice? 

JESS: Getting in touch with the messages your body has for you may take some time and practice. As you relax into your poses, enjoying the deep breathing, focusing your awareness on nothing but the rhythm and quality of your breath, you will eventually begin to read your inner self; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Some days you’ll be out of sorts and other days you will find that you’re on top of your game and successfully practicing poses you never before thought possible. Your mind will make new connections with your body, allowing you to continue to progress in your practice.

Growing Closer, Day by Day

 Your dog, just like Nikki B, will play an important role in this process by helping you to relax at times when you may otherwise be distracted and unable to focus on the present moment. Animals have amazing skills for calming us if we allow them to share their ability to stay with us in the moment. There is much we can learn from our pets and much that they can learn from us if we allow them the opportunity to do so. That’s what is so great about doga! Taking the time to strengthen the bond, not only with yourself, but with your furry friend(s), will yield more benefits to the body, mind and spirit than you ever imagined. 

CARRIE:  Thanks, Jess. This has been great way to share my #WeeklyWag tips for bonding. Your insights will most certainly help us all with moving forward in our doga practice.  I started out liking the idea of partner poses with my dogs, but surprisingly, now find that I’m using Tanner more than Oliver. He seems to love being an important part of my practice when he is used as a balancing aid or block. Sometimes he breaks into a smile that shows off his enjoyment.

Treat, Please!

Oliver is coming along. He’s comfortable in certain positions that I hold him in as a weight, while others make him a bit anxious. I’m trying to tune into his anxieties and skip those poses that seem to make him uncomfortable. After all, it’s supposed to be fun for both of us, right? I'll continue to work with the treats as rewards. Thanks again for joining us for this series of questions. 

JESS: My pleasure entirely! I look forward to hearing from you again soon! 

If you're new to Doga or Yoga, please be sure to do these three things: (1) Get your doctor's permission to start this or any other workout, (2) Check with your vet to make sure your dog is able to participate in simple Doga exercises safely, and (3) visit our introductory post where I've outlined a few tips that will help your experience go more smoothly and enjoyable. Keep in mind that you can always stop if a pose is uncomfortable, returning to a more relaxing pose for you.

Ask the Doga Instructor: Part 5

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Jess Adds a Blanket
Beneath Her Hips for Extra Comfort

CARRIE:  I can’t help but notice that a midday yoga break helps me to wake up and re-energize. Of course, there are certain poses that have exemplary results in perking me up--most notably are the inverted poses that bring blood to brain. I’m also beginning to become more aware of some aspects of my body’s messaging.  These status updates I become aware of would never have been noticed without yoga guidance from you, Jess, as well as a couple of others who have helped me along this path. Can you give us some of the mind-body connection stuff that we’ll gain when participating in frequent yoga practice? This is something I haven’t delved into with my readers, so we’d love to hear your thoughts.

JESS:  It is quite impossible to practice yoga without gaining a better understanding of yourself--physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is because yoga forces us to stay in the present moment. We send our awareness inward, to focus on the movement of the breath. The movement of our breath, then, matches the physical movement of our bodies as we transition from one pose to another. This synchronization of the breath with the body recruits the involvement of our spirit, ultimately making the practice of yoga a very powerful mind-body-spirit experience. As I mentioned earlier, this has a lot to do with the fact that in yoga, we are working within the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our resting and digesting, as opposed to the sympathetic nervous system, which is what we use as a fight-or-flight response to stress.

Because of the fact that yoga incorporates the practice of strength building, endurance, balance and flexibility work, we are really increasing the circulation of blood throughout the body and mobilizing all of our internal organs, which is what is responsible for many of the physical benefits of yoga.  It’s amazing how much more energy we find after the practice of even the most basic of poses, like Legs Up The Wall, because of the fact that it brings fresh, oxygenated blood to the brain.

Half Moon Pose
Working My Core and Bonding with the Dogs

Many people do find that it is quite challenging to silence the busy thoughts of the mind during the practice of yoga, especially at first, but even if you are able to focus on the breath, and only the breath, for just a few minutes in each pose, you will instantly notice how much more aware you are, not only of your physical state of being, but of your emotional and spiritual state, as well. Just as I shared before, this increase in body awareness is what prevents injury in our practice and eventually, what makes us safer in our day to day lives. 

The increase in emotional and spiritual awareness that comes from the practice of yoga will yield even more benefits: self acceptance, self love, loss of ego, peace, contentment, freedom, empowerment and pure joy.In the case of doga, we’re adding the synergies provided by bonding with our best friends, our dogs. 

Notes from Carrie:

This past week All Things Dog Blog celebrated our 5th Annual #SuperDogSunday, a football and activity-related event that focuses on our dogs' physical and mental activities-fun and problem-solving. The event drew a record crowd and we--me and my Event Barkers partners--had a blast sharing tips for ways to get your dog into the game and have a doggone good time, sponsored by Zuke's. 

The photo of me and my dogs above includes another inverted pose--Half Moon Pose--in which I am rewarding the dogs for joining me in our #SuperDogSunday photo shoot. Notice all the Green Bay Packer memorabilia? My family and I are long time supporters of the Packers, my Grandfather having been instrumental in forming the original team. 

Look for more fun ways to involve your dog in your home yoga practice by visiting our Doga page at this link, where our focus is on helping you bond with your dog through yoga.

If you're new to Doga or Yoga, please be sure to do these three things: (1) Get your doctor's permission to start this or any other workout, (2) Check with your vet to make sure your dog is able to participate in simple Doga exercises safely, and (3) visit our introductory post where I've outlined a few tips that will help your experience go more smoothly and enjoyable. Keep in mind that you can always stop if a pose is uncomfortable, returning to a more relaxing pose for you.

Ask the Doga Instructor: Part 4

Nikki B. and Jess Pass the Test

Welcome back to our Ask the Doga Instructor interview. Today I'm asking Jess for more help on getting our dogs comfortable with and involved in our practice. Let's see what she has to say:

CARRIE:  Till now, I’ve more or less taken charge of helping my readers try various methods of getting their dogs involved. Aside from luring Fido with a treat, what are your top tips for getting a pup comfortable with the activity happening on the mat, and further, getting involved in it along with us?

JESS: Nothing is more reassuring and comforting to animals than routine and consistency. Nikki B. has been joining me for yoga for such a long time that she is not anxious when watching me. The keys are frequency of practice and trust. If you begin practicing yoga once a month, or just once in a great while, your dog will not respond appropriately because he or she will not understand what’s going on; it will be too new and too different than your usual routine. 

If you begin practicing yoga every day for 15 minutes, however, and then gradually add more time to your daily practice, your dog will recognize this as a new routine and will be more apt to join in, because with routine and consistency comes comfort and trust. Start your practice by changing the entire ambience of the room; dim the lights, soften the music, open the windows (weather permitting), maybe even light some candles—out of reach of your dogs. Anything that you consistently do to begin your practice will help your dog understand that this is time for yoga; it is time to be on the mat and bond with you.  This sets the stage for your new routine.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
We Finally Did It!

Once you have set the tone for yoga, gently set up your mat and your props (with some of your furry friends’ favorite treats nearby) and get yourself into a comfortable position for establishing that deep belly breathing pattern. This will all help to reassure your dog that this a happy, enjoyable time, and that you are welcoming him or her to join you. Start with simple, flowing poses that require little movement. Gradually move onto more challenging, physically involved poses that require more movement and involvement from your dog(s); then end your practice with more simple, resting poses. Keep in mind that some days, your dog will want to be more involved in your practice and on other days, he or she may not want to be very involved in your practice at all; that’s perfectly okay! Dogs have their moods and their attitudes change just like you and I do, and we have to honor that and respect that, or we will not get their respect in return.

Never force your dog into a pose, either; instead, always offer a place on your mat for your dog to lie down or sit, and reward them for participating in your practice, but never punish them for not participating. The key is in waiting for your dog to be ready. When he or she is completely comfortable with your activity, and trusts that this is a safe, happy experience, they’ll surprise you and join in without an invitation. That’s when you know you have truly gained a doga partner! 

Notes from Carrie:

Don't forget to offer a treat when your dog joins in, to cement the memory with a positive reinforcer. With #SuperDogSunday right around the corner, Tanner and Oliver are looking forward to noshing on a Z-Filet from @ZukesPets! Check out our Event Barkers Twitter Party and ways to win US-made natural treats at the link.

Also, be sure to check out our series of short, instructional doga videos and other helpful posts that share tips on modifying your practice to suit your needs. You'll find all this and more at our Doga page, where our focus is on helping you bond with your dog through yoga.

If you're new to Doga or Yoga, please be sure to do these three things: (1) Get your doctor's permission to start this or any other workout, (2) Check with your vet to make sure your dog is able to participate in simple Doga exercises safely, and (3) visit our introductory post where I've outlined a few tips that will help your experience go more smoothly and enjoyable. Keep in mind that you can always stop if a pose is uncomfortable, returning to a more relaxing pose for you.