An interview with Jess, our Doga Instructor
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| Jess and Nikki B. Play Peekaboo |
Today I'd like to give you, my readers, a chance to get to know Jess a little bit better. Jess is our doga instructor, having worked with me to provide a basic yoga series that we can practice while bonding with our dogs. Today is the first of several of these questions I have asked Jess to elaborate on. We invite you to ask your questions in the comments section. Thanks for joining in. Now let's get started with my question for Jess:
Hi Jess,
It’s great
to talk with you again. I had such a good time working with you to produce the
yoga videos for All Things Dog Blog. Tanner, Oliver and I are really enjoying
this practice and have continued to bond more deeply by working out together. Today I’d
love to have you answer a question for my readers. Perhaps we can continue this feature for several weeks, getting your insight on a number of items that my readers have asked about. I’ve polled a few of
them for their insights on our video yoga segments and we’d love to get your
thoughts. Ready? Great!
For me, thinking about a way to stay
in shape meant considering a healthy workout that will take me well into old
age. I probably am much like my readers and fellow pet bloggers in that sense.
We want to work on our physical strength and flexibility, while not always
having to leave our pets behind as we do this. What are your thoughts on the
benefits of yoga for those of us who have never tried this wonderful way to
begin to build a healthier mind and body?
Jess: What I love about a yoga practice is the fact
that we can all gain a lot from very little. What I mean by that is: in as
little as 15 minutes, we can build strength, endurance, flexibility and
balance, not to mention all the spiritual and emotional benefits that come with
a yoga practice; especially one that involves the use of a partner like our dogs, our most loyal
and devoted companions.
Of course, the longer your practice, the more
benefits you’ll enjoy, but let’s face it: we don’t always have an hour to dedicate
towards working on our health every day. I’m lucky if I get 20 minutes a day,
but I cherish those 20 minutes and I make every second count. I don’t have to
purchase a gym membership; I don’t have to travel anywhere, and I don’t need
any fancy equipment.
Sure, there are a lot of options on the market today for
high quality yoga mats and props, but they aren’t a necessity. A long scarf can
be used in place of a yoga strap, for example, and a stack of pillows can be
used instead of a yoga block. These are items that we all have lying around the
house which require no financial expenditure. A high quality sticky mat is, of
course, recommended, but if you’re just starting out in your practice, and you aren’t
practicing advanced level balancing poses, but are, instead, practicing
beginner level seated poses, a beach towel on your living room rug will work
just fine. The point is: a lack of funds will never deter anyone from beginning
a yoga practice at home and may very well be the best decision you ever make
for your physical, emotional and spiritual health. The best things in life
really are free!
When I have some time for yoga, I get comfortable in my yoga pants,
spread out my mat in my living room, and I’m ready to begin. It takes less than
5 minutes for me to prepare for my practice and I’m already establishing a deep
belly breathing pattern, which switches the brain from the
sympathetic nervous system into the parasympathetic nervous system. As I taught in our doga videos, the deep belly breathing pattern involves the movement of the breath from the diaphragm, up into the chest, then out the diaphragm, and out the chest.
This switch
into the parasympathetic nervous system is, ultimately, what makes yoga so
beneficial to the body, mind and spirit. Most forms of exercise keep our brains
in the sympathetic nervous system, which is great for burning fat and calories; but yoga, on the other hand, works in the parasympathetic nervous
system, which controls our body’s resting and digesting. This is when our
bodies, minds, and spirits, can really rejuvenate and replenish and it is the slow,
controlled diaphragmatic movement of the breath that tells our brains to make
that shift in the nervous system. I always tell my students that even if you
don’t practice any asanas (postures) at all, if you’re practicing that deep belly breathing pattern, and keeping your mind focused on the present moment,
void of all worries and distractions, you will notice significant benefits to
the body, mind and spirit almost instantly.
So, no matter what your level of experience is with yoga, we can all
benefit from its practice simply by breathing deeply and, in the case with
doga, establishing a greater connection not only with ourselves, but with our
furry friends. Carrie, you have succeeded in helping your dogs become willing
participants that act as blocks, to elevate the level of the floor for you, balancing
aids and weights, thereby making your yoga practice much more beneficial,
personal, and meaningful. The physical challenges that come with the practice
of the asanas should only be attempted after we have established that deep
belly breathing pattern. We can, of course, always try practicing the asanas
without the deep belly breaths, but we would be doing so within the confines of
the sympathetic nervous system, thereby robbing ourselves of yoga’s greatest
benefits: physical, emotional and spiritual connection.
Being patient with ourselves and taking every
pose one step at a time is, of course, highly recommended. Start small, using
props and modification options, focus on the rhythm and quality of the breath,
and try moving deeper into a pose only if it feels good. Our bodies will relax
more with each exhale of the breath, which will enable us to delve deeper into
a pose, with time and patience. Pain is not gain in yoga, so always remember to
modify a pose to make it feel good, or simply transition slowly to a different
pose entirely. This is why yoga works for every body type, regardless of age,
mobility level, or experience.
To get you started, following are some modifications from the yoga workout we created. You'll want to be sure to view the instructional yoga videos first. These can be found at this link.
If you're new to Doga or Yoga, please be sure to do these three things: (1) Get your doctor's permission to start a yoga 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 relaxing pose.
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