HEALTH
Dog owners twist into Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes) pose at a 2017 Leash Your Fitness doga class in San Diego while their canine yogis relax beside them.
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PET GUIDE 2018
POSES TO TRY AT HOME
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) From hands and knees, push through your hands and balls of your feet. Send your tailbone into the air, straighten your legs and arms, and drive your heels back toward the ground. Put your dog into a sit or down position, and don’t respond if he sniffs around a bit at first. He’ll settle down eventually. Tadasana (Mountain Pose) Stand with feet hip distance apart, hands at your sides, as your dog sits at your feet.
Savasana (Corpse Pose) Lie on your back, close your eyes, breathe deeply and let your dog follow suit at your side. Relax and enjoy — you might even drift off!
GETTY IMAGES; ILLUSTRATION: LISA M. ZILKA; RICK NOCON; GETTY IMAGES
dog. Additionally, if the class involves lifting your dog, you will not want to bring a large dog — or even a small dog who dislikes being held. DON’T: FORCE THE ISSUE. If your dog is uncomfortable or aggressive with other dogs, a class may not be the best idea. You can still get your doga on, though, by booking a private lesson (most instructors offer them and say clients find them very rewarding) or following along using a video or DVD, like you’ll find on Teitelman’s website, dogadog.org. Of course, if nothing else, you can always get into the most basic aspect of yoga with your dog on your own by sitting quietly, breathing deeply and enjoying being together. Begin with just a minute or two of meditation — no loud voices, no belly scratches — and you just might be amazed at how quickly your bond grows. l