My Dog's a Yoga Guru, by Tom Davenport
Namaste. I’m happy once again to join the weekly yoga class with Dharma Bow Wow, guru to both humans and canines. I know from experience that yoga is a wonderful combination of exercise, breathing discipline and general movement-related happiness. I also believe my pooch, Prince, benefits from yoga practice. In fact, I have been moved to put my thoughts about dog yoga in verse form:
My dog’s a yoga expert, a guru
Instructing me in how to make each move
He has four legs, while I have only two
Which limits my potential to improve
And yet, we both strive to better ourselves (without too much striving, of course). Doing yoga together helps us relax and focus together. When Prince sees that I’m calm, it helps him become serene as well, which I appreciate (as do the mailman, FedEx delivery person and meter reader).
Yoga is also beneficial for Prince’s health. It provides an opportunity for gentle exercise and helps him improve his flexibility. Our weekly class also allows him to meet other dogs and improve his social skills. He’s getting much better at some of the classic poses, exceeding my expertise:
He’s mastered downward dog, as you might guess
He holds the pose two minutes, sometimes more
For me, it takes three days to convalesce
Once I have smacked my forehead on the floor
Dharma Bow Wow has suggested some poses you can use to get your dog started on his yoga practice:
Chaturanga – This is a transition pose between plank and upward-facing dog. Simply have your dog lie on his stomach as you pet your pooch’s back.
Heart to hound gesture – Start seated and put your left hand on your heart, with your right hand on your dog’s heart. Close your eyes, focus your breathing and feel the connection between the two of you.
Chair pose – Support your dog’s torso and hold his front paws as he sits on his back legs. Breathe deeply.
Puppy paw gesture – Have your dog lie on his belly with front paws extended. Kneel behind your pooch with your head on his back and, as you breathe, turn your head to the side.
Savasana – This one comes naturally for most dogs – it merely requires him to lie on his back as you stroke his belly.
Of course, it's important to remember that Prince is, after all, a dog. Some poses that humans can accomplish (albeit with focus and effort in some cases) are all but impossible for him. One is Tree Pose, also known as Vrikshasana. It requires me to stand on one leg with the sole of the other foot pressed against the inside of the thigh, while reaching the arms overhead or keeping them at the heart. As talented as he is, Prince will never be able to pull this off.
Alternatively, being a quadruped gives Prince literally a leg up in performing some poses, including savasana:
He’s conquered “flop on back, get belly scratch”
And “lift hind leg, stand on the other three”
This feat of balance I can’t hope to match
He does it every time we pass a tree
Dogs and humans live in a stressful world – yoga practice gives us both a chance to relax and recenter. Plus, Prince has natural advantages in executing some of the more complex poses, at least one of which is simply not appropriate for me to perform in public:
Another stance, of which he’s very proud
An asana I oft see him display
Twists neck, turns head, bends spine, for he’s endowed
Like other dogs, with stretchy vertebrae
But I won’t try this pose, I’ve made it clear
I draw the line at licking my own rear
–Tom Davenport is Board Member of MobilityDog, essayist and poet.