Puppy yoga – my first experience with hair on my clothes, which brightened up my day and my practice

As a yoga teacher, I spend most of my days helping others reconnect with their bodies, minds, and spirits. Recently, however, I realized that I had quietly drifted away from taking care of myself. Ironically, I was reminded of this by playful paws, wet noses, and tufts of puppy hair on my yoga clothes.

 

In this case, it was trying out a very special class with little puppies at the Pets Yoga studio in Brno, which allowed me to experience unique moments with dogs on the mat and joy in my soul. Yes, I am a big dog lover, and this was a really great idea to combine two passions into one.

 

I received this unforgettable experience as a Christmas gift from my mom and I was really looking forward to it.

 

When booking this class, you can choose the day you want to meet the breed of your choice. Since we were planning a long weekend in Brno to relax, I combined my free time with a visit to this studio. I chose the magical Bourbonnais hound puppies, which are very lively but also cuddly and very atypically colored, soft to the touch.

 

The studio felt peaceful from the moment I stepped into its cozy rooms. The other participants were very friendly and excited, some were there for the first time, others had already taken such a class several times. The staff was very professional and the instructors were experienced and always smiling. The small dogs were brought by an experienced trainer, who was present throughout the lesson and looked after the little pets during the yoga activity. They had a bed, toys, and snacks at their disposal.

 

 

A place where puppies reign supreme

 

When such cute puppies were looking at you, it was almost impossible to concentrate on yoga. The little ones rolled around under you, nibbled your toes, or curled up so close that you were afraid to move. Some moments brought tears to my eyes, as the puppies were so innocent and playful, so cute that you wanted to secretly take one home with you.

 

The instructor was ready to officially start the lesson and also taught us about dog safety and how to care for them if they had an accident, which is something you have to expect in a lesson like this.

 

During the lesson, I realized how stiff I was in some parts of my body. I tried to stretch the painful areas, and thanks to the sight of the playful creatures, it suddenly became much easier, and I didn't worry about the shortcomings that had accumulated over several months of isolation and life situations that required resilience and mental stability.

 

On the mat, we did familiar poses such as downward dog, child's pose, cat pose, half moon balance pose, and relaxing savasana. However, practicing yoga surrounded by playful puppies added a whole new dimension to each pose.

 

As I listened to the instructor's instructions and moved into the downward dog pose, one of the little real dogs walked across my palms – it was both symbolic and amusing.

 

During the child's pose, one curious puppy decided that the back or bottom of my colleague next to me was the ideal place to rest – its warm, gentle weight was a physical reminder to relax, let go, and just be.

 

 

Awareness between playful paws

 

The puppies' spontaneous reactions – falling asleep in the middle of the lesson, playfully disrupting balance poses, or cuddling affectionately during Savasana – reminded me of the true essence of yoga: accepting spontaneity, presence, and joy in every moment.

 

As the instructor's pleasant voice guided me through the lesson with instructions and a kind approach, I had to stop and think about how much I had missed this kind of variety and how important it is to appreciate such a precious moment that brings you back into the game.

 

For months, taking care of myself had been at the bottom of my list, overshadowed by responsibilities, routine, and life's mishaps. I wasn't living yoga like I used to. With their simple and sincere presence, these puppies symbolically woke me up from this quiet neglect. They showed me that joy and relaxation are not luxuries, but necessary prerequisites for authentic learning and a meaningful life.

 

I must admit that there were tears of emotion and realization of what needs to be changed or eliminated.

 

I won't lie, because the four-legged miracle that was constantly around me breathed new life into me. I couldn't stop smiling, and the others around me were also recharged with lost energy, and after the lesson I could talk to them about my experience and feelings.

 

 

I leave with joy (and dog hair!) on my clothes

 

When I left the class with little paw prints and dog hair on my clothes, I felt deeply grateful. These cute creatures not only made my yoga more enjoyable, but also refreshed my outlook on the world, rekindled my joy, and reminded me how important it is to take care of myself and be able to enjoy the simple things.

 

Maybe it was just a class with a few puppies—but sometimes it's moments like these that can show us the way back to ourselves.

 

And maybe that's the true meaning of yoga—finding ourselves again in moments when we least expect it. In the soft touch of a paw. In joyful barking. In the silence that comes when we finally stop.

 

As a yoga teacher who is now filled with new inspiration and a playful spirit, my next lesson for my students will not just be about guiding them through individual poses – it will also gently remind them of the joy of a full, authentic, and sometimes pleasantly furry life.

 

 

I write this article with great gratitude for having witnessed such a unique experience—I will definitely do it again.

Namaste!