Doga and Its Benefits

What Is Doga?

Doga is a type of yoga where the practice of yoga is been with dogs, or the dogs may perform yoga poses with humans. Doga was introduced to the world by yoga practitioner Suzi Teitelman in 2001. It is performed in two ways: a dog may accompany the humans while doing yoga; the dogs may do yoga poses with humans.

Both ways have the same benefits. Doga helps the dogs socialize with other people, enjoy the peaceful environment, and practice the downward-facing dog and sturdy warrior poses. Both humans and dogs can improve their health status by doing this yoga. It promotes the well-being of humans and dogs, improves the bonding between humans and dogs, helps to change behavior problems with dogs, and helps the dogs learn a new way of stretching.

How to Start Practicing Yoga With Dogs?

• Choose a Perfect Place: The place to perform yoga should be peaceful, well-ventilated, and free of distractions. This yoga can be performed in a studio or at home with proper guidance.

• Try to Engage With a Dog: In this step, try to make the dog more curious about yoga by practicing yoga next to it and encouraging it to do the same. If the dog is small, some yoga poses can be done by lifting it. If it's a larger one, then try yoga poses with it. Massaging the dog’s head will make it relax. It is always necessary to enjoy and relax during yoga and not force the dog to pose if it is uncomfortable or does not cooperate with yoga poses.

• Begin With Breathing Exercises: Initially, start the practice by sitting relaxed with the legs crossed next to the dog, massaging the dog‘s head, and then do breathing exercises by focusing on each inhalation and exhalation of air through the nostrils. Try to synchronize with the dog by thinking about unconditional love, and relax for two minutes by remaining in a sitting position.

The poses to try initially with a dog are:

• Chaturanga: It is always good to start with easy poses. In this, try to make the body parallel to the ground by lifting with the support of the toes and palms alone, and make the dog lie on its stomach and give it a light back massage.

• Heart-To-Hound Mundra: In this pose, sit relaxed with crossed legs in front of the dog or keep the dog on the lap by facing the dog’s face away and placing one hand on the heart, another hand on the dog’s heart, and trying to focus on the breathing.

• Chair Pose: It can be done by making the dog sit with its back legs, holding it from its back side, and helping to raise the dog’s front legs. This will make the dog stretch the abdomen muscles and front legs to their maximum extent and help strengthen the back legs.

• Inner Dog Mudra: It can be done by kneeling on the floor facing each other, raising the hands backward by grasping the fingers, then leaning forward by placing the forehead over the dog’s forehead. This pose helps to improve energy flow and also helps to relieve strain in the spine.

• Sun Salute: It can help stretch the dog’s muscles and strengthen its front legs. It can be done in a sitting position by gently lifting the dog's back legs toward the ceiling and massaging the front legs.

• Forward Bend: This pose can be done by bending forward to make the hands and head lower and lift the dog, enhancing the stretch of humans and dogs.

• Puppy Paw Mudra: This position can be done by making the dog lie with extended front legs, kneel behind the dog, bend forward to place the head over the dog’s back and both hands over the dog’s front legs, and turn the head towards one side and breathe.

• Savasana: It can be done by lying down on the back, placing the dog on the chest, focusing on the breath with closed eyes, and massaging the dog.

What Are the Benefits of Doga?

• Promotes Bonding With the Dog: Doga is one of the best ways to practice yoga, as it helps to promote the relationship between humans and dogs by spending time doing yoga. It also helps train the dog to behave well and correct behavioral problems.

• Helps in the Recovery of Injured Dogs: Doga helps dogs recover from injuries, pain, and other diseases. It can relieve a dog’s muscle tension and pain by stretching the body and strengthening its muscles and joints.

• Promotes Overall Health: Doga helps to lower blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of several diseases like heart and kidney diseases, and also helps to lower stress and strengthen the muscles, thereby helping in weight loss.

• Promotes Relaxation: Doga helps calm humans and dogs by breathing exercises, stretching, and massaging the dog. Humans enjoy yoga with dogs, which may reduce stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels. Likewise, it may help to control overactive dogs.

• Socialize With Other People: Doga creates a chance to meet other people and dogs, thereby causing mental stimulation. It also allows communicating with others, reducing anxiety in humans and dogs, and giving self-confidence.

• Promotes Mental Health: Doga helps promote mental stimulation by improving cognitive functions like A.

Conclusion:

Doga is a great way to practice yoga when having a dog as a pet. It is gaining too much attention from people worldwide due to its benefits in promoting physical and mental wellness as well as encouraging humans to spend time with dogs. Practice with dogs can build trust and allow them to trim their nails, clean their ears, and perform other tasks easily without any fear; it can be used as behavioral therapy for dogs to some extent.