As pet owners, we all know that exercise and physical activity is important for animals, but did you know that dogs can do yoga?  Just like humans, pets can sometimes get stressed and they benefit from the stretching and posing taught through yoga.  In fact, Good Morning America just did a segment explaining the increasing popularity of this trend – you can check it out here – http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/doggie-yoga-exercise-involves-pets-18328097.

“Doga” is a practice that has grown in popularity and continues to evolve as yoga has become a part of daily life for more and more people. Doga combines massage and meditation with gentle stretching for dogs and their human partners.  For example, in an “upward-paw pose,” or sun salutation, owners lift dogs onto their hind legs. In a resting pose, the person reclines, with legs slightly bent over the dog’s torso, to relieve pressure on the spine.  While the animals can actually assist the humans by providing extra weight and deepening stretches, one of the main benefits is the bonding that can occur between dog and owner. Additionally, stretching through yoga can help with injury prevention and increase flexibility for older dogs as well.

Dog-focused yoga is just the latest example of how pets are increasingly seen as family members with health needs of their own.