Downward Facing Dog: The Benefits of Puppy Yoga

In need of some way to relax and destress? Puppy Love Yoga is the best place to go.

What could be better than puppies? Nothing. Add in some relaxing yoga to get back in touch with yourself? Perfect. At Puppy Love Yoga they combine these two interests to offer a relaxing and uplifting experience. Located at 1300 Gerrard Street East, these yoga enthusiasts focus on putting a smile on their guests’ faces and enriching the lives of participating puppies. 

Puppies are always able to make people smile as they wiggle their way through life. Cuddling with dogs helps the brain to produce Oxytocin, which is also referred to as the “love hormone”-and let’s be honest, we all could use a bit more love in our lives. This hormone is released, in both the human and puppy involved, in order to create a stronger bond and aid in development for the young puppies. Oxytocin is responsible for the feelings of love, trust and empathy that, puppies receive from snuggling with their mothers at a young age. When a puppy cuddles up to you, it is showing those same signs of affection and high levels of trust. 

Just as snuggling with a dog can relieve stress, so can yoga. Just as playing with puppies has it benefits, so does yoga. Yoga can lead to increased flexibility, increased strength (while helping tone your body), higher energy levels, and a more balanced metabolism- all while aiding in weight loss, if that is your main goal. Yoga offers a safe and relaxing atmosphere for anyone of any experience level to get in touch and connect with their body. 

At Puppy Love Yoga, they do a fantastic job at combining these very different interests. While puppies are typically energetic and constantly in motion, they match their energy to the room and the environment they put in. With reassuring licks as you move from one pose to the next, their sweet presence is sure to warm the atmosphere and make everyone around them feel comfortable. 

Puppy Love Yoga brings in puppies for an easy flow class (so cute interruptions aren’t bothersome) targeted at both beginners and experts. It is a family-run business that all began with a love of their own dog. The family decided to combine their two passions-dogs and yoga- and now offer special classes to raise money for rescue pups. Puppy Love Yoga works with local breeders to help socialize their young puppies, training for service and therapy dogs, as well as rescue agencies to help spread the love. 

The yoga studio offers classes at $35.00 each. Each class is 1 hour with the last 15 minutes dedicated to playing with the puppies. Classes run on Sundays with special and private bookings available. The class schedule for Sunday’s is set up by age, with the 10:00 a.m. class for kids as young as 9, and a guardian present for any participant under the age of 14. The 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. class are both 14 and up. With options for all ages, Puppy Love Yoga is sure to be a great Sunday destination for the family.

If you are in search of a new yoga studio, looking for a break from the busyness of everyday life, or just looking to snuggle some puppies, Puppy Love Yoga needs to be your next stop. With time and events available for children age 9 and up the whole family can get involved, or you can go and focus on reconnecting with yourself.