It all began on a lazy Saturday morning, the kind where sunlight streams through the blinds just enough to convince you to skip the gym and work out at home instead. I’d decided to roll out my yoga mat in the living room, light a lavender candle, and enjoy some peaceful stretches before breakfast. At least, that was the plan—until my Labrador, Charlie, decided he was going to join my session.
From the moment the mat hit the floor, Charlie was curious. He circled it like it was a new toy, sniffing every inch before plopping down right in the middle, tail wagging like he’d just claimed it as his own personal bed. I gave him a playful nudge and scooted him to the side, thinking he’d lose interest. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Downward Dog, Literally
I started with a few deep breaths in mountain pose, feeling my body relax. As I bent forward into downward-facing dog, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Charlie was mirroring me—front paws stretched out, back end in the air, tongue hanging out in a giant doggy grin.
It was perfect form, minus the fact that he was panting and drooling onto the mat. I burst out laughing, my own pose breaking as I reached for my phone to take a picture. It was official: Charlie had decided he was my workout partner for the day.
The “Assisted” Poses
From that moment, every move I made became a team exercise. In child’s pose, Charlie climbed right onto my back, his warm, furry weight pressing me deeper into the stretch. In cobra pose, he sat directly in front of me, tilting his head as if inspecting my posture.
Warrior pose was where things really got tricky. Holding your balance with one leg bent is challenging enough—try doing it with a 70-pound Labrador leaning against your shin, tail sweeping dangerously close to a candle. I wobbled, caught myself, and gave him the side-eye. He responded by thumping his tail on the floor as if to applaud my effort.
The Breathwork Distraction
Yoga is supposed to be about mindfulness, but deep breathing exercises are nearly impossible when your dog insists on sticking his nose right in your face. During seated forward fold, I leaned toward my legs only to have Charlie shove his head under my arm and rest his chin on my thigh. His big brown eyes said, This is my pose now.
At one point, I was trying to focus on breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, but Charlie’s wet nose kept booping my cheek every time I inhaled. Peaceful? Not exactly. Hilarious? Absolutely.
The Savasana Situation
Finally, I moved into savasana—corpse pose—ready to let my mind drift. Charlie lay down beside me, resting his head gently on my stomach. For a few blissful minutes, we stayed like that, the sound of his slow, steady breathing syncing with mine.
And then… the snoring started. Loud, unashamed, room-filling snores. I tried to hold back my laughter, but it was impossible. My meditative moment had been replaced with what I now call “Snore-asana.”
The New Routine
After that morning, yoga at home was never the same. Any time I unroll my mat, Charlie comes trotting over like it’s his cue. Some days he’s content to just nap nearby, but most days he’s right in the thick of it—stretching, leaning, or rolling onto his back mid-session. I’ve even caught him doing a surprisingly good version of “happy baby” pose, paws in the air while he wriggles on his back.
Our sessions aren’t exactly Instagram-worthy examples of perfect form, but they are filled with joy. And in a way, that’s more important. Yoga has always been about balance—not just in the physical sense, but in life. Sharing that time with Charlie, even when he’s making it impossible to hold a pose, feels like the kind of balance I didn’t know I needed.
Why Dogs Might Be the Best Yoga Partners
It turns out dogs are natural yogis without even knowing it. Many common yoga poses—like downward dog, cobra, and cat-cow—are inspired by animal movements. Dogs stretch instinctively, holding positions we struggle to maintain for more than a few seconds. And they do it without the self-consciousness humans sometimes feel.
Plus, practicing yoga with your dog forces you to let go of perfection. You can’t stress about angles and posture when a giant ball of fur is sprawled across your mat. Instead, you laugh, adjust, and find a way to make it work—valuable lessons both on and off the mat.
Lessons I Learned
From that first yoga session with Charlie, I learned three important things:
- Flexibility isn’t just physical – Sometimes you have to mentally adjust your expectations to enjoy the moment.
- Joy is contagious – Charlie’s enthusiasm made the practice better, even if it wasn’t what I’d planned.
- Perfection is overrated – The best moments in life often happen when things don’t go exactly as expected.
Final Thought
Forget hot yoga or goat yoga—dog yoga might just be the ultimate workout for your body and your heart. If you ever get the chance to roll out your mat with a four-legged friend by your side, be prepared for laughter, love, and maybe a little drool.