by Brenda Naylor, President & CEO of Tippet-Richardson
Puppy Yoga: 9 Little Reasons to Smile, Stretch, and Surrender to Joy
This past weekend, I found myself on a yoga mat surrounded by chaos—tiny, wiggling, fur-covered chaos. Nine puppies, to be exact. Each one a bundle of unfiltered joy, flopping ears, and oversized paws that stumbled across the studio floor like clumsy little comedians. It was Puppy Yoga, and it was pure magic.
At first, the idea of doing downward dog while an actual dog chews your shoelace sounds like a contradiction. Isn’t yoga supposed to be quiet and calm? But somehow, the presence of these playful pups didn’t disturb the peace—it deepened it. As we flowed from pose to pose, the puppies weaved in and out, sometimes curling up beside us, other times launching surprise kisses mid-cobra.
There’s something incredibly grounding about being around animals, especially puppies. They live entirely in the moment. They’re not worried about inboxes, deadlines, or dinner plans. They just want to explore, play, and cuddle. And during that one-hour session, their energy was contagious.
Laughter replaced the usual hush of the yoga studio. People smiled more, loosened up, and let go of the need to do the poses perfectly. It wasn’t about balance or form anymore—it was about connection. With ourselves, with each other, and with the little lives scampering around us.
Some pups took nap breaks, curling up on someone’s mat as if they’d been practicing savasana their whole lives. Others turned our hands into chew toys or climbed into laps mid-meditation. And yet, amid all the puppy pandemonium, a strange sense of peace settled in.
That’s the magic of Puppy Yoga. It’s playful, unpredictable, and filled with heart. It reminds us that relaxation doesn’t always have to be silent and still—it can be messy, joyful, and full of life. Because sometimes, the path to inner calm starts with a nose nuzzle and a wagging tail.
If you ever get the chance to try it, do it. You might not leave with perfect posture, but you’ll definitely leave with a full heart and maybe a little dog hair on your leggings. Worth it? Absolutely.
