Thursday, February 5, 2009

Doggy Yoga, for your and your dog!

By Ariel Bielenberg

Most Americans are familiar with not only the word "Yoga" but with also many of the types of exercises preformed when performing yoga. Moreover many people are aware that yoga is a practice designed to strengthen one's body mentally and physically. Yoga originated in India and is performed with the goal of developing stronger awareness, greater discipline and stronger harmony within you and with others. As more and more dog lovers grew fonder of yoga, yoga for dogs was introduced as a way for dog owners to incorporate their pets into their exercise routine.

It is certainly true that most people have heard of yoga for dogs, but people still need questions answered; do dogs act independently of human interaction when doing yoga for dogs? Does yoga for dogs just give titles to the poses dogs rest in naturally? Does yoga for dogs combine the efforts of both humans and dogs as they work together? The answer to all of these questions is Yes! Yoga for dogs takes advantage of a dog's innate ability to perform yoga and partners them up with a human's abilities allowing both dog and owner to enjoy Yoga.

Yoga for dogs is the act of partnering up slightly modified ancient yoga poses with the positions and poses dogs perform naturally. Few people realize that many dogs naturally perform a variety of yoga positions. In fact, many of the positions dogs rest in are their own versions of yoga. Dogs have become excellent yoga models as one of the main goals of yoga is to achieve greater harmony and dogs seem to be able to do this. Just observe a dog resting in the sun.

The "downward dog" is one of the most enjoyed positions among yoga for dogs participants. This pose uses a canine's innate tendency to position their paws in front of their bodies while dropping their head down. While the dog is enjoying this position, its human counterpart performs a similar pose. By performing this position together, the bond between pet and owner is strengthened.

When participants of yoga for dogs are enjoying the exercises with a small dog, the "superdog" pose is also a favorite among many. When performing the "superdog" the dog is lifted into the air while positioned on the feet of its human teammate. The human lies on the ground, stomach up while securing the dog and making sure it remains safe throughout the entire exercise. This position increases healthy blood flow while strengthening the bond between canine and human friend.

Amy Stevens' Yoga4Dogs DVD is the perfect way to combine the ancient discipline of traditional yoga with the fun of allowing your favorite pet to participate, all while getting some exercise too. Amy Stevens offers step-by-step instructions to ensure you and your furry friend are getting the very most out of your yoga for dogs experience!

Featured on the Amy Stevens' yoga for dogs DVD you will find poses for both large and small dogs. These positions take into account the size and abilities of different kinds of dogs to ensure that the workout is as enjoyable and as effective as possible.

In addition to the step-by-step yoga for dogs instructions, Amy Stevens also offers on her DVD instructions on how to properly reward your dog with a massage. Your dog will enjoy this just as much as you enjoy receiving a massage!

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