Downward Dog, Meet Actual Dog: Practicing Yoga with Your Pets
Yoga is a practice of presence. We show up on the mat not just to stretch or breathe, but to connect—deeply—with our bodies, our minds, and the life around us. If you’ve ever rolled out your mat at home and found a curious furry face joining you, then you’ve experienced the magic of shared presence. Practicing yoga with pets isn’t about precision or alignment—it’s about love, patience, and a little bit of playful chaos.
In today’s blog, I want to take you into my own home practice—into the living room floor spaces shared by paws and paws-ible distractions—and reflect on how our animals become our greatest teachers in embodiment, unconditional love, and being in the moment.
Let’s begin where it all started.
From NYC to Atlanta: How Yoga Became a Family Affair
Meeting Taz: The Original Yoga Companion
In 2017, my husband and I decided we were ready to welcome a dog into our lives. We weren’t just looking for a pet—we wanted to give a beautiful soul a home. One icy Sunday afternoon in New York City, we met a tiny whirlwind of joy on the Lower West Side.
Taz was 13 weeks old and absolutely wild for toys. He spun around like a Tasmanian devil, and the name stuck—Taz. That same week, I rolled out my yoga mat in our very tiny apartment and found myself navigating vinyasas while a floppy-eared puppy tried to crawl underneath me. It wasn’t exactly the quiet, focused practice I had envisioned—but something softer and far more beautiful took its place.
Taz wanted to be close—because we were his world. During downward dog, I learned to keep one eye out for a surprise puppy attack. In savasana, he’d curl up between my legs, his little body rising and falling with mine as we rested in complete love. I didn’t know it then, but those early shared practices laid the groundwork for a yoga experience rooted in companionship and patience.
Then Came Hosu: The Savasana Snorter
Fast forward a few years, and our little family was preparing for a big move to Atlanta. We knew Taz would love a brother, and we decided to adopt another pup—this time, from overseas. We found Hosu, a rescue from Korea, and flew him to the U.S. to join our pack.
The moment we met Hosu, it was love all over again. He is silly, sensitive, and instantly glued to our sides. Where Taz is toy-obsessed, Hosu is a snuggler with a snort. He loves joining me during my yoga filming sessions for my Virtual Yoga with Paige members—sometimes stealing the show with his joyful energy and spontaneous noises during savasana.
Taz, meanwhile, decided he preferred to be behind the scenes. He watches quietly as I film, like a tiny four-legged director making sure everything runs smoothly. If he were really the boss, he’d probably have me playing fetch instead of practicing downward dog!
But this is the thing: our dogs are our spiritual companions. They teach us to love unconditionally. They model presence in ways we humans struggle to embody. And they show up—even if their version of “asana” is just taking a nap next to the mat.
What Our Pets Teach Us About the Heart of Yoga
Practicing yoga with your pets may look a bit different than the serene studio experiences you see online. There may be tail whacks during sun salutations or slobbery kisses in child’s pose. But what you lose in perfection, you gain in profound presence.
Here are a few things your furry companions can teach you about yoga:
1. Connection Is the Practice
Pets don’t care about your form or flexibility. They care about your presence. When you're on the mat, you're on theirlevel. They sense your breath, your energy, and your attention. Practicing yoga with them deepens your connection—not just with them, but with yourself.
Taz and Hosu don’t just watch me do yoga. They join me in it. They create a shared field of safety and affection. That connection—wordless, instinctual—is yoga in its purest form.
2. Patience Is a Pose Too
Let’s be honest: pets don’t always make yoga easy. They sit on the mat. They bark at nothing. They knock over props or demand belly rubs in the middle of Warrior II.
And you know what? That’s okay. Learning to adapt, to soften, and to let go of expectations is part of the spiritual work. Our pets invite us to surrender perfection in favor of presence and play.
Yoga with animals asks you to release control—something most of us need more practice doing.
3. Joy Is the Most Advanced Pose
I truly believe that joy is a sacred experience. It’s not a fleeting feeling—it’s a spiritual practice. And pets are natural joy-bringers. Whether it’s the way they flop on their backs during your breathwork or lick your toes in savasana, they remind you to lighten up and laugh.
Our dogs don’t need a cue to enjoy life. They’re in it. Fully. And being around that kind of energy is contagious. So let yourself smile more during practice. Laugh when they interrupt you. Roll around on the mat with them sometimes. That’s yoga too.
Tips for Practicing Yoga with Your Pets
If you’ve got a furry friend at home, you already have a built-in accountability buddy for your yoga practice. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
🧘♀️ Create a Safe Space
Lay out your mat in a place where your pet feels safe and included. You might even roll out a blanket next to you so they have their own spot.
🐾 Let Go of the Agenda
You may not get through your full sequence. That’s okay. It’s not about doing it all—it’s about being together. Even a few mindful moments on the mat can shift your energy.
🦴 Bring a Toy or Treat
If your pet gets restless, offer a chew toy or treat nearby. Let them know this is a space for both of you to relax and enjoy.
❤️ Include Them in Savasana
Invite your pet into final rest with you. Let them snuggle close or lie nearby. Feel the rhythm of their breath. Let their unconditional love wrap around you like a blanket.
The Spiritual Path of Paw Prints
Yoga isn’t about being alone. It’s about unity—union with self, others, and life itself. When our pets enter our practice, they remind us what matters most. Not the pose. Not the aesthetics. But the feeling.
The feeling of love. The feeling of peace. The feeling of being safe, soft, and entirely at home—in your body and your heart.
Taz and Hosu are not just adorable distractions—they’re my yoga teachers. They’ve helped me deepen my practice by being exactly who they are: present, patient, joyful, and loving. And isn’t that what we’re all trying to be?
So the next time your cat curls up on your bolster or your dog insists on laying across your yoga mat, smile. You’re not being interrupted. You’re being invited—to soften, to laugh, and to love.