Instagram has a knack of knowing which adverts will interest me. Most of my feed is about exercise and fitness, as well as dogs. They got their algorithm right when Pawside Yoga popped into my feed. Yoga in a room full of puppies? I was sold, even with a price tag of £30. It would be a birthday treat so I booked it for a few days after my birthday. Get ready for lots of puppies and selfies!
When I arrived 15 minutes before the class was due to start, I was asked to wait outside as the yoga mats and puppies had not yet arrived. Two minutes after the class was supposed to start, the mats arrived and we were allowed in. No names were checked or release forms signed. We started five minutes late and were told the yoga portion of the class was actually only 20 minutes long because in the last puppy yoga class, everyone was screaming and laughing making the class not relaxing for people or dogs. I was immediately disappointed as I was planning on the yoga class being part of my marathon training recovery day. Pawside Yoga said they “decided it’s best to not have them around from the beginning as they get tired quickly and need rest, also it could potentially be a serious hazard for puppies if they got squashed by anyone during the session or a customer to slip on any accidents from the puppies, it would have also disrupted the class if we were cleaning accidents up.”
The yoga was very basic, making the class suitable for all levels. A few downward dogs, child poses, and low lunges were followed by a happy baby and savasana. The instructor kept things light, making little jokes as music played in the background but the studio lights were left on. She made a couple jokes about people not knowing left and right however, she did not mirror her movements to the class (use left arm when she tells class to use right). As a group ex instructor, I know this can confuse people.
While we lay in savasana, the seven puppies were brought into the studio, allowing us 20 minutes to coo over them. The Pawside Yoga team of five kept an eye on the pups and were quick to pick up any ‘accidents’ and replace used puppy pads asap. We were not given any instructions on how to/not to handle the dogs, which I thought was a bit strange. Most people were fairly passive and let the dogs come within arm’s reach before scooping them up. There wasn’t any water out for the puppies either and some were panting by the end of the 20 minutes. When I asked Pawside Yoga about this, they said “there is always water available for the puppies too as they can get hot running around. The owner is always on site and makes sure the puppies are safe and well cared for.” I was in a far corner so may have missed the water bowl if it was near the studio door.
The provided yoga mats were inexpensive but once the puppies entered, I found out why. They pee and poo wherever they want! The puppies loved playing with the strange puppies that appeared in the mirrors; chewing on socks, straps, and plants; fighting over toys; posing for selfies. The puppies did lots of exploring and everyone was able to fawn over whichever was was nearby at the time. I did ask Pawside Yoga which regulations they need to follow to ensure care of the animals but they did not address this in their email reply. They did clarify that they only work with licenced breeders.
As attendees for the next class started to queue outside about 10 minutes before their class, we were told we needed to pack up. The puppies were wrangled and placed into a temporary pen for a break from people. They were still fairly playful with each other but I imagine they soon fell asleep from all of the excitement.
Pawside Yoga asked for my feedback the following day via Instagram and were open to what I had to say. I tend to take things literally and was disappointed that there wasn’t 45 minutes of yoga. Also, the location was near Clapham Junction, which meant it took me 80 minutes to get home, compounded my disappointment. Perhaps if it was more central, I wouldn’t have minded so much. Pawside Yoga is working with additional studios in London soon, such as Frame, so keep an eye out for a session near you.
Studies have shown that petting a dog can reduce blood pressure and owning a dog can have other benefits (increased physical fitness and overall general satisfaction. It isn’t possible for everyone, especially those who live in a city or work full-time. If you want to attend puppy yoga, be open to the fact that yoga might not be the primary focus. If you want to spend more time with dogs, please consider volunteering for the Cinnamon Trust, who arrange dog walkers for elder or disabled people.
Everyone in the class was smiling ear to ear when playing with the puppies and left with a spring in their step. Let me know if you decide to go and what you think.
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