Amersham: Yoga teacher launches dog and puppy yoga

Yoga teacher Jane Davies from Amersham has been able to combine her two passions – dogs and yoga.

Now she wants to give others the delight of doing yoga with their pooches in the heart of Amersham.

Dog yoga is just one of many new trendy ways to enjoy the calming ancient Indian exercise. 

Viral videos show people trying yoga with goats and even pints of beer. 

The former international horse show jumper Jane ended up giving up horses and switching her career into yoga after doing her teacher training.

Jane Davies was inspired to bring dog and puppy yoga to Amersham her friend asked her to teach a workshop in Cockfosters (Image: Jane Davies)

When she announced the first ever dog yoga, or ‘doga’, session in Amersham in June, she was overwhelmed by the interest.

“It’s quite a passion of mine, I have dogs and they are always with me when I do yoga.”

Jane wanted to bring the unique concept to Amersham as “there isn’t a lot going on yoga wise”.

“I teach in Amersham every Thursday at Brendan O’Sullivan hair salon, I just started there. He’s done fashion shows around the world and he’s got a lot of followers. He’s got a studio above the hair salon and he offered it.”

However, because of the demand, the space won’t be big enough for all the yogis and their dogs.

“I’ve got nearly 20 people booked in for puppy yoga in June already!

“It’s the maximum, because otherwise people are not going to have a chance to play with the puppies.”

What happens at puppy and dog yoga?

A puppy yoga session combines gentle yoga positions with cute puppies.

She said: “The puppies are there with you and they’re just wondering there for a cuddle as you do some gentle yoga, and they fall asleep.

“It’s just great for mental health and wellness.

“It’s great for the puppies and their socialisation and no harm comes to them – the mum and breeder come along so it’s very monitored.

For the ‘doga’ sessions, owners can bring their own dog along as long as the dog is not aggressive.

Yogis work on their own strength and flexibility while learning how to massage their dogs. Contact with a dog is said to reduce stress and anxiety, both for the owner and the dog, Jane said.

“There’s a lot of cuddling and bonding with them.

“I’ve got two Spaniels, and it’s just great having them with me, you don’t need to worry about what they are up to,” she added.

She’s hoping to teach dog and puppy yoga in Amersham every month. However, puppy yoga will depend on if she can find a local breeder with puppies keen to try the concept.

Puppy and dog yoga could be coming to Gerrards Cross soon, because Jane has already found a studio she could rent there, she hinted.

When Jane is not busy with her three dogs, she works to offer yoga therapy, retreats, nutrition and wellness coaching through a new company Alternative Balance she recently launched with her two daughters.