Yoga for Dogs - Doga

Things that make you say "Awww!" or "WTF?!"

Hong Kong's pampered canines may have their own spas complete with jacuzzis and massage, but it can still be difficult for a dog to find inner peace. I never knew you're not allowed to take a dog to the park in Hong Kong. Help is now at hand in the shape of yoga instructor Suzette Ackermann and her yoga class -- for dogs. The curious concept of 'doga', already popular in Japan and the United States, was introduced to Hong Kong a year ago by Suzette Ackermann who is from South Africa.



On Saturday mornings in the city's Sheung Wan district, pet owners massage their dogs before bringing them into postures such as the cobra pose, in which the hind legs are stretched out to the rear, as soothing music plays.She leads the class in tandem with her seven-year-old Pekinese, Snowball, who she says,has been her inspiration. The one-eyed, utterly relaxed animal with fluffy white fur has become a local celebrity through dog yoga, and is often recognized in the street from her TV appearances.



Ackermann and Snowball have been doing yoga together at home for years, but the idea of teaching classes in dog yoga, or "doga", was suggested by a Japanese groomer at Pawette, the "deluxe pet boutique, salon and spa" that organizes the classes with Ackermann. Her class is aimed mainly at the toy dogs popular in overcrowded Hong Kong. Doga has made inroads in pet-loving Japan, as well as in the United States, where teachers Suzi Teitelman and Amy Stevens have both issued doga DVDs. But Ackermann has developed her own routine to suit her clients and their canine friends.



Ackermann has sought advice from a dog acupuncturist and is taking classes in dog massage, while a friend has been inspired by doga to work towards the launch of a dog physiotherapy program. Meanwhile, on the suggestion of her brother, a writer, Ackermann is putting together a book about Snowball and doga -- an illustrated children's story with basic postures for the family and their dog to try at home. There are no immediate plans to extend the concept of doga to other animals, but she said that cats might be a possibility. 

Supposedly, teaching yoga to dogs isn't much different than teaching humans. The skeptics may “growl” at this unorthodox form of yoga, but for these fans it's an opportunity to relax and share a little fun with their pets. As Ace Ventura would say - "Alrighty then!"