Puppy yoga isn’t just another fad. It’s a unique blend of relaxation and cuteness overload, and it took over the Haliburton Legion recently.
The event drew in yoga enthusiasts from around the County, as well as puppies from Snowflake Meadows, a rescue organization based in Minden. The event was by donation.
Amanda Rico, of Harmony Yoga in Haliburton, and the instructor for the class, led the group in downward dog, warrior and cat-cow poses for an hour while puppies chewed on attendees’ hair, curled up for some snuggles, and even slept in the laps of some attendees.
Kristyn Elyse, the owner of Snowflake Meadows, said that the money raised, $475, will be going towards a kennel on the rescue’s property so that they can house more dogs.
Bringing puppies into the mix for yoga sessions offers a whole new level of mental and physical wellbeing. Rico said when you’re with animals or in nature, your nervous system down regulates. She also added it’s important for the puppies to get exposure to people, other environments, movement and things that are going on around them.
“I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from all of the people that participated. No complaints. Amanda says it was a lot of fun,” said Elyse.
Puppies roamed freely around the room as people did various yoga poses. During the relaxation part at the end of the session, people welcomed the puppies to snuggle up beside them while they were in shavasana pose.
Snowflake Meadows has also attended Highland Wood long-term care home in Haliburton twice, and Extendicare Haliburton – enabling seniors to interact with puppies,
