Vicki
Administrator
Iowa yoga program caters to both dogs and owners
By AMIE STEFFEN Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier
12:00 a.m. CDT, May 29, 2010
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa
The newcomers to Field of Yoga were wary, checking out the studio space and meeting each other.
Then, two of them pooped on the floor.
Their owners were dismayed, but Field of Yoga owner Mary McInnis Meyer simply grabbed the disinfectant spray, cheerful as ever.
"We have no expectations for our dogs here," she said. "We don't know what they're going to do."
Such is life when eight dogs are in attendance at the first Doga (pronounced DOH-guh) class, or yoga for dogs and their owners.
The class is part of Taylor Veterinary Hospital's Go Fetch program, a six-week wellness program for people and their canine companions that began April 12.
Dr. Elizabeth Bixby, a veterinarian with Taylor, puts the program on every spring. It's now in its third year.
"My one hour of time -- from noon to 1 -- is sort of my only time to do much, and I really wanted to share that with other people," Bixby said.
And, of course, she wanted to share it with her own pet, Maisy, a 5-year-old black-and-white schnauzer. After doing stretches herself and coaxing Maisy into a few positions, Bixby was pleased with Doga.
"It was fun," she said. "(The dogs) were really just chilled out."
Rufus, a chinook, took to sitting under owner Jane Walters of Waterloo as she stretched out arms and legs as Meyer instructed.
"I love that," Walters said of Doga, signing up on an e-mail list for information about more yoga classes at the studio.
Meyer is interested in starting a yoga class for seniors -- which is a category many in the Go Fetch program fall under -- but she never before thought about teaching Doga.
There are yoga positions named for them, like downward facing dog, but otherwise the occasional messes, barking and getting tangled in leashes could pose hurdles.
Nevertheless, yoga is perfect for the furry set, she said. Dogs breathe correctly, stretch exuberantly and generally live in the moment, all tenets of yoga.
"This is an ancient, thousands-of-years-old practice that reminds us to be ourselves, and the dogs never have to be reminded of that," Meyer said.
Iowa yoga program caters to both dogs and owners - chicagotribune.com
By AMIE STEFFEN Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier
12:00 a.m. CDT, May 29, 2010
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa
The newcomers to Field of Yoga were wary, checking out the studio space and meeting each other.
Then, two of them pooped on the floor.
Their owners were dismayed, but Field of Yoga owner Mary McInnis Meyer simply grabbed the disinfectant spray, cheerful as ever.
"We have no expectations for our dogs here," she said. "We don't know what they're going to do."
Such is life when eight dogs are in attendance at the first Doga (pronounced DOH-guh) class, or yoga for dogs and their owners.
The class is part of Taylor Veterinary Hospital's Go Fetch program, a six-week wellness program for people and their canine companions that began April 12.
Dr. Elizabeth Bixby, a veterinarian with Taylor, puts the program on every spring. It's now in its third year.
"My one hour of time -- from noon to 1 -- is sort of my only time to do much, and I really wanted to share that with other people," Bixby said.
And, of course, she wanted to share it with her own pet, Maisy, a 5-year-old black-and-white schnauzer. After doing stretches herself and coaxing Maisy into a few positions, Bixby was pleased with Doga.
"It was fun," she said. "(The dogs) were really just chilled out."
Rufus, a chinook, took to sitting under owner Jane Walters of Waterloo as she stretched out arms and legs as Meyer instructed.
"I love that," Walters said of Doga, signing up on an e-mail list for information about more yoga classes at the studio.
Meyer is interested in starting a yoga class for seniors -- which is a category many in the Go Fetch program fall under -- but she never before thought about teaching Doga.
There are yoga positions named for them, like downward facing dog, but otherwise the occasional messes, barking and getting tangled in leashes could pose hurdles.
Nevertheless, yoga is perfect for the furry set, she said. Dogs breathe correctly, stretch exuberantly and generally live in the moment, all tenets of yoga.
"This is an ancient, thousands-of-years-old practice that reminds us to be ourselves, and the dogs never have to be reminded of that," Meyer said.
Iowa yoga program caters to both dogs and owners - chicagotribune.com