Yoga with Pets: Enriching Your Practice and Your Bond
June 23, 2025
Cats, dogs, guinea pigs – pets bring so much joy to our lives. Their antics make us laugh, their enthusiastic greeting at the end of a day warms our hearts, and they’re the source of endless stories. But have you tried incorporating your pets into your yoga practice?
Yoga with pets can enhance your physical well-being, reduce stress levels, and strengthen the bond you have with your furry family member. At Uptown Yoga, we’ve previously offered kitty yoga sessions and loved the results. While we’d love to see you join our next session, we’re also happy to inspire you to include your pets into your at-home practice.
Why Consider Practicing Yoga with Pets
Involving pets into your yoga practice, at home or in our studio has numerous benefits. First and foremost, practicing yoga with your pet will help reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Spending time with your pets also encourages the release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps improve your mood.
Practicing yoga can enhance both your and your pets’ physical health and strengthen the bond you have with each other. Joining a pet friendly yoga class also offers opportunities to socialize for your pet, positively influencing their behavior.
Incorporating Pets Into Your Yoga Routine
Some pets incorporate themselves into your home practice – they just show up on or near your mat whenever you start practicing.
To welcome your pets, start with simple poses that allow your pets to interact with you. If your pets are unsure, try using treats or toys to engage them. Make sure your practice space is safe and comfortable for your pet and for you, and remember to be patient and flexible with yourself and your pets.
Choosing Pet-Friendly Yoga Poses
Have you noticed that some yoga poses are named after animals? Coincidentally, these poses are excellent options for practicing with pets.
Downward-facing dog is a great way to start. It’s part of most people’s yoga practice, and you may find your dog mirroring it naturally. A sequence of cat-cow poses is not only a fun nod to your feline companion but also a great way to improve spine flexibility.
Seated forward bends give you an opportunity to relax and stretch while your pet sits nearby. If you’re confident in your bridge pose, you can invite your pet to rest under or beside you.
If you’d just like to encourage your pet to relax with you, try putting your legs up against the wall and invite your pet to relax with you. Both child’s pose and savasana are naturally soothing and invite bonding between you and your pet. Many pets naturally joi you in these poses and contribute to your relaxation.
If your pet is prone to overexcitement, you may want to practice on your own first and set aside a part of your practice just for them. Encourage your pet to join without disrupting and relax with you, but don’t be surprised if it takes a few attempts.
Keeping Pet Yoga Sessions Fun and Stress-Free
The goal of yoga with pets is to help you and your pet bond and relax together. If you’ve never tried practicing with pets before, take a playful approach. This may not be the time to work on challenging poses!
Start by inviting your pet into your practice when they’re comfortable. If your pet startles easily, avoid fast or sharp movements. If you’re practicing with a cat, consider keeping their claws short to avoid accidental scratches.
If your pet is prone to chewing your stuff, supervise them in your yoga area to ensure mats and props don’t get damaged. You can also consider dedicating an old yoga mat to your pet, so they have their own dedicated, comfortable space.
Getting Started and Finding Resources for Pet Yoga
The most important thing is to remember that yoga with pets should be fun. This is a great way to spend time with your pet aside from dog walks, for example. Think about sharing poses that you know well and enjoy, and introducing calm into your day by relaxing together.
At Uptown Yoga, we’ve invited cats and kittens into the studio on occasion, and each of these classes is full of laughter, joy, and experimentation. Keep an eye on our schedule and or social media channels for the next class or talk to our instructors about integrating your pets into your home practice. We’re always happy to help you discover new ways of integrating yoga into your routine.
From the American Kennel Club to pet care suppliers, you’ll find plenty more inspiration for yoga with pets online. Our best advice is to start without high expectations, enjoy the process, and take the time to strengthen your bond with your pet while adding a new side to your yoga practice.
