Chipper encourages Flo to stretch her body.
We can learn a lot from our cats and dogs when it comes to keeping limber, shooing away muscle aches and reveling in the moment. In fact, cats and dogs are born teachers – in the art of yoga. And, they may be the perfect – and priceless -- remedy for these stressful, tough economical times.
Just ask Stacy McCarthy, a master yoga instructor and lifelong pet lover. She is combining these two passions by conducting special Doga Yoga workshops throughout southern California.
McCarthy brings a unique – and welcoming – perspective to this healthy partnership. She sports a degree in exercise science, studied yoga for many years with the renowned teacher Dominic Corigliano, has operated her own yoga studio called Yoga Namastacy in Rancho Santa Fe since 1992 and – I’ve saved the best for last – happily shares her home with a pair of Bernese Mountain Dogs named Buddha and Lilly and a cool calico named Shiva plus her husband, Tom and two children, Kylie and Tommy.
“Dogs are just natural yogis. They approach their lives with dedication, loyalty, sensitivity and love plus they live in the moment,” explains McCarthy. “What I love about cats is that they rest when they need to rest and then can be so active and engaged. Yoga is the balance between being active and passive and our dogs and cats serve as excellent role models.”
In fact, yoga advocates recognize the influence our canine and feline pals play in this mind-body-benefitting activity. When a happy dog “invites” you to play, he promptly stretches out his front legs, lowers his chest and shoulders and raises his hips and rear end. In canine circles, that maneuver is known as the “play bow,” but in yoga, it is referred to as the downward facing dog posture.
“In our household, our dogs, Buddha and Lilly are naturally performing this downward dog position 10 to 15 times a day,” says McCarthy.
At the end of each human yoga class, McCarthy guides her students into a cat-influenced deep relaxation pose called the deep savasana: you lie still on your back with your eyes closed – like a cat taking an afternoon nap in a sunny spot and completely relaxing and letting go.
“Yoga is an art that is more than 5,000 years old and many yoga postures came from observing how animals pose and move,” says McCarthy. “Yoga is all about energy movement. When I teach a Doga Yoga class, I tell people that how their dog behaves is a relaxation of their energy. If you come into class anxious and stressed, that will be conveyed to your dog. If you calm down, sit down and breathe and relax, that energy is reflected in your dog as well. We teach you how to switch your energy on and off and learn how to balance energy.”
You can learn more about McCarthy by visiting her yoga site: www.yoganamastacy.com. As for me, it’s time to s-t-r-e-t-c-h, de-stress and enjoy a little downward facing dog playtime with my canine chums, Chipper and Cleo. Woof!
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