What is TAO DOG® YOGA?

TAO DOG® YOGA is designed to teach you how to breathe, gain mental focus, stretch and strengthen your body, all while your dog learns to relax beside you. TAO DOG® YOGA classes and programs allow you to enjoy the benefits of yoga while teaching your dog important skills such as relaxation, relationship building and connection. Your dog will also benefit from the training, calm touch body handling and their own series of dog yoga poses, including stretching and conditioning exercises. We end class in savasana, where you and your dog enjoy rest and stillness. Leave this class relaxed and with a deeper connection to your dog.

What is a TAO DOG® YOGA class like?

Before trying a TAO DOG® class, you may have many questions! What if I have never tried yoga? Does my dog need to be fully trained? Is this class right for my dog? What can I expect during the class? What benefits will I and my dog receive from joining the class?

What if I have never tried yoga? Great! We welcome everyone from beginners to seasoned yogis to join our classes. TAO DOG® yoga classes are accessible to all levels, our focus is to help you breathe and connect with yourself and your dog during class.

Does my dog need to be fully trained? No. Your dog does not have to have any pre-requisite skills to take class. You may find it helpful if your dog knows the basic commands, sit and down and has been in a classroom setting with other dogs. Your dog may settle into the class more quickly if it has been exposed to a dog training class prior to joining a TAO DOG® class.

Is this class the right for my dog? This class is designed to be accessible to most dogs. The only limitation for joining class would be if your dog is dog reactive or people reactive. If your dog is reactive, private training and private TAO DOG® classes are available. You can also practice with us online on YouTube.

Some dogs can work through their reactivity to join class and other are more comfortable learning in a private setting or at home. We are always happy to evaluate your dog and determine which option is best.

What can I expect during class? Class begins with centering/breathing/warm up, while your dog is taught to relax and settle. Class then moves into a yoga practice, while your dog learns to remain in a relaxed position next to you. Following yoga practice, you will sit on the floor with your dog and be lead in calm touch body handling exercises to promote calm connection. Once dogs are settled here we begin the canine stretching and fitness portion of class. You will finish class seated or laying next to your dog for rest, savasana, at the close of class. Our focus throughout class is creating a connection and maintaining this connection from the beginning to end of class.

What benefits will I and my dog receive from joining the class? The benefits as the human attending class, will be to learn to breathe, connect breath to movement and learn to relax and become calm so you can effectively communicate with your dog. The benefits for your dog are to learn to relax and settle, to learn how to respond to the changes in your body language, to accept body handling/canine massage and to be comfortable with you moving them through new stretches and exercises. The relationship changes you will experience in a TAO DOG® yoga class are profound. These changes we develop in a class setting will follow you off your mat and into other aspects of your life with your dog.

A word from TAO DOG® Founder, Stef Corbeil

For many years I have practiced yoga, and for many years I have trained dogs. I have found that teaching dogs to be focused, calm and relaxed can solve many behavior problems. For me, dog training is about creating a strong relationship between a dog and human. In my experience if the person is calm, the dog picks up on their body language and is able to be more successful with impulse control and the dog’s ability to learn increases.

Over the past few years, I began practicing yoga with my dog, Tao. Given Tao’s energetic spirit and desire to go, go, go, I discovered that yoga was the perfect balance to our busy life together. We began practicing yoga together at home and out on our hiking and beach adventures. Through this practice, the curriculum for TAO DOG® yoga classes was developed. The first class ever held was with 10 dog friends who became the pioneer TAO DOG® team. This pioneer team showed their support the entire journey by giving feedback, providing encouragement and trusting me to guide them and their cherished dogs. To each of you in the pioneer group, I am forever grateful, because of you TAO DOG® yoga is a reality.

I look forward to meeting you and your dogs…see you on your mat!

Stef & Tao