Owners, dogs can do yoga together

• Reprints

Two primary purposes of doga are the socialization of the dog and an opportunity for the dog and owner to bond, says Aschley Hopkins-Yanda, owner of Out-U-Go pet care in Naperville. (submitted photo)

Updated: April 19, 2011 5:21AM

Your best friend has always been there to lend an ear during your early morning walks and as you sample treats at downtown boutiques.

Now, your best friend can be there to wag her tail as you sweat through your yoga session, too.

It’s called doga, and it’s part of a trend that appears to be here to stay. Pampering your pet has never seemed so popular — or so eccentric.

But with doga, owners have an opportunity to bond with their pets, especially in the winter, when long walks in the bitter cold don’t seem particularly inviting, said Aschley Hopkins-Yanda, owner of Naperville’s Out-U-Go Pet Care Services.

In the cold winter months, you can show your affection for your best friend by participating in doga, a yoga-inspired activity that benefits both you and your pooch.

So what is doga?

“Everyone has a mat; (there is) an instructor, and you share the mat with your dog,” Hopkins-Yanda said. “Through the guidance of the instructor, you essentially go through various poses you can go through with your dog. It’s really about bonding with your pet. You’re spending 30 minutes of your undivided attention bonding with your dog.”

Hopkins-Yanda said the activity helps socialize pets and also provides them with physical benefits, including “massage, stretching, improve circulation and range of motion.”

“There are a few different variations (on) doga,” she said. “(In) this particular class, we will be going through different poses.”

Hopkins-Yanda said the idea of yoga with your dog has at times provoked a surprised reaction in conversation.

“You definitely get a reaction when you say it,” she said. “So far I’ve seen a positive reaction. For people who love their pet, they are constantly looking for a way to involve them in every activity. (It’s) just another way to keep your best friend close to you.”

Hopkins-Yanda is sponsoring a doga event Thursday to be hosted by lululemon athletica in downtown Naperville.

For the event to go as smoothly as possible, an Out-U-Go employee is available for emergency dog-walking breaks or other pet care needs. In addition, the dogs are allowed time to socialize with other dogs at the beginning to become comfortable in the environment.

Hopkins-Yanda noted that dogs, as well as people, of all shapes, sizes and ability levels are welcome.

“Virtually any dog of any age can become a doga dog or ‘dogi,’” Hopkins-Yanda said.

Out-U-Go is committed to the incorporation of many dog-friendly activities into the community of Naperville, Hopkins-Yanda said.

“We host group dog walks for our clients as well as community dog walks,” she said. “We’re constantly looking for ways to host or to co-host events for pet owners to bring their pets instead of leave them at home. We have plans to schedule future doga events as well.”

Though the doga event is free of charge, the trend toward luxury pet care and pampering is one that does not appear to be on its way out, even with the floundering economy.

According to Diane Anstine, chair of the department of economics and associate professor of economics at North Central College, luxury pet treatment may be resistant to economic forces.

Anstine added that “pet lovers tend to be ‘price inelastic’ in their demand for products, meaning they are not responsive to price changes (and) that they simply want what they want for their pets.”