Cathy MerrittI love doing yoga. I get to meditate, stretch my muscles, and interact with a supportive community. But you know what else makes yoga better? Dogs!
Fortunately, there are a few yoga studios that offer puppy yoga, and I checked them out because I was curious. It was so cute to see dogs mimicking the moves of strangers and trying to play with us!
If you want to experience puppy yoga firsthand, here are some studios and programs worth checking out.
Puppy Yoga Canada
– From: puppyyoga
Address: Changes every time
Puppy Yoga is most likely the organization that kickstarted the popularity of this activity, so you might as well start here. This organization hosts several yoga programs in both Canada and the USA, and the locations vary every time.
The yoga sessions typically last 40 minutes, and the remaining 20–25 minutes are for puppy playtime and cuddles. If that doesn’t sound like heaven to you, I don’t know what will!
My favorite part about this experience is that you don’t know what dog breeds you might encounter. The organizers will try to notify you ahead of time, but sometimes, there are surprises, and I’m always down for them. The more puppies, the better!
| Pro Tip: Before booking the event, make sure that you’re sure to go on that day. Refunds and transfers to a different class aren’t allowed. |
Yoga Kawa
– From: yogakawa
Address: 4th Floor Penthouse, 643 Yonge St
Contact Number: +16476978714
Yoga Kawa is another yoga studio in Toronto that’s popular for offering puppy yoga sessions. My favorite thing about the puppy yoga here is that you can choose if the session you’re attending is family-friendly or for adults only.
During the whole 35–40-minute yoga session, puppies will stop by your yoga mat, testing your concentration. I always try not to break my meditative state, but the puppies are always so cute that I can’t resist the urge to pet them or rub their bellies.
The puppies are also of diverse dog breeds, which is a win in my book. Then again, I don’t really have a dog breed preference anyway, so I’m always going to be happy to play with whatever puppy I come across.
| Pro Tips: If you have friends who also love dogs and yoga, you should come together as a group (with six members or more) because groups receive a discount. Just use the code PY6X when purchasing your tickets. Looking for a fun activity to do with your co-workers? You can have puppy yoga as your team-building activity. |
Puppy Yoga x Puppysphere
– From: thepuppysphere
Address: 639 Queen St W
Operating Hours: Saturday and Sunday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +16474855507
Puppysphere has hosted puppy yoga sessions in various American cities, so I was happy to learn that they’ve expanded their reach to Toronto.
As you can expect from a puppy yoga session, Puppysphere’s rendition includes 45 minutes of yoga class and then 30 minutes of chill or playtime with the adorable puppies. That’s plenty of time to hang out with these friendly furry pals!
My favorite part is that you’ll also be served with complimentary bubble drinks. So, you’ll be refreshed and hydrated the entire time!
| Pro Tip: This event is only for people aged 19 and above, but anyone aged 16 and above are welcome to join as well so long as they have adult supervision. |
PawPals Puppy Yoga
– From: pawpalsyoga
Address: 688 Richmond St W unit 403
Operating Hours: Saturday and Sunday—11:30 am to 4 pm
PawPals Puppy Yoga allows participants as young as 13 years old. Because of this, it’s the perfect bonding activity for parents and their teenage children.
The puppy yoga session here also welcomes beginners. You’ll be provided with your own yoga mat, and the poses and stretches are simple enough to follow.
Once the class is finished, you’re free to interact with the puppy. I mostly love cradling one in my arms or rubbing as many bellies as I can, but sometimes, if I still have energy left, I chase down a rambunctious puppy around the studio.
| Pro Tips: Sometimes, the studio offers discounts, especially during the summer. Be on the lookout for a promo code! You can book a private puppy yoga session with loved ones if you want. |
Puppy Love Yoga
– From: puppyloveyogatoronto
Address: 243 Coxwell Ave, The Redwood Theatre
Operating Hours: Saturday—11 am to 3 pm
What I like about Puppy Love Yoga is that there are sessions that are appropriate for children aged 9 and above. So, families are more than welcome to come here to spend some quality time together.
Another thing I like is that they partner with therapy and service dog trainers, rescues, and reputable breeders, so you can find a diverse array of puppies. Some dogs are incredibly shy, but most will approach you while you’re doing yoga.
The session lasts for an hour, but frankly, it’s not enough time to do yoga and play with the cute puppies. As a result, I return often just for more puppy interactions!
| Pro Tips: You’re encouraged to bring your own mat. But if you don’t have one, you can rent a mat here. If you’re looking for a fun thing to do during a party, you can book a private puppy yoga event. Give a fellow dog and yoga lover a gift card from Puppy Love Yoga! |
