Puppy therapy is the workout trend with extra feel-good benefits even Sabrina Carpenter is a fan
Downward dog just got a whole new meaning. At Puppy Sphere, New York yogis swap silence and stillness for snuggles and slobbery kisses, as wagging tails and wet noses weave between their mats mid-flow.But don’t mistake this feel-good fitness class for just a cute photo op.“There’s something truly special about combining mindful movement with the unconditional love of puppies,” said Francesca Albo and Lea Burbidge-Izquierdo, co-founders of Puppy Sphere, creators of the original puppy yoga experience.“Yoga helps calm your mind and release stress, but adding puppies takes that sense of joy and connection to a whole new level,” they added.And it’s not just fluff.
Research shows that yoga delivers a wide range of mental and physical benefits, from boosting strength, balance and flexibility to reducing stress and anxiety.Burbidge-Izquierdo has experienced the perks firsthand.
“After losing my sister to suicide, I went through one of the darkest periods of my life,” she said.“I wasn’t much of a yogi before that, but I started attending classes as a way to ground myself and I quickly noticed how much calmer and lighter I felt after each practice.”Albo found similar healing from a furry friend.
“I went through a really dark period of depression before I brought home my puppy, Hershey,” she said.“I was working in a toxic corporate job, and getting a dog felt like a quick mental health fix.
He did so much more than that.He truly saved me!”Studies have found that interacting with animals can trigger the release of serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin, the body’s natural “feel-good” hormones that help boost mood and reduce anxiety.Research also links human-animal connection to better physical health, including lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels — all key factors in reducing cardiovascular risk.“When Hershey was a puppy, he used to climb all over me during my practice,” Albo said.
“Who knew that this innocent ...