How do I do yoga with a hyper dog nearby?
Mastering meditation with a four-legged roommate who wants to lick your face

On Mother’s Day and beyond (and whether you’re childless or having a mother-daughter day), this is one of those days where you may want to kick back and relax. You’re probably thinking yoga and meditation will look and feel a lot like the lady above. And if you’re a dog owner, maybe your dog will join in, too.

Here’s the truth. Whether you’re a novice or an expert at yoga, if your dog isn’t used to you working out nearby, your yoga session is going to look a lot like the latter two photos with these two kids:


I wasn’t on the floor for more than 60 seconds before my dog crawled onto my lap to be petted and then tried to climb onto my shoulders. I dared to lay down, and all I felt was warm nostril breath from a snout possibly one centimeter away from my face. Then she paced around me the way one would do to trace a chalk outline. Yoga with a dog was going to be more difficult than I suspected. Here’s how I helped my dog get used to me meditating and doing yoga without being a nonstop distraction.