October 10, 2023, 2:45 am | Read time: 6 minutes

Unwinding, relaxing from everyday stress, and restoring inner balance: It’s no wonder yoga is popular today. Add cute puppies to the mat, and it should activate even more happiness hormones. FITBOOK learned from the founders of Puppy Yoga Munich where the animals come from, how such a yoga session unfolds, and what it costs: Lena Fleischmann and Aaron Perner brought the fluffy relaxation trend to Germany.

Where do the puppies for Puppy Yoga come from?

Puppy Yoga has been known in England and the U.S. for a while. “Our love for dogs came first. But yoga wasn’t foreign to us either. I visited a friend in England who reminded me of Puppy Yoga. That was the impetus for us to implement it here,” Lena Fleischmann tells FITBOOK about the origin of their idea. Together with her partner Aaron Perner, the student then contacted available studios, hired yoga instructors, and reached out to reputable breeders in Munich and the surrounding area.

Before the course begins, they pick up Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and Australian Shepherds by car–and bring them back afterward. The animals are usually between eight and twelve weeks old.

Process and costs of the fluffy yoga session

Once participants are settled on their mats, the fluffy part begins. “The puppies then have the chance to approach the people,” describes Aaron Perner, explaining what participants come for.

Depending on the age and character of the litter, the curious adventurers might go on a discovery tour during the course, wander around the room, lick someone’s face, or nibble on someone. Longer hair is especially popular and super interesting.

Puppies at this age are not only very playful but also have a great need for sleep. So it’s no surprise that the final relaxation (Shavasana) extends to the dogs. “That’s when they usually all fall asleep. That’s why we add some playtime at the end to ensure the dogs are mentally stimulated,” says the founder to FITBOOK.

In early summer 2023, the first test session took place in Munich. The founders’ concept was so well received that more courses quickly followed: “On average, we offered one to two courses a week, almost all of which were fully booked,” says Aaron Perner.

A session consists of about 40 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes of cuddle time with the puppies. According to the founders, there’s a high demand for tickets. No wonder Puppy Yoga is soon to be available in other German cities, such as Hamburg. Tickets for Munich are sold on their own website and cost around 49 euros per course participation.

A maximum of 2 participants per puppy

Since October 3, there are even three courses per week in a total of five Munich studios. The number of participants depends on the number of dogs. Due to larger litters and larger studios, more than 14 people can now participate; on average, there are twelve. To avoid overwhelming the dogs, a strict 2:1 ratio applies: a maximum of two people per dog.

Exercises are coordinated with breeders

There is no risk of injury for humans or animals during a session. The yoga exercises are adapted to the puppies and coordinated with teachers and breeders. Jumps on one leg, for example, are taboo, as are other extreme yoga exercises.

Anyway, the session is designed to be gentler, especially towards the end, so that the dogs also experience a calming effect. But: “People come to us for the puppies, not just for the yoga. If someone wants to do relaxed yoga and meditate, they’re not in the right place with us,” Lena Fleischmann makes clear. Such a session can also become unexpectedly chaotic–but sweet as sugar! “So everyone must know for themselves what their intention is before booking a yoga session.”

Positive effects for animals and humans

In Puppy Yoga, both humans and animals benefit from each other. The puppies are socialized after just a few months and come into contact with people early on in a calm and relaxed atmosphere. They get to know a different environment and quickly become familiar with new smells, among other things.

Their self-confidence increases, and their shyness decreases before the puppies move on to loving families. “With us, the dogs approach the people, not the other way around. They also learn to ride in a car when I pick them up from the breeder and bring them back,” reports founder Aaron Perner. In short, the little four-legged friends continue to develop steadily.

Puppies can withdraw at any time

There is no risk for the dogs, who can retreat to a puppy box at any time or leave the room to an inner courtyard. “I really have to say that people are very considerate. If they have a dog on their arm or lap and it tries to get away, they let it go,” Lena Fleischmann has observed.

Moreover, Puppy Yoga apparently leads to genuine happiness–at least the feedback from previous participants has been “gigantic.” Even people from Berlin, Leipzig, Italy, and Austria have already traveled to Munich specifically to participate in a Puppy Yoga course.

Puppy Yoga–what the participants say

“We just want to give people a nice experience. We find it really nice to see when people leave and say, ‘Thank you for offering this and for its existence,'” the founders explain their motivation. “We’ve even had someone who cried with joy afterward.”

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Animal welfare organization Streunerglück e.V. benefits additionally

Due to the now enormous reach, an important side effect has emerged: According to the founders, a certain percentage of the proceeds is donated to the animal welfare organization Streunerglück e.V. The nonprofit organization from Munich is primarily committed to animal welfare in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia.

Why shelter dogs are not yet suitable for Puppy Yoga

The two founders would love to offer yoga sessions with adult dogs from animal shelters. However, this is anything but easy, as these dogs are usually in shelters because they have bitten their owner or are fearful dogs. “And you can’t just bring them into contact with strangers.” Dogs from abroad, such as Eastern Europe, may need to be quarantined in Germany beforehand. “They also need to acclimate first, which can take days or even weeks,” says Lena Fleischmann.

Until they have created the capacity for this, the adorable puppies from breeders, who are unburdened and find everything wonderful, provide the most relaxing yoga session one can have. Animal balm for the soul!