Let’s talk about fitness – have you tried down dog with a puppy underfoot?

Lying on my mat in Supta Baddha Konasana, Pinot climbs into the space between my knees, rests her head on my shins, and falls asleep. 

Her floppy ears, the serene rest of her snout, the easy rise and fall of her breath. When she sleeps on or by my mat, I find myself in a different flow state as I move; as if a warm blanket of calm has covered the room.

On the flip side, the excited pounce of her paws when I return my palms to the mat brings a smile to my face. Yes, I would like to float into Ardha Chandrasana without her almost knocking me over. But who cannot smile at the joy in her face of having me on the floor with her?

The empty space between my abdomen and the mat is now a shorter distance with a furry pal bringing the “ground” closer as I attempt to lower for Chaturanga. (Don’t worry I don’t lower all the way down onto her.)

Planks, Down Dog, Tabletop are all filled with kisses. 

The quiet of Savasana often interrupted with a squeak from her favorite Koala.

HIIT workouts sometimes include an extra 25 pounds in my reps or some dance moves with my new partner instead of taking those 30 seconds of rest. 

Forget about plank runners, lunges, squats, or jumping. Those are too exciting, an invitation to play met with a toy in my face.

And yet, I find myself enjoying my workouts more.

Sometimes I’ll bribe her to stay on the other side of the room. But most times those efforts are fruitless as she devours her chew in minutes or brings it right over to enjoy on my mat. Happily trotting over to ensure that she doesn’t miss a moment of me on the floor.

I like to think my students find her presence as joyful as I do. Her kisses remind me to smile, laugh, and have fun while moving. They bring a lightness to holding postures that are often filled with discomfort.

Sure, sometimes the cute moments turn into annoyances. It’s not fun to have your nose nipped at while trying to do Lizard. Or to be pawed while doing Frog.

But at the end of the day, it’s her way of showing her love. And that will always bring a smile to my face.