Puppy yoga pairs stretching with snuggling

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aging Untold) — Downward dog has a new meaning in Charlotte, where yoga classes include puppies. The classes blend calm movement with play, rest and cuddle time. What happens in a puppy yoga class The puppies don’t follow the poses, but that is part of the appeal. “Everyone loves puppies and everyone loves yoga, and it’s a great way to kind of bridge the two,” said Jessica Seisay, a yoga instructor who is one of thousands across the country hosting this type of workout. First-time participant Taylor Manley said the class left her calm. A puppy just wanted to sit in her lap the whole time, she said. “I was trying to relax with him, and he was gonna make me go to sleep with him,” Manley said. What research says about animal contact Studies show contact with animals can lower cortisol levels and raise serotonin and dopamine, chemicals that boost mood and reduce anxiety. Taylor Terry, the breeder of the puppies in the class, said she sees the effect on people. “A lot of pe