I Tried Dog Yoga — Here’s What Happened

Before there was a chic studio on every other corner, many of us had to rely on large chain gyms for group fitness. And the gym known for the most fun classes was Crunch. From Anti-Gravity Yoga (which most of us call aerial yoga) to pole dancing and Pound (remember the workout that involved weighted drumsticks?), Crunch was king when it came to classes. 

While times have changed and Crunch has become a mostly franchise-based business model, the heart of the brand (at least in my opinion, as someone who was an enthusiastic member on and off for years) has always been its super fun class offerings. Now many of these classes are available to everyone, no no matter where they live, on the brand’s new online fitness platform Crunch+.

“With Crunch’s continued increase in members and gym locations across the world, we felt it was time to elevate our online platform while keeping it the best value in streaming workouts,” says Jim Rowley, Worldwide CEO of Crunch Fitness. “Crunch+ builds upon what we learned from our legacy streaming platform, Crunch Live, and the early days of pandemic-driven remote workouts. With Crunch+, we add our signature personality, ensuring that you still get the best part of the gym, your Crunch community, no matter where or when you choose to sweat.”

And perhaps one of the most unique offerings on the platform is a program called Ruff Yoga (aka dog yoga), which is for pet owners to work out with their pups. So, is it fun? Can you actually do yoga with your dog? I watched it to find out.

person doing yoga with dog

Dog yoga: body, mind, and bowl

Ruff Yoga is roughly (sorry, I can’t help it) 14 minutes long. This class is short but sweet and definitely enjoyable. It’s certainly more of a chill-out than a deep and intensive sweaty yoga sesh. While the instructor works with an adorable dog named Monroe that appears to be a terrier mix, the class notes state, “Friendly dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes welcome!”

While I certainly think I could do this class with my 12-pound chihuahua pug mix, I don’t think my 60-pound English bulldog would be as good of a participant. (In all fairness, he’s also a mouth breather.)

The class was simple, easy, and low-key. While I was expecting it to be a bit more like goat yoga, this session actually got down to the heart of what yoga is about — connecting to our bodies. But it’s also a great way to connect with your pup and give him or her a little extra attention. 

However, if you’re looking for a class to get you and possibly your dog in shape, Ruff Yoga isn’t it. On the other hand, if you want a quick way to chill out mid-day and reconnect with your dog without braving the cold, heat, or rain, Ruff Yoga is the perfect way to do this.

While there’s just one episode available online right now, there’s another one filmed, which may already be live as you read this.  

Dog yoga and more on Crunch+

Even if you aren’t a dog parent, at just $6.99 a month (less than the cost of a trip to Starbucks), Crunch+ is also one of the most affordable online fitness platforms out there. Current Crunch members can even access Crunch+ for just $1.99 per month.

With over 200 total videos, including over 50 brand-new, on-demand workouts, there are plenty of unique offerings for anyone who finds typical streaming classes boring. One example of this is Yoga Mamas & Papas which gets the whole family involved with an instructor, her son, and granddaughter. 

Prefer more intense workouts? Why not try Barre Bootcamp Biotches, which is a ballet-inspired workout described as “graceful yet grueling.”

There’s even Rainbow Meditation & Abs, which is a cool alternative to traditional meditation.

Fitness Trends Move

About Amanda Lauren

Originally from New York City, Amanda Lauren currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two dogs Milo and Lulu. Rarely seen in an actual gym, she is a group fitness enthusiast who enjoys Pilates (both East Coast and West Coast styles), spin, barre, power plates, yoga and her newest obsession, versa climbing. She will try any group fitness class at least once. When Amanda isn’t working out or trying to find the perfect pair of pink sneakers, she blogs about her adventures in fitness as well as fashion, lifestyle and beauty on ItsAmandaLauren.com.