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Health: Yoga With Your Dog

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's new meaning to the term "downward dog."  More and more yoga lovers are sharing their mats with their pooch.  3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on what some are calling doga.

Panting exercises in this yoga class are taken to a whole new level.  It's called doga.

"Really comes from your diaphragm, so you connect with your dog's breath," said Mahny Djahanguiri, a doga instructor.

It's a yoga class for dog lovers and their best friend, that mixes massage, poses and chanting.  Some claim it reduces anxiety for both owners and their dogs.

"They're getting their yoga, their human yoga, while the dog feeds off from their calm," said Mahny.

Dogs can either take part in the stretching or act as a weight.

"It's your yoga class with your dog, and your dog helps you to find yourself," said Mahny.

Niki Roe loves doing yoga with her dog Mindy.  She says the class can help tame problematic pets.

"For your dog to listen to you, you need to be calm.  And this is the best way to be calm with your dog," said Niki.

So both can reach that desire for inner peace and healthy bodies.

Experts say the relaxed bonding time can also have some cardiovascular benefits for the dog, but your pet still needs some regular exercise.

Doga Information- http://www.dogadog.com/

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