If you've never tried Puppy Yoga in Cyprus before, you might be wondering what actually happens once you arrive.
Is it a normal yoga class with puppies quietly sitting beside the mats?
Not exactly.
At our Puppy Yoga classes in Paphos, yoga is only part of the experience. There is plenty of movement, plenty of puppy interaction and usually at least a little bit of chaos.
And that's exactly how we like it.
First: Meet the Puppies
Your Puppy Yoga experience begins before anyone rolls out a yoga mat.
We usually meet in the garden first, where you have time to say hello to the puppies and let them get used to the group.
Some puppies are immediately curious and want to investigate everyone.
Others prefer to watch for a little while before deciding who looks interesting enough to approach.
This first part gives everyone a chance to relax – humans included.
From the Garden to Our Rooftop Yoga Terrace
Once everyone has met, we bring the puppies with us to our rooftop yoga terrace.
From here, you have views across Peyia and towards the Mediterranean while the puppies begin exploring the mats, people and anything else that looks potentially interesting.
When the weather isn't suitable for outdoor yoga, we can move into our indoor yoga space instead.
The class itself lasts around one hour.
Then Puppy Yoga Begins
The yoga is deliberately relaxed.
You might begin a pose and discover that a puppy has decided your mat belongs to them.
You may lower yourself onto all fours only to find that you've apparently turned yourself into a very exciting climbing structure.
And sometimes the pose simply has to wait because a puppy has climbed into your lap.
That's all part of Puppy Yoga.
Regular yoga is for the body and mind. Puppy Yoga is for the heart.
We still move, stretch and practise yoga, but nobody expects perfect concentration while several rescue puppies are wandering between the mats.
If you want to stop for a moment and stroke a puppy, you can.
If you start laughing halfway through a pose, that's completely normal too.
Never Done Yoga Before? That's Absolutely Fine
You don't need any previous yoga experience to join.
Puppy Yoga isn't the place where anyone is checking whether your Warrior II is perfectly aligned.
The class is designed to be accessible and relaxed, and beginners are completely welcome.
In fact, having puppies around tends to remove a lot of the pressure people sometimes feel when they walk into a yoga class for the first time.
It's quite difficult to worry about whether you're doing everything correctly when a puppy has just decided to sit on your mat.
Yes, You Can Take Photos and Videos
Photos and videos are absolutely welcome.
We know that for many visitors, meeting the puppies is one of those experiences they want to remember.
We also usually have someone helping during the session who can take photos while you're practising, so you don't have to spend the whole class holding your phone.
That means you can enjoy the experience and still go home with plenty of puppy photos afterwards.
A Little Warning About Puppy Teeth...
Puppies explore the world with their mouths.
Yoga mats are interesting.
Hair can be interesting.
Loose clothing can be very interesting.
And anything dangling from you has an excellent chance of becoming a toy.
So don't be too surprised if a puppy decides to investigate your clothes, shoelaces or yoga equipment during the class.
It's all part of the fun – although it's worth keeping this in mind when choosing what to wear.
And Then Something Lovely Usually Happens...
At the beginning of the session, the puppies often have plenty of energy.
They explore.
They play.
They investigate the mats and the people on them.
But puppies also get tired surprisingly quickly.
As the class goes on, the energy often changes.
One puppy settles beside a mat.
Another curls up close to someone.
Sometimes, by the end of the session, several puppies are asleep.
It's one of our favourite parts of Puppy Yoga: the transition from playful chaos to a much quieter room full of tired puppies and very relaxed humans.
Time for a Few More Puppy Photos
When the yoga part finishes, there is usually still time for a few more cuddles, photos and puppy interaction before everyone leaves.
By then, you already know a little more about the personalities in the group.
There's usually the confident one.
The cuddly one.
The one who wants every toy.
And the puppy who somehow spent most of the session asleep.
Who Are the Puppies at Our Puppy Yoga Classes?
The puppies joining our classes are rescue puppies being fostered while they wait for the next stage of their lives.
They usually stay in our care for around four to eight weeks, depending on their individual situation and when they are ready to move on.
During that time, everyday interaction with different people can form part of their wider socialisation experience.
The puppies aren't bought or bred for yoga classes.
They are foster puppies first.
Puppy Yoga is simply one small part of their time with us.
What Should You Bring to Puppy Yoga?
You don't need much.
Comfortable clothes that allow you to move are the main thing.
Because curious puppies may pull at anything loose or dangling, simpler clothes tend to be the easiest option.
You also don't need to dress like an experienced yogi.
Come in something comfortable, bring your phone if you'd like photos and be prepared to leave with significantly more puppy pictures than you expected.
One Hour Isn't Enough? Stay for a Whole Week
For some people, one Puppy Yoga class is enough to fall completely in love with the experience.
And if an hour with the puppies doesn't feel quite long enough, you can also spend an entire week with us at Puppy Yoga Retreat Cyprus.
Our retreat combines morning and evening yoga, Mediterranean views, vegetarian food, time to explore Cyprus and plenty of opportunities to get to know the rescue puppies currently staying with us.
Over several days, you start to notice their individual personalities in a completely different way.
You learn who is always first to investigate something new.
Who wants to cuddle.
Who causes the chaos.
And who somehow manages to sleep through most of it.
Turn One Hour of Puppy Yoga Into a Whole Week
Join us in Peyia for morning and evening yoga, Mediterranean views, vegetarian food and plenty of time to get to know our current foster puppies beyond the yoga mat.
