Yoga class brings playful pups to raise money for Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue
Talia Smith, CONTRIBUTOR
Rochelle Kives, teacher at The Yoga Barre, cuddles foster puppy Salmon, her favourite puppy, at the Let’s Get Downdog yoga class on Oct. 29, 2016. THE PROJECTOR/Talia Smith
Rochelle Kives, teacher at The Yoga Barre, takes a break to cuddle with foster puppy Salmon, who she said was her favourite puppy at the Let’s Get Downdog yoga class on Oct. 29, 2016. THE PROJECTOR/ Talia Smith
There was more cuddling and face licking than yoga during the Let’s Get Downdog puppy yoga classes at The Yoga Barre.
The four 12-month-old foster puppies in the classes had a few smelly cleanups, played tug-of-war with people’s hair, and ran through everyone’s feet while they did their downward dogs.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Zoe Brittain, an elementary school teacher who took the first class of the day. “I think it’s a great way to get people out on the weekend.”
The two sold-out classes on Oct. 29 raised $800 in support of Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue, a non-profit organization giving animals who’ve been abandoned or abused a foster home for recovery and care.
Heather Senderewich, owner of The Yoga Barre, said she chose Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue as the charity for October. Senderewich said she tries to put on special events at the end of every month to give the charity more exposure.
“As much as we see something online or on social media, it doesn’t resonate as much,” said Senderewich.
She got the idea for the puppy yoga class after hearing about yoga classes with animals in other cities.
“I think having the little guys there in the class keeps it in our brain that you’re not just here for the yoga, you’re here to help raise money for the organization, and to raise awareness,” said Brittain.
Foster puppy Salmon sits with The Yoga Barre owner, Heather Senderewich, for a couple deep breaths at the end of the Let’s Get Downdog yoga class on Oct. 29, 2016. THE PROJECTOR/ Talia Smith
Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue is all volunteer based. They rely on people to provide foster homes for the animals until the animals are adopted. Cathy Doyle, the foster mom to the four pup- pies at the yoga class, said all the work she does with the animals is worth it.
“It’s great. [In] three years we’ve [fostered] 61 puppies, so we’re also a supply house and we work at the food locker,” said Doyle. “We love it. When it’s like this, it’s fun.”
With the successful turnout, Senderewich said she hopes to hold more puppy yoga classes in the future.
Every month the studio chooses a new charity and holds yoga classes once or twice a week, giving the charity a portion of the drop-in fee.
