Puppy Pilates in Washington: Our Take on Puppy Yoga

Picture a calm Pilates class: mats down, soft music, everyone focusing on their breathing. Now add a few puppies wandering between the mats, sniffing at trainers and occasionally climbing onto someone mid-stretch. That, in a nutshell, is puppy Pilates, and it is every bit as joyful as it sounds.

Puppy yoga has become one of the most searched-for wellness experiences in the UK, so we put our own spin on it at strongher Studio, our women-only studio in Washington. Here is what puppy Pilates is, how it compares with puppy yoga, what happened at our session and how to hear about the next one.

Trying to hold a position while three tiny visitors explore the mat.

What is puppy Pilates?

Puppy Pilates is a gentle, low impact Pilates class with puppies roaming freely around the room. The class itself is real Pilates: slow, controlled movements that work your core, posture and mobility, mostly on the mat. The difference is that you share the floor with some very curious, very fluffy company.

It is not a workout you do with the puppies, and you are not lifting them or balancing them. They simply do their own thing while you move, and you are free to pause for a cuddle whenever one wanders over. In practice, that happens a lot.

Puppy yoga vs puppy Pilates: what's the difference?

Both are built on the same lovely idea, a calm movement class with puppies in the room, but the class underneath is different.

Puppy yoga

Yoga flows through postures linked to the breath, with poses held for a while and a focus on flexibility, balance and relaxation. In a puppy yoga class, the puppies tend to treat anyone in a downward dog as a brand new climbing frame.

Puppy Pilates

Pilates focuses on core control, alignment and small, precise movements, such as bridges, leg lifts and abdominal work on the mat. It is a little more about working the muscles that support your spine and a little less about holding long poses. Lots of the work is done lying down, which means the puppies are right at your level.

Both are suitable for beginners, both are low impact and both are mostly an excuse to spend an hour smiling. If you already love Pilates, or you have heard of puppy yoga and fancy trying something similar, puppy Pilates is a great place to start.

Mats out, puppies in.

Cuddle breaks were very much allowed.

Why puppy classes are so popular

Part of the appeal is obvious: puppies. But there is more to it than that. A class like this takes the pressure off completely. Nobody is worrying about whether they are doing the exercise perfectly, because everyone is too busy laughing at a puppy stealing a sock. For lots of people, especially anyone a little nervous about trying a new class, that relaxed feeling is exactly what makes it easier to give exercise a go. It is also a brilliant thing to book with a friend, a sister or your mam.

What happened at our session

Our puppy Pilates event took place right here in the studio, on the same floor where we run our regular mat Pilates classes. Members rolled out their mats for a gentle Pilates session, and the puppies set about investigating absolutely everything.

Some exercises went exactly to plan. Others were happily interrupted by a curious puppy wandering onto a mat. Nobody minded. There was a lot of laughing, a lot of photos and plenty of cuddles on the mat.

There were soft pink puppy beds in the room too, and before long a couple of the puppies had decided Pilates was very tiring and fallen fast asleep in them while the class carried on around them.

Our tiny guests investigating the studio.

Some of us were more committed to the cool-down than others.

What to expect at a puppy Pilates class

If you have never been to anything like this, here is the general idea:

• A gentle Pilates class suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
• Puppies free to roam the room while you move.
• Plenty of chances to stop for a cuddle and a photo.
• A relaxed, friendly atmosphere where nobody takes the exercise too seriously.
• Guidance from the session host on how to handle and interact with the puppies, which you should always follow.

Do not expect a hard workout. Expect to feel calmer, lighter and very happy when you leave.

What to wear

Comfortable clothes you can move and stretch in are perfect, ideally ones you do not mind getting a bit of fur on. Leggings or joggers and a t-shirt work well. Tie long hair back unless you want it chewed, and leave dangly jewellery at home. A water bottle is a good idea, as is a phone with plenty of space for photos.

Do I need Pilates experience?

Not at all. Pilates is one of the gentlest ways into exercise, and every movement can be made easier. If you want to get a feel for it beforehand, we run free Pilates every Sunday, and you can find our mat and reformer Pilates classes on our classes page.

The real stars of the show.

More than a one-off

Events like puppy Pilates are part of what makes strongher feel like a community rather than just a gym. It is a small women-only studio where beginners are the norm, and once you have been in for something fun, it is a lot easier to come back for small-group personal training, Lift Club, Sculpt or Pilates.

If you are curious about the studio itself, our guide to your first visit to a women-only gym in Washington explains what to expect. There is no joining fee and you can cancel any time, and you can see the details on our pricing page.

How to hear about the next one

Puppy Pilates sessions are special events rather than part of the weekly timetable, so the best way to make sure you do not miss out is to keep an eye on our events page, where upcoming events are listed.

Want to be first to know, or have a question about the studio? Drop us a message and we will be happy to help. You are also welcome to book a free look around while you are at it. We would love to see you on the mat next time, puppies and all.