BEST OF THE GOLD COAST

PLANNING A DOGGIE DATE? HERE’S WHERE TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FURRY PAL

BOND AT DOGA (DOG YOGA)

HOT TROPICAL YOGA 1B/30 GRIFFITH STREET, COOLANGATTA Here’s a way to channel the flexibility that allows your dog to sniff its own butt into something entirely more Zen. Dog yoga, or doga as we prefer to call it, will resume for the winter season monthly at Coolangatta from May to July. Hot Tropical Yoga’s Guru Max and his human, studio owner Michelle Baldwin, lead the non– profit classes with all donations going to local charities. While downward dog is an obvious favourite for the eightyear-old Maltese cross toy poodle, he’s also ready to prove old dogs (and young) can definitely learn new tricks. “I train yoga teachers and so this all started about five years ago while we were training and Guru Max would come and get involved,” Michelle says. “He loved being involved with the teacher training so I thought why don’t I come up with ways for us to all do yoga with our dogs?” So Michelle, with a helping paw from Guru Max, devised a class that starts with a stroll around the serene Cooly beachfront. “Then we do the doggie meditation. They lie down and we meet them on their level, placing our forehead on their forehead and massaging their ears,” Michelle says. “After a minute or so they really start to get in the zone. “We do normal yoga classes for humans but use tricks at different intervals, such as shaking hands and doing things like lead them through our legs to keep it interesting for them. “We also give them gentle stretches so they are involved in different ways.” While Guru Max is pint-sized, the class isn’t just for lapdogs. Michelle has pooches of all sizes, including a greyhound. She particularly recommends doga for highly strung animals who will experience the calming benefits, or those who are arthritic, obese or have hip problems and could do with a good stretch. All animals have to remain leashed throughout the class to prevent runaways and treats are used to keep their attention. However, there are options to book private oneon-one sessions for those pets who need special attention. Afterwards, the class likes to indulge in pupacinos together at a local cafe. The next class is May 28 at 9am. Bookings are essential.