Painting by Jessica Creager

When: Thursday, September 9, 6:00-9:00 pm

Where: Westside Yoga and Doga 

What:  Benefit for Old Dog Haven with “petraits” by Jessica Creager. 

This benefit is Hawaiian Themed!  Hula dancers, Ukeleles, Beer, Wine, Dogs, Art and a raffle to benefit the elderly dogs at Old Dog Haven.

Please come and support this good cause.

Check it out!  There are 3 different segments.  So much fun having them in the studio at Westside Yoga and Doga.

http://bowlingforbullies.vpweb.com/default.html

This is an upcoming event to raise money for PitBulls.  Pictured above is my Pitbull Nelson.  I rescued Nelson from a local shelter and he is awesome!  Nelson LOVES to cuddle, pull our skateboards on the beach and play with his little brother Gus.  He also likes to perch on the couch arm and look out the window like a gargoyle. 

Westside Yoga and Doga will be donating a raffle prize at this event and team WSYD will be bowling.  It’s the same day as Fido Fest and Walk for The Animals, but it’s later in the day so do both!  All good causes!

Have a terrific day! Lot’s of love,

Brenda, Honey, Gus and Nelson

With three dogs and a very busy schedule it can be a challenge to get some one on one time with each dog.  Brad and I have figured it out with Nelson and Gus….Nelson goes skateboarding with us on the beach, Gus gets to attend social events with me (he loves to mingle).  But with Honey it’s been more of a challenge.  Honey is going on 13 and in terrific shape, but not up to the hard core energetic activities of Nelson and not so into the party scene like Gus. 

Although we take them on group walks several times a week plus doga classes, she hasn’t been getting the alone time with us that the other dogs get.  I did finally make a point of taking her on her own walk yesterday morning.  It was awesome, she wagged her tail the whole time.  I know that my time with her on this planet is limited since she is growing older, so this is something that I have decided to do with her on a regular basis. Just she and I, just like in the old days when she was my only dog and life was so much simpler. 

I always encourage my students who own multiple dogs to take turns bringing their dogs to class separately so that they can experience one on one time with each dog.  Doga is a great way to get that one on one time with your dog.  As a teacher though…not as easy because I like to use a large and a small dog to demonstrate size modifications of the poses, and I’m teaching so my attention is split between my dogs and the other yogis and dogis in the room.  If I do a home doga practice, ALL the dogs want to be on the mat with me, and I work a lot with Nelson who is next in line as a doga teacher. 

 Anyway, I guess my point is to take the time to focus on one dog at a time occasionally and remember who they are and how special your connection is to them.  It’s very rewarding to strengthen or renew the connection you have with a your beloved dog and appreciate the time we have with them every day.

Friends and Family

Teacher Training at Westside was so much fun!!

Maximus' dad is the very 1st male doga teacher trainee! History in the making!

I drove the trainees to exhaustion as illustrated above by Mac napping on his teacher training manual...or maybe the manual was just boring..hmmm...

Honey helps with the teaching

So Yogis and Dogis, after a very busy week last week, I’ve FINALLY posted more pics from the teacher training.  Tonight I’m excited to share with you that I’m doing a SKYPE Barking Buddha Doga training with a woman from Australia!  This could be something I’ll offer in the future…we’ll see how it goes.  It’s important to me to keep the integrity of the class/training so if it seems ok, perhaps it can be an alternative to those living too far to travel.  Anyway, yogis and dogis, thank you so much for your support, emails and most of all making the world a better place by advocating for dogs!

xo,

Brenda, Honey, Gus and Nelson

Puppy actual size of wine glass

Well check out THIS 8 month old puppy who came to the teacher training with his human Chrys:

Puppy actual size of human

Wow!  That’s Mac, he’s an 8 month old Irish Wolfhound and Chrys assures me that he has not stopped growing!

Anyway here are some future doga teachers ( I’m afraid I don’t have a close up of Maximus the Rottie or a couple of the other big dogs in class, I’ll try to get those later):     

Finley with the natural bindi

Raphi (a real dog, not a stuffed animal with a felt tongue) the little angel

I’ll be posting teacher training photos through out the week, so check back.  And! The next training will be…(drum roll please!) ….I’m not sure yet, sorry! as soon as I set the date I’ll let you know.  Sometime between Feb.2011 and July 2011.  Soon I promise soon.

I’ve been very busy preparing for the Teacher Training Seminar at Westside Yoga and Doga this weekend.  I’m very proud of how the teacher training manual is turning out.  I had a past manual but thought it was time to redo the whole thing adding pictures of the poses and more current information.   This is the biggest training yet, almost maxed out! 

We’ve also had so many new dogis coming through our door at Westside…all so incredibly cute that  I thought I’d share some pics of our newest students: 

And now I must go and  pick up all the tennis balls strewn around the house since Nelson discovered his tennis ball bag that was left out by my husband. 

Lots o’ Love!

Brenda, Honey, Gus and Nelson “I heart tennis balls more than anything” Bryan-Wright.