We don’t need to fact-check this: yoga with animals is good for your mental health. (Though it’s maybe not the most focused situation for perfecting your handstand.) Pick your favourite four-legged companion and book a class to match.
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Catfé
All the cats at Catfé are up for adoption, so it’s tough not to focus on tracking whichever one you desperately want to take home while you downward dog. Expect plenty of theatrics from the felines as they roam around you: we witnessed one chonker lying on his back, legs in the air, in the centre of class for most of the hour. catfe.ca
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Pupsyoga
Pupsyoga works with ethical breeders to help socialize their puppies before they’re out in the real world, so you can expect littermates to express the full range of emotion, from sprinting wildly around the room to napping on your legs. Also: puppies are peeing machines, but staff are quick to mop up any accidents. pupsyogavancouver.com
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Maan Farms
Maan Farms’ renovated barn in Abbotsford is host to many an animal-adjacent activity (you can also do Pilates with Highland cows), but goats are the move here. They love to climb, and your back is a good perch when you’re in cat-cow. The instructor alternates between coaching a good crow position and passing baby goats over to guests: they’re both stinky and adorable and seem to love a good hug. maanfarms.com
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Bunny Cafe
Surprise: there’s a lot of hopping during a yoga session at the Bunny Cafe. The lights are turned low for your session, and you might get a nibble on your pants from one of the rescue buns jumping around. Even better: post-session, you’ll get a cup of vegetables to make friends with a few of them. bunnycafe.ca
