By Amber Aldrich

Maybe you’ve heard of RVA’s newest wellness trend from social media or your friends, but if you haven’t, I’m here to tell you about Richmond’s newest phenomenon: Puppies & Yoga. 

Puppy yoga is exactly what it sounds like; similar to goat yoga, but infinitely more charming, with tiny, cute paws and feisty attitudes. Located in The Loft Studio at 200 West Marshall Street in Jackson Ward, puppy yoga is a lively, low-pressure experience for all ages and preferences. And I’m here to tell you everything you need to know: tips and tricks, perks and pitfalls, and more.

What is puppy yoga? It’s a beginner-friendly yoga activity where adoptable puppies roam freely, as described on their website: “45 min. of all-level flow yoga with puppies around, followed by 30 min. of playtime and cuddles.” There are usually between 8-12 puppies per class, and a full room holds about 12-18 people, but there’s always plenty of sharing. With its skyrocketing popularity and located in the heart of Richmond near VCU, teens, couples, and college kids alike are selling out Puppies & Yoga’s sessions every week.

Puppy yoga actually began as an offshoot of “doga,” a trend from the early 2000s in which people practiced yoga with their own dogs beside them, blending relaxation techniques and stretches. Over time, this trend has now evolved into something more social and adoption-focused.

The studio aims to socialize and adopt puppies aged 8 to 12 weeks, all vaccinated and weaned. The living conditions where the puppies are raised are inspected, and the company aims to work with reputable breeders and sociable, well-suited breeds.

Puppy yoga’s success can likely be attributed to their strategic and active social media presence. Each week on their Instagram story (typically Tuesdays), they announce the breed of the week, similar to how Crumbl Cookie announces its different flavors each week. This keeps fans and potential clients engaged and excited, and the variety keeps people returning for more. I have visited Puppies & Yoga twice, once with Australian shepherds and another time with retriever-poodle mixes. Curly-haired dogs are the cutest!

Their social media strategy also thrives because attendees naturally generate content. They have someone constantly filming content and taking group photos, and after a class, many people will post pictures and tag the studio. They have teenagers doing half the work for them! It creates a steady loop of adorable, free advertising.

This experience has many advantages: stress relief, adorable chaos, good laughs, and enough serotonin to power you through midterms. This experience is great for friends, couples, or even families, and makes a great photo op. You can also do it with a full heart, knowing the puppies are having fun and being socialized so that they can eventually be sent to wonderful homes. 

Of course, there are a few (very manageable) downsides. Puppies pee everywhere. They love biting toes with sharklike commitment (socks won’t save you). They will happily chew your hair and ears if you dare to lie down, so definitely, definitely wear your hair up, unless you want a puppy-made haircut. But these little creatures can do you little harm, and it all ends up being part of the humorous experience.

If this sounds like something for you, I’ll leave you with a few first-time tips. I recommend going to the very first class in the morning, to get the puppies when they have the most energy, unless napping puppies is your vibe, in which case you should go to the last class of the day. 

Wear comfy clothes or your cute athleisure set for photos that you don’t mind getting covered in dog hair. Bring the phones ready: the last 30 minutes or so is usually a photo free-for-all. You sit in circles with your group, and the assistants pass around puppies for you to hold and entertain until it is time to leave. This is probably not the place to be for people with pet allergies, but I would respect it if you brave it anyway.

Classes are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Each session costs $64, and you can book all the way out to mid-February, because slots fill up fast. Each ticket includes 75 minutes with puppies, a 45-minute yoga session, 30 minutes of playtime, a wellness drink cart, and a yoga mat for the session. They also sell gift cards.

As my friend Polly Kayer (‘27) said, “Puppy yoga was so fun, I loved getting to play with the puppies while also enjoying the yoga, which was surprisingly fun!” 

Puppy yoga fits perfectly into today’s wellness culture and heightened demand for feel-good experiences. It’s not about mastering poses but more about taking a break and enjoying something purely joyful, good for you in a physical and emotional sense. The Richmond studio is part of a growing chain, with 13 locations nationwide, including Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, showing how quickly this trend has spread. In a world that feels serious most of the time, maybe a little joyful chaos is exactly what we need.

All photos by Amber Aldrich.