How yoga helped me become a better dog trainer.

People often ask me how I stay so calm when working with high-energy or aggressive dogs. The answer isn’t a training technique or a magic trick—it’s yoga.

For over 25 years, yoga has been a part of my life, and for the last ten, it’s been part of how I guide others. I never set out to combine yoga with dog training, but over time, the connection became undeniable. Yoga didn’t just strengthen my body—it sharpened my awareness, deepened my intuition, and completely transformed how I work with dogs.

The Power of Presence

In yoga and meditation, you’re taught to focus on one breath at a time. You return to the present moment over and over again, even when your mind tries to wander. That practice of presence is everything in dog training.

It’s easy to get caught up in the end goal—wanting the dog to “just behave” or “finally get it.” But dogs aren’t thinking five steps ahead. They’re communicating with us right here, right now. Yoga taught me to stay with them in that moment, not rushing to the next. I may not know the outcome for each dog I work with, but I do know I’m going to give everything I have to the moment we’re in. That’s what matters.

Body Awareness is Everything

Yoga also trains you to become deeply aware of your body—how it moves, how it feels, how it holds energy. That awareness transfers directly into the way I handle dogs. Whether it’s the way I hold a leash, move through space, or correct a behavior, every action comes from an intentional, grounded place.

You can't train dogs—especially large, powerful ones—without physical presence. I need to be rooted, strong, and clear in my body. Yoga gave me that foundation. It built my stamina and strength in ways that now let me work dogs all day without burning out. And it’s not just about muscles—it’s about knowing how to move with calm, confident energy that dogs instantly pick up on.

Intuition is a Language

Perhaps the most beautiful gift yoga has given me is the sharpening of intuition. When I’m working with a dog, I’m not just listening with my ears—I’m listening with my whole body. Dogs speak through body language, subtle energy shifts, even silence. Yoga taught me how to tune in and actually hear them.

If we’re open—truly open—we can learn their language. We can feel when they’re anxious, when they’re testing, when they’re ready. That kind of deep listening doesn’t come from reading a manual—it comes from stillness, patience, and practice. The Inner Path of the Trainer

Dog training isn’t just about changing a dog’s behavior—it’s about mastering your own. Staying calm under pressure. Staying rooted when things get chaotic. Trusting your instincts when nothing else makes sense. These are all inner skills, and yoga has given me the space to develop them.

I don’t believe there’s one right way to train a dog. But I do believe that the best trainers are the ones who show up fully present, grounded in their bodies, and open to learning from every animal they meet. That’s what yoga has taught me—to be here, now, with the dog in front of me. And to let the rest unfold from there.