- Title: Dog yoga record broken in Japan
- Date: 13th November 2016
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 13, 2016) (REUTERS) DOG OWNERS PREPARING TO DO YOGA SMALL DOG BEING HELD BY OWNER DOG YOGA PARTICIPANTS LIMBERING UP SMALL DOG IN MAID COSTUME DOG IN MAID COSTUME AND OWNER PARTICIPANTS STRETCHING OFF PUPPY IN THE ARMS OF ITS OWNER PARTICIPANTS POSING WITH DOG WHITE DOG (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DOG YOGA PARTICIPANT, MIYOKO HIRATA, SAYING: "I was interested in the idea of dogs and human together - that's why I signed up for this event." SMALL DOG ON YOGA MAT (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) YOGA/DOG YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND HEAD OF JAPAN DOG YOGA SOCIETY, NORIKO ONUMA, SAYING: "As I started doing dog yoga, I found the warmth and the weight of lives, and felt this was it. I thought if people could share this feeling, owners could live with their dogs until the very last minute, so this was how I came up with the dog yoga, and here I am now." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS HOLDING DOG (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) YOGA /DOG YOGA INSTRUCTOR, ETSUKO KUMATA, SAYING: "In terms of dogs, we breathe slowly having our hand on the dog which enables us to check the speed of breath the dog takes and the speed of the heart beats. Also, patting the dog will help us recognize if there is something wrong." VARIOUS OF DOG WEARING VEST DOG SAT ON EXERCISE MAT OWNER STRETCHING WITH DOG GATE OF TOSHIMAEN
- Embargoed: 28th November 2016 13:49
- Keywords: Dogs yoga Japan Tokyo animals
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
- Reuters ID: LVA00158A0D3T
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: One hundred and thirty six dogs and their owners gathered at Toshimaen amusement park in Tokyo for Japan's record breaking dog yoga event on Sunday (Nov 13).
November 13 marks the first day of Japan's annual family week. The week encourages family bonding and was created by the Tokyo Government during 2012.
The event was the product of a partnership between Groupon Japan and Dog Yoga.
Noriko Onuma, yoga instructor and head of Japan dog yoga society, hopes to spread the bond between humans and dogs through a light exercise.
"As I started doing dog yoga, I found the warmth and the weight of lives, and felt this was it. I thought if people could share this feeling, owners could live with their dogs until the very last minute, so this was how I came up with the dog yoga, and here I am now."
She says that dog yoga not only has the ability to strengthen the bond between dogs and humans, but also between families and partners because of the increase in communication.
Yoga and Dog yoga instructor, Etsuko Kumata explained how dog yoga is useful in checking the health conditions for both humans and dogs.
"In terms of dogs, we breathe slowly having our hand on the dog which enables us to check the speed of breath the dog takes and the speed of the heart beats. Also, patting the dog will help us recognise if there is something wrong."
Event organisers expressed their hope that Groupon and Dog Yoga will be able to host similar events throughout Japan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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