Bangkok puppy yoga studio offers visitors comfort and stress relief for $60 per session

Puppies roam freely during yoga sessions, bringing joy as participants stretch and unwind. Courtesy of xiaohongshu.com

A yoga studio in Thailand has gone viral for providing visitors the unique opportunity to interact with puppies during their workouts, creating a truly stress-relieving experience.

Chinese fitness influencer "Scarlett Johanfu" recently shared a video of her visit to a puppy yoga studio in Bangkok, which quickly garnered over 1.5 million likes on Douyin.

In the clip, yoga mats are surrounded by adorable puppies as participants stretch and unwind.

Johanfu gently pats the dogs between poses, with some curling up on her stomach and a playful golden retriever nipping at her socks. Another delightful husky happily sits in her lap.

She revealed that the class, hosted by Furapy Yoga, consists of a 45-minute beginner yoga session followed by 30 minutes of puppy interaction, priced at 1,790 Thai baht ($60) per person. It caters to all genders and ages.

The studio reportedly partners with local dog shelters and breeders, showcasing breeds such as Samoyeds, golden retrievers, and huskies.

Johanfu mentioned that each dog is bathed and smells fresh and clean, with staff promptly addressing any accidents when the puppies relieve themselves.

She humorously noted: "Not many people are actually doing yoga. Everyone is just excited to play with the puppies."

One customer commented: "The best moment is when a few fluffy heads are staring at me during a plank. It makes me feel so powerful."

The studio also offers kitten yoga classes and puppy sound bath healing sessions.

Studies show that pet therapy effectively lowers stress levels.

It's no surprise that many attendees are more focused on playing with the puppies than on practicing yoga. Courtesy of xiaohongshu.com

Patting animals has an immediate calming effect, while interaction with them boosts "happy hormones" like oxytocin, which helps alleviate anxiety.

Studio owner Lily once shared with local media outlet Iwelty that the animals act as little therapists, aiding visitors in harnessing positive energy.

While puppy yoga has gained popularity in some Western countries, it remains a novel concept in Asia.

One Chinese netizen remarked: "Not only does the body get a workout, but the puppies also soothe the soul. When will China have puppy yoga studios?"

However, some concerns have been raised: "Staff should ensure proper disinfection and safety protocols to protect the dogs from illness and prevent accidental harm by humans."

As China's pet economy flourishes, popular pet cafes are evolving beyond classic cat and dog themes, now embracing a variety of smaller creatures such as goldfish, parrots, ducks, and micro pigs.

Meanwhile, a hotel in eastern China is offering a special morning wake-up service where guests can enjoy playful moments with baby lions in their rooms.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century.

Read the article at SCMP.