Strike a pose, puppy

Devoted parents of four-legged children wanting to spend some quality time with them now have a novel activity. And it gives the yoga term of "downward dog" a whole new meaning.

The "doga" (dog yoga) craze has finally reached Hong Kong, with sessions specially designed for a dog and his owner. Any breed of dog can participate in doga, though larger dogs may not be so easily carried for some of the standing strength postures. The program assumes that you already have some knowledge and love for yoga, and it gives people a great chance to bond with their furry friends.

South Africa-born Suzette Ackermann is a certified yoga and fitness instructor who runs Desert Mermaids, a studio in Sheung Wan.

Along with doga, the studio offers belly dance, Pilates, yoga and other activities and classes for the whole family. She moved to Hong Kong in 2003 after living and working in Japan for more than four years. There, she noticed the devotion people showed to their four legged friends.

"People are very big on their pets in Japan," she recalls. "Doga is also very popular in the US."

Before she started her own studio, she worked fulltime with California Fitness and M Yoga and she still conducts classes for them on a part-time basis.

As Ackermann is the proud owner of three dogs herself, she is a client of Pawette, a pet boutique, salon and spa founded in 2009. Whether it's a special gourmet treat for Fido, or a full makeover to turn him into Mr Four-Legged Asia, Pawette's range high-end products and services will have him looking and feeling like a million bucks.

Pawette approached Ackermann with the doga concept and she began teaching classes in early 2011. Since then, it has attracted a number of yoga fans looking for alternative ways to spend time with their pooch. Ackermann designs the programs based on research and knowledge of pets, and will adjust the class according to the level of her students and the chemistry between their dogs.

"My boyfriend is a vet and he does acupuncture for pets," she says. "I found out about massage techniques through him." Her one-hour classes, usually conducted twice a week, are divided into a half hour of standing and a half hour of floor exercises. They include gentle massages on the dog's tummy every third or fourth pose. The massages help improve digestion and heart functions, as well as loosen knee and hip joints.

You may contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.