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[title]Sorry, did you say ‘dog meditation’?
Yes – but it's not as you would think. Run by yoga teacher, founder and author of ‘DOGA’, Mahny Djahanguiri, this session is a lot less serious than the standard practice. It’s all about fun here, with dogs getting to meet each other while humans align their chakras through guided meditation. Oh, and you'll get to use the Samsung Watch Active to track your progress.
So, what does a session look like?
Dogs will be let off the lead to get into the vibe. Meanwhile, you’ll start with some breathing exercises, guided by Mahny, before getting into whatever pose is more comfortable for your meditation. As the pups calm down, you’ll go through chakras. And yes, that includes the dogs’ too (the chakras are the same, apparently). There will be even more breathing, then you can begin to massage your dog. Sometimes they’re into it, sometimes they want to sit by the door and go home, it depends.
Wait, the dogs actually meditate?
Yeah, kind of. It’s more like they settle into the breathing and allow you to rub their bellies. But don’t expect it immediately. Mahny says, ‘If people think their dog will meditate fully in the first session, it ain't gonna happen. This is something that you build up regularly, but it is quite fascinating to see what happens.’
Ok, I’m interested… What are the benefits?
Well, meditation is proven to help focus, concentration and self-awareness, and long term it’s been recommended to reduce stress and anxiety. But the main thing is creating a bond between you and the dog. ‘It'll give owners deeper insight into their relationship,’ Mahny says. ‘Because they can take a step back and review their relationship, see how deep it is and get close to their dog in a different way.’
Can just any dog come along?
Yes! Maybe not puppies though. And maybe no dogs that are aggressive or anxious around other dogs. We want relaxing vibes, after all.
Will it be noisy?
That comes with the territory, doesn’t it? Expect barking and laughter at the beginning, but it’ll all settle down once you start chanting. As Mahny says, ‘It changes the frequency like switching radio channels. It’s all in the vibrations, if a room suddenly goes ‘Ohm’ they look at you and sometimes howl along with it. It’s funny. Anything goes – so don't expect a quiet perfect meditation.’
Alright, I’m sold. Is there anything I need to bring?
You’re going to need a mat and a comfortable cushion. Oh, and there’s just one rule. No phones during the session. You need to stay present. So keep off Instagram, alright?
And when is it?
7-8 pm on August 18. The perfect Friday night if you don’t want to go out out.
What else is happening at Samsung KX this month?
The question is more like, what isn’t happening? There’s barre, yoga, photography… all sorts. Check out the full list here.
To book your place for Meditation with your Dog at Samsung KX, click here. And if you’re coming along? You’ll be able to get an exclusive discount on selected Samsung products while you’re there (terms and conditions apply). Nice!