Yoga Lessons From My Dog

Although I have been doing sun salutations for ten years, something finally clicked about the yogi life when my dog, Stephen, recovered from having his leg amputated.  After discovering a tumor in his right hind leg, we had no choice but to remove the limb.  We were told that three year olds recover well, although it would be a tough journey ahead of us.

It was only hours after surgery, when Stephen taught me my first critical lesson about yoga. Without any rehabilitation, Stephen had figured out how to walk. I was ridiculously proud of him.  He didn’t over-think it and he showed me that we are far more resilient and adaptable than we think we are.

Over the next several months, Stephen grew stronger. Our walks increased and his fur grew back; his tail started to wag again with gusto. As Stephen was playing at the park one day, I realized that his amputation allowed him to shed something that was literally weighing him down. Since surgery, he’s figured out how to balance on his own feet and it really looks like he’s happier. It dawned on me that this is why I practice yoga. Every time I unroll my mat, I am giving myself a chance to remove my own constraints and acquire equilibrium.

Once I started looking, I realized that Stephen is a true yogi. He’s taught me how to take a break and be kind to myself. It’s hard work hopping around on three legs; when Stephen needs a rest, he lies down for a few deep breaths. I realized that, if he has given himself permission to take care of himself, why can’t I? It’s so easy to barrel through and ignore the signs of fatigue.  I finally got it: there’s no shame in taking child’s pose.

In order to sit up, Stephen has figured how to situate his left hind leg into half-pigeon. He uses his healthy leg to create stability so that he can sit comfortably making me understand how Modifications can be the key to success. In watching Stephen, it really sunk in for me that sometimes we can do more by altering what we think we have to do in order to do what really works for us.

Watching Stephen transform into a tripawd has shifted my own yoga practice into one that is more self-compassionate. I understand now how to give myself permission to accept where I am on my journey.  I also smile from ear to ear whenever “three-legged dog” is called in class.