There were many reasons why we decided to bring a dog into our lives. One of the reasons had to do with exercise. My husband and I needed a motivational factor beyond personal health and beauty to push us. That's where Tofu came in to the picture.
Dachshunds are the perfect motivational tool. Too little exercise and they get bored and throw you dirty looks; too much and you'll find them with their butts glued to the pavement while they throw you more dirty looks.
One of my favourite activities now is going for our "pack walks." For Tofu, it's the best treat in the world. He schmoozes with other dogs, takes in the scents that other people and animals have left behind, and smiles up at us at every opportunity he can.
What I didn't expect was how he would change my other exercise routine. Before Tofu came along I was actively doing yoga at home in the mornings before starting my day. It was just 20 minutes of my time but it was 20 minutes of "me" time. But not only have those minutes gone now to Tofu in the morning, when I have tried to do yoga at other times the result is Tofu stepping in.
Downward facing dog? Try that combined with upward licking puppy.
Bridge pose becomes infinitely more difficult with a 15 lb. dachshund on your belly.
Even corpse pose (where you basically just lie there and veg out) is distracting when there's a little pink tongue darting across your face excitedly. Presumably this is Tofu's version of CPR.
So, for now we're sticking with our pack walks until Tofu gets his certification as a a yoga instructor (which is about as likely as him being able to say Namaste).
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8 comments:
I can't do yoga, pilates, ab work, etc either. Ike is constantly in my face! He'll be buried in a blanket on the couch not caring what I'm doing around the house, but the very SECOND I'm working out, he's RIGHTTHERE INMYFACE.
:p
I miss yawning in the morning without having to yank a full dachshund face out of my mouth.
Oh boy. We don't take Lila and Rusty for walks...they take US for walks.
It's exhausting.
I love Tofu's version of CPR!
Maddy and Jordan couldn't care less about it, but Max is VERY interested in "helping" whenever I'm doing yoga. It's definitely more challenging with an enthusiastic dachshund in the room.
Mel: It's hilarious that they're so interested. I do any number of things around the house and he could care less while he naps on his bed but once the yoga mat comes out, forget about it.
Ben: Thankfully Tofu has no interest in sticking his face in my mouth.
Sleepyjane: Tofu used to be exactly the same way. Amazingly strong for such a compact little dog.
Kate: I guess if I was really dying his version of CPR would at least be a last happy memory..! LOL. He certainly challenges the ability to meditate during yoga though.
So true. I was doing some centering the other night and Bing came over, sniffed my face, walked away and came back with his Kong which he dropped in my lap because, clearly, I needed to be doing something more with my time that just sitting there. Tim likes to do laps around my yoga mat to make sure that no one attacks me in the living room while I'm not paying attention.
Take Theo overnight again and you won't soon forget it...
Super Careo: That's hilarious and adorable at the same time. Distracting to one's yoga practise but oh so cute.
Ben: You're making the prospect of puppy-sitting for you again ever so appealing...
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