Yoga for You and Your Little Dog, Too

At Allay Yoga, Kensington's soon-to-open studio, you can learn vinyasa yoga, restorative yoga, yoga for kids and, of course, yoga with your dog.

Founder Pamela Kaufman is taking her yoga practice out of her Silver Spring home and into a studio at 10419 Armory Ave., which will open for clients Sept. 5.

"I just want it to be a place where people come to find a balance, feel at home and let go," Kaufman said.

Allay works with nine instructors to offer classes for every skill level and age group.

And then there's doga, a tag-team class with Kaufman and Kelly Spring, who operates Spring Training, a professional dog-training service.

Spring said she was inspired to teach the course after realizing that paying close attention to her dog's breathing patterns and relaxation was a meditative experience in itself.

"It has typically been really focused on the person, but we plan to focus as much on the dog as the person," Spring said. "Dogs are really great teachers of how to be relaxed — when they are relaxed."

Kaufman said dogs are a natural fit for the tenets of yoga.

"Both humans and dogs regulate their stress through breath," she said. "Dogs do many things naturally that we teach in yoga, and we use that time on the mat to learn from them."

Spring said they cap each doga class at six dogs, and the owners of potential K-9 students must complete a dog admittance form and phone screening first.

Kaufman, who doubles as a sociology grad student, said she couldn't resist Kensington's charm when looking for a spot to open up a studio.

"I fell in love with it as soon as I came here," she said. "People stop in, say good luck. People have just been really supportive."

Drop-in sessions at Allay are $17 for yoga and $22 for doga. You can also buy five- and 10-class passes.