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Jul 16, 2023

Puppy yoga brings playful serenity to Hexagon Alley

The yaps and squeals of 8-week-old foster puppies soundtracked Sarah Judd’s morning as she carefully unraveled her yoga mat and waited for her class to begin. Judd, a certified yoga teacher, has led

The yaps and squeals of 8-week-old foster puppies soundtracked Sarah Judd’s morning as she carefully unraveled her yoga mat and waited for her class to begin.

Judd, a certified yoga teacher, has led private and public sessions throughout Columbia for more than two decades. One of her more rambunctious sessions brings a new meaning to the downward dog position.

Megan Mansouri, left, and Ashley Lufkin pet the puppies inside their pen on Sunday at Hexagon Alley. “I just want to jump in there with them,” Lufkin said.

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A puppy sticks its nose through the pen before the yoga session begins Sunday at Hexagon Alley. All the 8-week-old puppies are adoptable through the Central Missouri Humane Society.

Instructor Sarah Judd pets a puppy while seated in a yoga position Sunday at Hexagon Alley. Judd teaches similar sessions using kittens, goats or bunnies. She will teach her next event, Bunny Yoga, on Sept. 17 at Ciao Chow in St. Louis.

Shannyn North caresses a puppy against her shoulder during a moment of meditation on Sunday at Hexagon Alley. “I think it fell asleep on me,” she said. “I’ve been holding it for at least five minutes and it hasn’t moved.”

Megan Mansouri watches a puppy try to tug her sock off on Sunday at Hexagon Alley. The newly-opened board game cafe offered its space to provide the event in support of the Central Missouri Humane Society.

Ashley Shattuck reaches behind her head to pet a puppy nestled in her hair on Sunday at Hexagon Alley. Participants were encouraged to incorporate the puppies into their practice as an anti-stress method.

Photojournalist, Health & Higher Ed. photo editor, & second-year graduate student. (She/her/hers). Reach me at [email protected], in the newsroom at 882-5700, or on Instagram @carolineonfilm.

Assistant Director of Photography, Summer 2023 Studying Photo and Documentary Journalism Reach me at [email protected], or in the newsroom at 882-5720

Assistant city editor, summer 2023. Studying journalism and public history with a minor in constitutional democracy. Reach me at [email protected], or in the newsroom at 882-5720.