Puppy yoga in Newcastle: two ways to book

If you have never tried puppy yoga, the premise is simple: a gentle yoga session shared with a group of rescue pups. It has grown into a real thing around Newcastle, and it is the kind of low-pressure, family-friendly activity that suits a weekend morning. The puppies come first, though, and the organisers work with trusted breeders and rescue crews to make sure they are safe, happy and well looked after.

Positive Puppy Yoga runs its sessions at The Yoga Space Blacksmiths, at 6 Mitti Street in Blacksmiths, and a standard hour costs A$79. The hour is split roughly in half: about 30 minutes of light guided yoga, which you can opt out of if you would rather just watch, followed by 30 minutes of relaxed interaction with the puppies. A mat is provided, so you do not need to bring your own unless you prefer to. It is worth arriving about 15 minutes early to settle in before you start. On age, children aged 8 to 12 need to be with an adult participant and there is a reduced rate for them, while anyone 13 and over can come on their own. If you hold a Companion Card, the cardholder buys a standard ticket and one companion can attend for free without a mat; if the companion wants to join in with their own mat, they will need a standard ticket of their own. Personal photos and videos are fine, though commercial photography needs approval beforehand. Beyond the regular classes, they do private bookings for birthdays, hen parties, corporate team-building and student groups, which you can arrange by emailing positivepuppyyoga@gmail.com. Digital gift cards are also available and stay valid for three years from the date of purchase, though discount codes cannot be used on them. The service runs seven days a week, so there is plenty of flexibility.

Yoga Paws Newcastle is the other name to know, and it runs weekly sessions across the city. Tickets are A$59, which sits up to A$20 cheaper than other Australian operators. The upcoming dates are worth noting if you are planning ahead: 18 October in Newcastle West, 24 October in Maryville, and 1 November back in Newcastle West. Like Positive Puppy Yoga, they also take on private and corporate events, from hens and birthdays to team days, and their gift cards cover all Newy sessions and never expire, which makes them an easy present to leave until later.

Between the two, there is plenty of choice depending on what you are after. Positive Puppy Yoga gives you a fixed home at The Yoga Space Blacksmiths with a clear split between the yoga and the puppies, while Yoga Paws moves around the city and comes in at a lower price point. Either way, it is a gentle way to spend a morning, and because the puppies are the real draw, it is as much about the company as it is about the yoga. Whether you are coming for the stretch or just the puppies, it is a relaxed hour that is hard to leave in a bad mood.