From Anxious Pup to Class Star: Mia’s 3-Month Pawlates Journey

Week 1: Sunny Hid Under the Chair, and I Almost Left Early

When I first brought Sunny to Pawlates, I wasn’t sure we’d last 10 minutes. He’s a 2-year-old rescue with a fear of new people and loud sounds—so when the instructor turned on soft music, he darted under the nearest chair and refused to come out. I knelt down to comfort him, feeling my cheeks burn—was this a bad idea? But Coach Elena noticed, knelt beside us, and handed me a tiny treat. “Let him take his time,” she said. “We’ll work around him.” For the rest of the class, I did modified poses near the chair—Sunny peeked out once, when I held Child’s Pose—and by the end, he let me pet him without trembling. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.​

Month 1: He Started Lying on My Mat, and Even Nudged My Hand for Pets

After 4 weeks of weekly classes, something shifted. Sunny still hesitated at the studio door, but once we unrolled our mat, he’d curl up at my feet—no more hiding. One day, during a seated forward fold, I felt a soft nudge on my hand: he was asking for pets, right in the middle of class. I froze for a second, then smiled—this was the first time he’d sought attention in a new space. Coach Maya even joked, “He’s starting to act like a Pawlates pro.” That month, I also noticed my change: I’d been stressed about work, but those 45 minutes with Sunny—no phones, no to-do lists—made me feel lighter. It wasn’t just about him; it was about us, together.​

Month 3: He Greets the Instructors, and Sits Patiently for Treats

Now, 3 months later, Sunny is the first one to pull me toward the studio door. He greets Coach Elena with a wagging tail, and when we get to our mat, he lies down immediately—sometimes even rests his head on my yoga block. Last week, during a group stretch, a new dog barked, and instead of hiding, Sunny looked up at me, then went back to napping. I almost cried—this was the same dog who once ran from a doorbell. Pawlates didn’t just calm him down; it gave us a routine we both crave. After class, we get ice cream (him: a pup cone, me: a scoop of vanilla), and I think about how far we’ve come. He’s not just my dog—he’s my class buddy.