Dog, Yoga and the Prayer of St Francis

Normally, when I do yoga, I am joined by my dog Bella. She will sit in the corner and wait patiently while I go through a 30 minute routine.

But she knows that after I do a shoulder stand, I go into fish pose and then lie on the floor for savasana and deep breathing. That is her invitation to start licking eyes, face, fingers and feet.

When I sit up and get into half lotus to pray, she puts her head in my lap. Imagine saying the prayer of St. Francis and now imagine saying that part of the prayer that goes

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,

while petting your dog's chest and looking into those patient trusting eyes.

It is an amazing feeling, humbling and serene.

Prayer over, I hop into all-fours, chase Bella around the room, she runs down the hall and jumps on my bed waiting for me to finish chasing her. It's lots of fun.

Capitano Tedeschi

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