A PUPPY yoga business which started bringing joyful classes and workshops to Cheshire last year has gone from strength to strength - and has now helped provide a free wellness community event.
Puppy Love Yoga is the brainchild of Louisa Higginbottom and Rhian Russell, two friends who wanted to combine the mood-boosting and wellbeing benefits of yoga with the joy and mindfulness of being around adorable puppies.
The pair recently joined forces with Stable Minds – a non-profit organisation offering mental health support – to host a free community event at The Courthouse in Knutsford.
Beautiful toy cockerpoos were free to roam around the room while participants took part in a guided yoga practice – with the puppies joining in for cuddles and tummy tickles.
It is no surprise that places were booked up within just five hours.
Louisa and Rhian, who provide classes across many areas of Cheshire, said the event could not have gone better and everything was ‘perfect’.
They added: “Milly from Stable Minds is a dream to work with and all credit to her for a staggering amount of valuable work achieved in such a short time frame.
“We understand from Milly that there is a distinct lack of funding in this area and that is why, along with the help of a generous sponsor who enabled us to give this event to the community, we are pleased to shine the spotlight on this fantastic charity.
“Our hope is that we have paved the way for other local businesses or independent sponsors to come forward and offer support too, so that we can do more events, like this one, to support people who would really benefit from it.
“We would also like to give special mentions to Clare Webb, who delivered an engaging and all-inclusive yoga session, Cockerpoo_hq for her beautiful litter of toy cockerpoos who stole the hearts of everyone, and not forgetting, The Courthouse, Knutsford, for the use of the most calming and stunning room.”
Milly was also thrilled with the event and has had positive feedback from the 24 people who attended.
She said: “It has been lovely working with Louisa and Rhian to bring such a unique wellness event to the community.
“I'd like to thank The Courthouse for very generously donating the venue and Julie from J F Whelan Photography for giving her time and skills to photograph the event.
“This workshop was full in only five hours which shows events like this are not only popular but needed in Knutsford, and at Stable Minds we hope to be able to offer more in the future.”
Stable Minds is a non-profit CIC established in 2023.
It provides mental health support and animal therapy around Cheshire East and Greater Manchester to adults and children in need, and their families.
You can find out more about both Stable Minds and Puppy Love Yoga by visiting them online or via social media.
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