The Royal Doga

The Royal Doga is a yoga class which incorporates your dog through modified traditional hatha yoga poses, simple meditations and canine massage, giving both yogi and “dogi” an opportunity to connect in a new way.  Developed by complementary medicine veterinarian, Barbara Royal, DVM, and yoga instructor Kristyn Caliendo, this playful yet therapeutic class promotes the physical well-being and spiritual connection between animals and humans.  Beginners (both human and canine) are welcome.

Teacher Bio
Kristyn Caliendo is a certified yoga and instructor who has merged her two loves, dogs and yoga, to teach an innovative and playful class called Doga. Kristyn is a firm believer that everyone needs yoga to create true balance, including dogs (who are natural yogis!). A former stressed-out retail store owner, Kristyn decided to follow her passion and in March 2007 became a certified yoga instructor after 10 years of practice.  She has studied with Rod Stryker and Eric Schiffmann of international yogic fame, attends workshops and trains regularly with many premier yoga teachers.

In addition to teaching Doga, Kristyn teaches private and group classes for humans.  She is also a yoga instructor at a local women’s shelter, and at a holistic fertility center.  Kristyn also volunteers at PAWS Chicago, the city’s largest no-kill animal shelter, where the calming and healing effects of Doga-inspired massage techniques are creating happier, healthier, more adoptable dogs.  It is her hope that animal shelters everywhere will offer Doga to their canine residents.

Kristyn lives in Old Town with her husband and their Coonhound “Clementine” and Bloodhound “Tinkerbelle”.  When she is not teaching yoga, Kristyn enjoys cooking for family and friends, reading, trips to the dog beach, traveling and sailing on Lake Michigan.