619-822-3296 
We would like to highlight Naomi and Ali this month because we are so proud of how far that they BOTH have come in one short year! It took hard work and dedication but it is paying off!
Naomi Hillery started teaching our Leash Your Fitness classes in January 2014. She had recently received her Group Fitness Certification from the American Council on exercise.
She was new to the group fitness world and had never taught before but she jumped right in!
Her dog, Ali, was having a lot of social issues. She was very reactive to other dogs and was unable to sit through an entire class.
What made you and Ali decide to get involved with Leash Your Fitness?
I came to one of the yoga classes as a benefit for my friend’s organization, Furry Foster, and loved the idea of incorporating dogs in exercise. I went on the Leash Your Fitness website and saw that one of the reasons Dawn founded LYF was because she felt guilty leaving her dog, Jack, at home when she went to the gym. I shared that exact feeling so knew it would be perfect for me and Ali. I thought this would be a great place to finally start my path in a fitness career.
Was it hard to learn how to teach a fitness class with people AND their dogs?
It definitely added more complexity to learning to teach fitness classes! It was difficult at times, but I feel like I’m getting more comfortable with it. The dogs are such a great ice breaker for everyone and they keep the classes light and fun. I like the challenge of creating a good workout that also takes the dogs’ needs into account.
How do you feel that the classes have helped you?
The classes have helped me in so many ways! Physically, they’ve helped me be more fit myself and also helped me take the leap into trail running which I love, especially with our amazing group of runners! They have also provided me so much happiness by allowing me to help people reach their fitness goals and push themselves further than they think they can go. I’ve met so many amazing people through the classes too. Finally, the classes have also helped me to really bond with Ali. I understand her so much better now and I think she has become more trusting and obedient towards me.
Now about Ali, describe Ali in her first few months of class.
It’s so hard for me to talk about Ali in her first few months, she was such a mess and I am embarrassed! I had no idea that she would react as badly as she did in classes at the beginning, I really questioned why I had done this to both of us! She could not sit in one place for any amount of time, she would lunge at any dog near her, she barked a lot, and she chewed through her harness once when I stepped away from her for a second. Looking back, I now know these were all signs of serious anxiety.
What did you do to work with Ali to help her feel more comfortable around other dogs and social situations?
One of the biggest things was we took two 5-week classes with Zoe from Pawtopia. Zoe is amazing and those classes taught me how to read Ali’s signals of anxiety and correct her properly when she was reactive. These classes also introduced her to highly distracting environments which I’d tended to avoid with her in the past. My husband and I now take her to dog friendly restaurants whenever we can to help her practice. But mainly, just being consistent with LYF classes and events has helped her socialize and get used to other dogs and new places. LYF is great for socializing dogs since there are not many places we can take our imperfect pups to practice! Everyone is so respectful of each others space.
Describe Ali now and some of her accomplishments.
She is still not perfect, but I try to remind myself it’s only been a little over a year of working with her more seriously! I feel like she’s made huge strides in her ability to sit still for long periods of time and in being comfortable with other dogs around her. She almost never barks in class now. I still have to remember to give her the space she needs until she warms up to other dogs. But some of her biggest accomplishments recently include getting to be a part of the Worlds Largest Dog Yoga Class and participating in almost all of our dog-friendly 5ks! I am so grateful to Dawn for believing in us and giving us this opportunity. We love our LYF family!!!
Anything else that you want to add that may help others?
I’ve learned a lot about myself in this process and what makes ME anxious. Ali can’t tell me with words when she is nervous or having a bad day. So I’ve really had to lead by example. I have to remain calm and confident, even when I am nervous or upset. When I hear myself yell at her “calm down!!” I have to laugh at myself and take a step back and see what I’m doing to contribute to this behavior in her. I hope that my experience helps others if they struggle with the same thing!
