About Suzi Teitelman — Founder of Doga
Founder of Doga
Suzi Teitelman
Yoga teacher. Animal lover. Creator of Doga.
For over 20 years, Suzi has been exploring the intersection of yoga, Presence and the human-animal bond — and sharing what she's discovered with people and dogs around the world.
The origin story
New York City. 2001.
I created Doga in New York City in 2001 with my dog, Coali.
In the period following September 11, I was teaching yoga in a city filled with enormous emotion, uncertainty and change. And I kept noticing what our animals naturally gave us.
Presence.
Comfort.
Connection.
No explanation required.
I began bringing dogs into the yoga experience and originally called the practice Ruff Yoga. It soon became known as Doga — yoga with your dog.
What began as something playful became something much deeper. People weren't simply stretching beside their dogs. They were connecting with them. They were slowing down. They were laughing. They were touching. They were becoming present.
And the dogs already knew exactly how to do it.
20+ years of Doga
The Journey
2001
Doga is Born
Suzi creates Doga in New York City with her dog Coali in the aftermath of September 11, originally calling the practice Ruff Yoga.
2002
Ruff Yoga Becomes Doga
The practice earns its now-famous name — Doga — and begins spreading through New York City yoga studios.
2003–2010
National Recognition
Doga is featured in major media including The New York Times, The Today Show, Good Morning America and People Magazine. Suzi teaches workshops across the United States.
2010–2020
Global Reach
Doga travels internationally. Suzi teaches in studios, at events and retreats around the world. The practice is covered by BBC, CNN and media in dozens of countries.
2020–Present
The Paw of Attraction™
Suzi deepens the philosophy behind Doga, developing the Paw of Attraction™ framework — exploring the relationship between human energy, Presence and the human-animal bond.
The philosophy
Animals Can Help Bring Humans Back to Themselves
Over more than two decades of teaching, one thing has remained constant: dogs are extraordinary mirrors.
They respond to our energy. They notice our tension. They feel our presence — or our absence. They don't need us to explain ourselves. They simply respond to what is actually here.
The Paw of Attraction™ is the framework Suzi developed to help people understand this relationship more consciously — and to use it as a doorway into greater Presence, connection and alignment in their own lives.
The dog is not the student. The dog is the teacher.
As seen in
Doga in the Press
Ready to Practice Together?
Join Suzi for the 8-week Paw of Attraction™ Workshop — live on Zoom, with your dog.