Nashua Studio Pairs Gentle Yoga Flow With Adoptable Puppies to Benefit Rescue

Aerial Moon, a downtown Nashua aerial arts and yoga studio, turned its rigging-lined practice space into a rescue mission on March 28, hosting a Puppy Yoga and Fundraiser event in partnership with Motley Mutts Rescue of Hooksett, NH.

Instructor Gina led two 45-minute gentle yoga sessions, with adoptable dogs from Motley Mutts roaming freely among participants on the mats. Session one ran from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., followed by a second session from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Every puppy in the room was available for adoption.

The format squeezed maximum impact out of shavasana: rather than a standard rest period, the class closed with an extended puppy snuggle session, giving participants unhurried time with the dogs before the hour ended.

Staging the event inside an aerial arts studio added logistical considerations a conventional yoga room does not carry. With rigging hardware overhead and the open vertical footprint typical of aerial training facilities, organizers locked doors the moment each session began, a policy designed to prevent escapes and limit mid-class distractions. The firm door-lock rule reflects a core operational principle for rescue events held in non-traditional spaces: once animals are loose in an unfamiliar environment, containment becomes the primary safety variable, and the wide-open ceiling height of an aerial studio only raises the stakes.

Attendees hoping to take a dog home the same day were asked to pre-fill adoption applications before arriving. Pre-screened participants could complete adoptions on site, compressing the typical multi-visit process into a single afternoon. Aerial Moon was transparent that dogs featured in promotional materials might not be available on the event day itself, directing prospective adopters to Motley Mutts' website for current listings.

Motley Mutts Rescue operates as a registered 501(c)(3), pulling dogs from high-intake partners in Mississippi and neighboring states and placing them into foster homes across New Hampshire. The rescue's cost structure, covering transport, veterinary care, and foster support, depends heavily on event-driven fundraising. The Aerial Moon partnership addressed both fronts: ticket proceeds and a raffle featuring private lessons, hair care packages, and reiki sessions all funneled directly to the rescue.

Aerial Moon's own event copy made the dual purpose plain: "What could be better than yoga to help center your heart, body and soul? Yoga with PUPPIES! Adoptable puppies at that!"

For a small rescue working the southern transport pipeline, an afternoon inside a downtown studio represents one of the most efficient adoption funnels available: a room full of pre-approved applicants, every dog eligible, and a captive audience already lying still on the floor when the puppies come looking for someone to lean against.