Fiesta Texas & The Performer
Before Doga, Suzi Teitelman was a performer. She worked at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio — the theme park built around the world's largest wooden roller coaster, owned by Opryland. Suzi starred in 'That Way,' 'Way Out West,' and the Christmas Show. The park had themed lands — country, rock & roll, Latin culture — and Suzi performed across them all. This love of immersive, joyful, themed experiences never left her. It lives in every Doga class she teaches.
First Yoga Instructor at the World Trade Center Marriott
Suzi Teitelman became the first yoga instructor at the World Trade Center Marriott Hotel in New York City — bringing yoga to one of the most iconic buildings in the world, at the very heart of global commerce and culture. This was before yoga was mainstream. Before it was everywhere. Suzi was a pioneer, bringing presence and breath to the towers. The World Trade Center is forever woven into the fabric of her life — and the healing power of Doga.
Ruff Yoga™ is Born at Crunch Fitness, NYC
One day at Crunch Fitness in New York City, Suzi was teaching yoga when her cocker spaniel Coali refused to leave the mat. He stretched. He posed. He breathed. He was doing yoga. Suzi realized: dogs already know this. They already live in the present moment. They already embody everything yoga teaches. She called it Ruff Yoga™ — and the world's first dog yoga class was born. Coali was the original Doga teacher. Suzi was his student.
Doga Goes Global — Media Explosion
The New York Times covered Suzi and Smartbells. CNBC ran the headline 'Downward-Facing Human? Yoga Has Gone to the Dogs.' Newsweek. The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee. The Marie Osmond Show with Betty White. CNN. The New York Post. The Daily News. Cosmopolitan. Japan licensed the Doga DVD. Doga spread to Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. What started as one woman and her cocker spaniel on a yoga mat in NYC became a worldwide movement.
The Books — Doga's Philosophy Takes Shape
Suzi published 'The Paw of Attraction' and 'The Pawer of Now' — two books that captured the philosophy behind Doga. Not just dog yoga as exercise, but dog yoga as a spiritual practice. Animals as teachers. The present moment as the only moment. Unconditional love as the highest state. These books laid the foundation for what would become the Paw of Attraction™ — 6 universal principles that dogs already live by.
Ari is Born — September 11th
Suzi's son Ari was born on September 11th, 2015. A date that carries so much weight in American history — and in Suzi's personal history, having worked at the World Trade Center Marriott. Ari's birthday on 9/11 is not a coincidence. It is a full-circle moment. Healing. New life. Joy. Suzi takes Ari to bookstores all the time. Her mother, an avid reader at 86, reads to him. The love of books, of stories, of learning — it runs through the family.
Paw of Now — The World Home of Doga
Suzi leads the global Doga movement from pawofnow.com — the world home of Doga. Her new golden cocker spaniel Arty is her companion, co-guide, and the delivery dog for The Doga Times. Arty says: 'Art up your world.' Suzi says: 'Your dog already knows everything you need to learn.' The Doga Theme Park is open. Hop aboard — you won't want to get off!
🌟 THE PRESS SAID IT
"Smartbells — Suzi Teitelman brings innovation to fitness"
"Suzi and Coali teach Doga to Hoda and Kathie Lee"
"Downward-Facing Human? Yoga Has Gone to the Dogs"
"Dog Yoga — the movement that started in NYC"
"Betty White, Suzi, and the joy of Doga"
"Doga: The world's most joyful yoga practice"