LYONS DEN POWER YOGA
Name: Josephine Olivia Lyons Murray.
Breed: Josie is a Chihuahua and dachshund mix (or so the vet thinks). She is affectionately known as “The Chi-Weiner” around the Den. She’s from a rescue operation called Project Flying Chihuahuas.
Owner/parent/boss: Bethany Lyons and John Murray, co-owners of Lyons Den Power Yoga.
What’s her workday like? An early-morning walk in Chelsea with John starts Josie’s day and then it’s off to meetings, a photo shoot, or the Den with Bethany. As the mascot of Lyons Den Power Yoga, Josie has her own Den (a cut-out door in the front desk with a bed inside) when class is going on and she also enjoys making the rounds to greet students as they come in or hang out after class. In the evening Josie enjoys several dedicated play sessions and sometimes a game or two of chase with her sisters (two cats, Mocha and Lily). She’s a cuddler toward the end of the day and sleeps in a round bed, burrowed in as tight as possible. Her days are full of action and lots of love!
Anything else we should know? Josie has three main “ear styles.” Perky Ears (straight up at attention): when playing, when being asked a question, when she hears something of interest. Aerodynamic Ears (straight back, hugging into her head): when on a walk or in the wind, she goes aerodynamic. One-Ear-Floppy: the chi-weiner has played hard or it is past her bedtime and she is tired! Josie loves people, but she does not like people sticking their hands into her Den—beware the feisty bark if you chose to do this! Josie loves the sight of squirrels outside and the taste of salmon for dinner more than anything in the world.

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ÉLAN FLOWERS
Name: Lucy.
Breed: Havanese.
Owner/parent/boss: Sarah Corrigan.
What’s her workday like? Lucy starts off her mornings in the flower market sniffing for muffins. By the time she gets to the shop she is exhausted and naps until she smells lunch. Usually settling for a carrot, Lucy’ll then take a loop or two around the neighborhood before catching another nap. Before she knows it, it’s time for dinner!
Anything else we should know? If you ever lose a piece of pizza, Lucy will be happy to find it for you.

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FEATHERSTONE DESIGN
Name: Min Madden.
Breed: Australian Shepherd puppy (four months old).
Owner/parent/boss: He is the newest member of the team at Featherstone Design. (But not the design team.) His family is Wilson Madden, Deirdre Featherstone, and Catherine Madden.
What’s his workday like? His workday includes paper organization and random recycling. He prefers priority paperwork. At approximately 11 a.m. he herds everyone away from the teakettle and back to the desks/benches. At noon he barks at vapors. In the late afternoon he sees clients and performs acupuncture with his baby teeth. He occasionally clears the desks of random important items and carries them to more discreet locations. He has requested work in coat check, but he finds coat “tasting” more desirable, and he hasn’t been approved for the position as of yet. At siesta time he has negotiated the right to power nap, generally blocking the main entrance. After work he enjoys happy hour at the large side of the dog park by the pier.

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KAREN LORD PILATES MOVEMENT
Name: Wolfie.
Breed: Poodle/Yorkie mix.
Owner/parent/boss: Karen is her mom, and Hana, Director of Operations, is her “boss” and mentor—but she owns all of us and has about six mommies and one daddy in the studio staff. It takes a village.
What’s her workday like? She gets up early, and leads Karen in a little morning stretch, then they’ll go for a brisk walk, checking in on some friends at local businesses, and then it’s back to the home office where she helps with emails from the vantage point of a human lap. She’ll have a big glug of her coconut/cucumber water (current obsession) to hydrate for a big day at the studio. Her hair/teeth are brushed and her face washed (she’s into natural, organic, nontoxic products), and she says goodbye to her assistant and best friend, Pumpkin (the cat), leaving her with orders of business for the home office for the day, and she’s off to KLPM, her favorite place in the world. At the studio, Wolfie’s main job is greeter/client relations. She likes to welcome her friends as they come through the door—and she really gets excited when a class is over and people clap. If her guests are happy, she’s happy. Certain clients will only start class once they’ve consulted with Wolfie, needing a reassuring cuddle or a knowing “you can do this” look. Pilates can be tough; she’s there to support and encourage. In between classes she likes to sit at the door and wait for her neighbor friends to walk by and wave hello—she’s thrilled to great dog visitors—and she’s generous, always offering one of her own treats from behind the desk. If you want to know what’s happening on Duane Street, ask Wolfie; she prides herself on staying close with the community. Recently she helped a very sick pigeon neighbor get treatment at a hospital she wouldn’t have been able afford otherwise. Wolfie alerted the studio staff to the emergency status of our very ill guest, and even got KLPM to cover her hospital bills. All in a day’s work. Closing time is when Wolfie gets her big workout in. Pawlates is her passion but she isn’t shy about adding some interval training: running the length of the studio, lots of cardio, working with a ball, usually ending with a Tower session and a good stretch. More cucumber water to replace electrolytes, then a brisk walk home where she and her assistant usually have dinner together and discuss the day. They’re Paleo; her parents are vegan, but live and let live. Bedtime is 10 p.m. She wakes the next morning with a passion to do it all over again. “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” —Rumi
Anything else we should know? She’s a true testament showing that no matter where you come from, you can create the life you want, with a lot of love, patience, passion, avid guidance. Everything is possible with love.

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Previous “Shopdogs” posts:
••• Volume 5
••• Volume 4
••• Volume 3
••• Volume 2
••• Volume 1

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