Your weekly wellness ritual just got one more reason to stay on the calendar.

A new study from Arizona State University found that people who practiced yoga and Pilates had a significantly lower risk of death compared to those who didn't.

And the numbers? Pretty impressive.

• Yoga: Associated with a 27% lower risk of death.

• Pilates: Associated with a 36% lower risk of death.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 55,000 U.S. adults, examining 21 different alternative health practices over roughly a decade. Of those 21 practices, yoga and Pilates were the only individual activities significantly associated with a lower mortality risk after the researchers' full statistical adjustments.

Now, before you start calculating how many extra birthdays your sun salutations are earning you, there's an important distinction: the study found a connection, not proof that yoga or Pilates directly makes you live longer.

Still, we're listening 👀

Yoga and Pilates have long been favorites in the wellness world, and it's easy to understand why.

They're about more than getting a workout in. They're opportunities to slow down, move intentionally, reconnect with your body, and make time for yourself.

Study co-author Connor Sheehan, an associate professor at ASU, points to strength and balance, breathwork, stress reduction, and the community that comes with taking a class as possible reasons behind the yoga and Pilates longevity link.

And while there's no magic formula for a longer life, finding movement you genuinely look forward to is a pretty smart place to start.

At Puppy Sphere, we've always believed wellness should be the best part of your week.

That's why we brought together two of our favorite things: mindful movement and puppies.

Our puppy yoga and Puppy Pilates experiences combine guided movement with supervised puppy socialization, giving you an opportunity to stretch, recharge, and spend quality time with some very cute company. Puppy yoga is a beginner-friendly flow with puppies roaming the studio. Puppy Pilates gives you an uninterrupted 40-minute sculpt workout first, then 20 minutes of puppy cuddles.

Think less pressure to perfect your pose, more permission to enjoy the moment.

To be clear, the Arizona State study looked at yoga and Pilates generally, not puppy yoga or Puppy Pilates specifically. So we can't promise that adding puppies will extend your lifespan. For what research does say about time with puppies, read the science behind puppy yoga.

But making your wellness routine something you actually look forward to feels like a win to us.

If you've been looking for an excuse to prioritize a little more self-care, consider this your sign.

A little movement, a little mindfulness, and a lot of puppy energy.

Whether you're making it your weekly self-care ritual, planning a cute date night, or getting your friends together for something different, Puppy Sphere makes taking time for yourself a whole lot more fun.

First time? Here's what to expect at your first puppy yoga class.

Will puppy yoga make you live longer? Science hasn't answered that one.

Will it make your day a little better? That's certainly plan ♡

The research: Sheehan and colleagues, "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and All-Cause Mortality Among US Adults: A National Prospective Cohort Study," American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2026). The study identified associations between yoga, Pilates, and lower all-cause mortality, but did not establish causation or evaluate Puppy Sphere experiences.

• ASU's announcement of the study
• Read the Athletech News article