A Gift I Didn’t Realise I Needed

Last Christmas, I received one of the most thoughtful gifts - a session of Puppy Yoga.

For someone like me, whose primary love language is Physical Touch, it turned out to be so much more than a cute, trendy experience. It became a way to reconnect with an emotional need that can sometimes feel a little… missing when you’re single.

The session was split into two parts:

• 30 minutes of gentle yoga

• 30 minutes playing with 10-week-old German Shepherd puppies

And honestly… I didn’t expect it to affect me the way it did.

As I sat on the mat, surrounded by these warm, wriggling little bundles of fur, something just clicked.

The Power of Physical Touch

Physical Touch has always been the way I feel most connected.

A hug. Holding hands. A reassuring arm around you.

It’s how I experience comfort, closeness, and affection.

But when you’re single, those moments don’t always come naturally in day-to-day life.

And you don’t always realise how much you miss them… until something brings it back.

Holding those puppies — their warmth, their soft fur, their little paws - brought a sense of calm and comfort I hadn’t realised I needed.

It wasn’t just cute.

It was grounding.
It was soothing.
It felt like my emotional cup had quietly been refilled.

Meeting Your Emotional Needs While Single

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is this:

✨ Being single doesn’t mean your emotional needs have to go unmet.

We often associate things like touch, connection, and comfort with relationships.

But they don’t only exist there.

Experiences like Puppy Yoga reminded me that there are so many ways to nurture yourself:

• spending time with animals

• hugging friends or family

• taking moments to slow down and be present

• doing things that genuinely make you feel good

It’s about recognising what you need… and allowing yourself to receive it in different ways.

The Thought Behind the Gift

What made this even more special was the thought behind it.

My youngest daughter gave it to me.

She knew me well enough to understand how much I’d appreciate not just the experience - but how it would make me feel.

It wasn’t just a present.

✨ It was an act of love.

And one that aligned perfectly with how I experience connection and joy.

Why Puppy Yoga Might Be Exactly What You Need

Whether your love language is Physical Touch or you simply love animals, Puppy Yoga is something I’d genuinely recommend.

Not just because it’s fun (although it is!).

But because of how it makes you feel.

It’s a chance to:

• slow down

• connect with something warm and alive

• let go of stress

• be fully in the moment

And sometimes… that’s exactly what we need.

A Gentle Reminder

Love and connection don’t only come from romantic relationships.

They show up in:

• small moments

• thoughtful gestures

• unexpected experiences

And sometimes…

✨ in a room full of playful puppies.

What’s Your Love Language?

Have you ever had an experience that unexpectedly filled your emotional cup?

It might be something simple — time with friends, a hug, someone doing something thoughtful for you, or hearing the words you didn't realise you needed to hear.

That's one of the reasons I've always found the idea of Love Languages so interesting. Understanding what makes you feel loved, valued and connected can tell you a lot about yourself — whether you're single or in a relationship.

If you'd like to explore the concept further, the book I personally recommend is The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I've used the ideas from it with clients for years and still think there's a lot to take from it.

One little heads-up: Gary Chapman writes from a Christian perspective, so there are religious references in the book. If that's not your thing, you may find yourself skimming over those bits — I do. 😂 But the underlying relationship concept is one I've found incredibly useful.

Take a look at The 5 Love Languages →
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