CLEVELAND — It's a chance to find inner peace, support local female-owned businesses and help puppies find a new home. Namastray Cleveland incorporates yoga with a dog and discusses how that concept is bringing members of the community together.

Kaitlan Phillips is the director of Namastray Cleveland, a charity puppy yoga event taking place for the fourth year.

“So I’ve been doing this event for four years,” she said. “I’ve been in the yoga community for about eight or nine as a teacher myself. I’ve been involved in animal rescues for over a decade. I’ve fostered animals myself.”

The event not only is healthy for dogs and people, but it raised more than $10,000 for animal rescues in the Cleveland area, with about 100 yogis all participating in yoga.

“So this is actually a very calming pose for a lot of puppies,” Phillips said. “It’s relaxing for them. It’s bringing them into you.”

Phillips said puppy yoga comes with many different health benefits and that just 10 minutes with a dog can significantly reduce stress.

“It’s just as good for us as it is for them,” she said. “Obviously you saw poses where we let them run around and kind of change yoga mats and stuff like that, so they give up a little bit of energy.”

While some puppies found themselves in a new home after this event, Phillips took things to another level, also helping about a dozen women small business owners.

“The event brings together many communities: the yoga community, the rescue community and the small business community, all of which are vital parts of a growing and prosperous Cleveland.” she said.

Phillips invited pop up shops from 13 women-run businesses, from yoga studios to hand made candles and clothing.

“It’s just good for the soul, donating to these guys while you’re having fun while doing good,” she said. “There is just nothing better than that.”

Phillips is happy to know these puppies are helping community businesses grow, as the community is helping these puppies find their new home.