A company that pairs yoga with puppies is planting a permanent flag on Main Street.

Puppy Sphere will open a studio at 2400 Main St. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, marking the company's return to Los Angeles after previously running pop-up events in the area. Co-founders Francesca Albo and Lea Burbidge Izquierdo said in a statement reported by the Westside Current that Santa Monica felt like the right home for what they do.

The studio's main offering is a 75-minute "Wellness Puppy Yoga" session: 45 minutes of guided yoga with puppies roaming the room, followed by 30 minutes of unstructured time with the animals. Sparkling drinks and a yoga mat are included for every guest. Two to three pet first-aid certified staff members monitor the puppies during every class, according to Burbidge Izquierdo.

"I ended up getting a dog during that period and he brought so much love into my life," Albo told the Los Angeles Times in January 2026, describing how her own experience with clinical depression while working in corporate inspired the concept she and Burbidge Izquierdo launched in Toronto in 2021.

During its opening month, the company says it will donate $1 from every ticket sold to local animal rescues. It has not named the specific organizations that will receive the funds. Puppy Sphere says it has raised $16,000 total for animal rescues since 2021 across its locations in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

The studio is not affiliated with the city's animal shelter, but its opening arrives as local animal services face pressure. Lead animal control officer Martin Hernandez told the Santa Monica Daily Press the shelter hit capacity for dogs and is operating at about 80% occupancy, with surrender requests climbing as residents cite moves and downsizing due to economic conditions. The shelter maintains a no-kill status with a live release rate above 90%.

Ticket pricing for the Santa Monica studio was not available at press time. Classes can be booked at thepuppysphere.com.

Upcoming community events in Santa Monica

  • Saturday, July 11, 2026 — Santa Monica Block Fest, 5 p.m. to midnight, Third Street Promenade (Broadway to Wilshire)
  • Monday, July 13, 2026 — Ocean Park Association monthly meeting, 6 p.m., Ocean Park Library. Guest speakers include State Senate candidate John Erickson and a discussion on the Farmers Market move to Main Street.
  • Thursday, July 16, 2026 — Annenberg Beach House Sunset Picnic (Route 66 Edition), 5–8 p.m., 415 PCH
  • Saturday, July 18, 2026 — Puppy Sphere grand opening weekend begins, 2400 Main St.
  • Saturday, July 18, 2026 — SMC Emeritus Acting Troupe virtual performance, "Conversations: Scenes from Film and Theater," 1 p.m. via Zoom (smc.edu/calendar)
  • Sunday, July 19, 2026 — COAST Open Streets Festival