Goat Yoga

Introduction

• Goat yoga has swiftly gained popularity in the yoga community, selling out sessions at studios and on farms all over the US.
• The positions are essentially the same as in a regular vinyasa class; you’ll still get a great workout practicing poses like chaturanga and bridge pose, but the inclusion of little farm pals adds a playful and unpredictable aspect.
• Goat yoga seems like a fun activity, but what are the advantages? To discover, continue reading.
• You’re doing a sun salutation while lying down on your mat.
• The sun kisses your skin as a little wind rustles the foliage in the sky above.
• However, something unexpected gives your exercise a whimsical touch: a small goat leaps onto your back, playsfully nibbles on your yoga strap, and nuzzles your ear.
• A coworker proposed Goat Yoga as a potential Staff Day activity during brainstorming.
• Until now, I had never heard of anything like this. Goat yoga: My thoughts raced through a number of possibilities: doing yoga with a goat yogi; observing goats joyfully frolicking in an enclosure while executing yoga positions.
• Whatever it was, I was eager to give it a try, so my husband and I drove out to Happy Goats Farm in Holliston, Massachusetts.
• It seemed fascinating.
• Diana and Lee Phillips are the owners of this little farm, which offers goat yoga in addition to being a smaller farm with a modest store where they sell fresh eggs, goat milk, soap, and other goods.
• Diana informed me that Baby Goat Yoga has been available for almost three years at Happy Goats Farm.
• After welcoming us and gathering about twelve people, Lee, the co-owner and Diana’s boyfriend led us on a little hike down to the goat corral.
• Given that this was the final Goat Yoga class of the year, I was thrilled, as was everyone else in the room.
• As soon as we arrived at the goat area, Lee warned us to be prepared since the goats would be lively.
• Additionally, he referred to his daughter as our “Goat Wrangler.” Even though there was beautiful grass to be found on the outskirts of the cage, she did a fantastic job of maintaining the goats’ curiosity towards humans.
• The goats arrived to meet everyone as soon as they entered and placed their towels on the grass (mats were discouraged since the goats had resorted to eating them). One was instantly at ease in the lovely, tranquil surroundings.
• Goat Yoga turned out to be just how I had envisioned, well, without the goat Yogi.
• As the goats ran about and bounced on people’s backs as they assumed the table posture (or any pose, really), our yogi Nissa Dianatina guided the class.
• They were not little infants, but they were still babies about 4 months old and perhaps 25–30 pounds! They were quite well-trained and lively!
• After waiting for their chance, the goats would strike the table pose and presto! A goat resting on your back.
• I was giggling uncontrollably. Since the goats love to gnaw on long hair, the owners had advised everyone with long hair to tie it up. I’m laughing like a young child as I strike the pose, gorging on my bun while lying on my back.
• It was simply too funny.
• I thought the very end, when we got to give the newborns their bottles of fresh goat milk, was the nicest part.
• They were small, avaricious creatures that would butt each other out of the way, but in the end, everyone had enough to drink.
• To sum up, I would want to say how much Lee and Diana love their goats.
• Once the goats reach adulthood, they are carefully vetted and adopted by excellent homes.
• The farm gets its name from the fact that everyone who works there is happy in addition to the goats.
• In the spring, immediately following the birth of the new infants, I intend to attend another session.

What Is Goat Yoga?

• This is the main idea of goat yoga: In addition, to live baby goats led by trainers into certain postures, there are live goats in the group yoga session.
• For example, Party Goats LA and Laughing Frog Yoga collaborate to provide their lessons in Los Angeles.
• Spanky and Pippin, two cute baby yoga goats, travel with two goat trainers to the courses.
• The yoga teacher teaches the class as usual, but during your practice, the baby goats are allowed to come and jump on top of you.
• When doing important yoga postures such as the plank, downward dog, upward dog, child’s pose, boat pose, bridge, and wheel, Spanky and Pippin are trained to leap on humans.
• In warrior and other standing stances, they’ll also pass beneath your legs, according to goat trainer Scout Raskin.
• In fact, in addition to helping the young goats eat, the goat trainers also prevent the goats from sometimes chewing on a ponytail.
• The cleanup of any mishaps is also the duty of the trainers.
• However, be advised that there’s no assurance a goat won’t discharge itself while perched on your back.

How is yoga for goats performed?

• The only difference between conventional yoga and goat yoga is the presence of goats!
• The goats may move about and add some extra charm and entertainment, or they can perch on your back in certain postures.
• You may also take pauses throughout some lessons to stroke and snuggle the young goats.

Are goat yoga advantages really that great?

• Goat yoga may be a lot of fun if you love animals and don’t mind the occasional unexpected event (poop, pee, little nips on the fingers) that happens when furry companions are present.
• Naturally, not everyone want to include their love of animals into their yoga practice.

Do the goats not endure pain?

• Goats are among the friendliest and most carefree agricultural animals especially when they’re wearing gorgeous baby yoga outfits. Trained handlers assist in leading courses at yoga farms.
• The goats are socialized to live with people, and people are taught how to keep themselves safe and handle goats with caution and respect.

Is goat yoga still a thing?

• The days of a tiny group of individuals practicing goat yoga in Albany, Oregon, are long gone.
• Yoga classrooms are opening up in cities and towns all throughout North America as a result of this inventive and enjoyable form of exercise.

Are goat yoga courses dangerous?

• Yoga sessions with baby goats should not put you or the goats in risk if they are held at a recognized farm by certified yoga teachers and animal managers.
• Remember, though, that goats like climbing and jumping.
• Some may lie on your back in a particular position, or they may stroll on your body.
• The majority of students report that this doesn’t hurt—it could even feel similar to a massage.
• Given that goats have firm hooves, it could feel awkward for a short while.

How should my attire be for goat yoga?

• Put on loose, moveable apparel that is comfy for you.
• The goats love to chew, so you might want to stay away from wearing loose, flowing clothing in case they grasp on to it with their lips.
• In order to shield your feet from the goats’ hooves, you should also wear closed-toe shoes.
• Additionally, carry a yoga mat so that you may easily do the various positions, such downward dog.

Goat Yoga Benefits

Perhaps you’re still thinking, what’s the purpose of goat yoga? And what advantages does goat yoga offer? Although it won’t exactly replicate the exercise you receive in a hot Bikram class, there is certainly something for everyone to enjoy.

Physical

• I’ll admit that this isn’t the most physically demanding exercise I’ve done.
• The 25-pound goats may provide your planks a little additional resistance, but they don’t exactly stay for a long hold because they have a lot of people to go through in the full courses.
• Nevertheless, you are receiving the typical physical advantages of a mild yoga session, such as muscular flexibility and nervous system relaxation.
• Having said that, goat yoga makes it difficult not to laugh.

Mental

• Although the concept of goat yoga is rather ridiculous, don’t write it off as a fad.
• Goat yoga instructor Jodi Michaels from Laughing Frog says, “The goats force you to be light-hearted and not take every little thing so seriously.”
• Scout from Party Goats LA concurs, saying, “It’s not a traditional yoga experience, but it’s one that’ll definitely put you in a good mood.”

Stress reduction

• Doing yoga and spending time with animals are two effective ways to reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone.

Anxiety relief

• Once more, yoga and animal therapy assist in reducing feelings of anxiety. It is beneficial even if you are depressed.
• It has occasionally been observed that practitioners chuckle while around these creatures, and we all know the positive effects of laughing on health!

Mood enhancement

• Your mood can be lifted by the endorphins created during yoga and the joy that goats radiate.

Improved flexibility

• Your range of motion and flexibility will improve with yoga.

Cardiovascular exercise

• Yoga can reduce blood pressure and increase heart rate.

Pain relief

• Both yoga and goat therapy can help to alleviate pain.

Positivity

• As previously noted, a more optimistic view of life may be fostered by yoga and goats alike.

Improved sleep quality

• Yoga has been shown in studies to improve the quality of sleep.

Improved breathing

• Yoga can be helpful for those with asthma or other respiratory disorders since it improves breathing.

Goats and yoga? Why?

• Lainey began giving “goat happy hours” to locals and anybody else interested in receiving some goat therapy of their own since she felt that this little bit of joy should be shared.
• After sharing this with a friend of Lainey’s who taught yoga, her buddy had a fantastic idea: why not combine yoga with goat therapy for the ultimate in physical and emotional positivism?
• The rest is history, as they say. Goat yoga quickly gained popularity and spread to many different parts of North America.

Conclusion

Goat yoga, an unexpected take on tradition, shows that humour and mindfulness can come in cute, four-legged packages. Goat yoga teaches us that often the best poses are the ones shared with fuzzy friends, going beyond downward dog and downward nibbles.

Goat yoga is about pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones and discovering joy in the unexpected, not simply about goats.

FAQ

References:

• Goat Yoga. (2023, January 9). Morrill Memorial Library. https://www.norwoodlibrary.org/goat-yoga/
• Wozniak, Z., & Santilli, M. (2022, July 25). Why Goat Yoga Is All the Rage. HUM Nutrition Blog. https://www.humnutrition.com/blog/goat-yoga/
• Goat Yoga – All You Need To Know About This Fun Yoga Style. (2023, October 16). https://www.anahana.com/en/wellbeing-blog/yoga/what-is-goat-yoga