You would think yoga is just supposed to involve humans and must be free of distractions. Normal people wouldn't think to add farms or farm animals to the mix. But one place in Oregon has decided to take this innovative risk. What is the most startling feature?
The yoga class has goats.
I don't mean stuffed animals or "old goats." There is a yoga class in Oregon that allows goats to wander around while people perform yoga. The idea is that you will feel less depressed and there will be a lighthearted touch if goats are wandering around, bleating, sniffing you, and nibbling on your yoga mat.
The idea was introduced by Heather Davis and Lainey Morse. Davis, a yoga instructor came up with the idea earlier this year after she took her son to a birthday party at the Albany farm and loved the animals, farmhouse, and fields. She thought all of this would be the perfect backdrop to practice yoga.
Morse owns the farm, No Regrets, at which the goat yoga classes are held. She moved to the farm two years ago and credits the goats with helping her get through a divorce and chronic illness. She wants to share the goats with anyone going through a tough time and even hosts "goat happy hour," in which friends can enjoy a glass of wine with the goats and watch the sunset from inside the old barn.
The class is only $10 per session but is only available in the summer months. For now. Morse is looking to buy a separate property with a barn where she can host goat yoga year round. So fingers crossed.
It is already very popular. There are plenty of articles online documenting this adorable innovation and the waiting list for one of Davis's yoga sessions is 500! These people and more have asked about having classes year round. Apparently they are not intimidated by goats.
The goats are harmless. Morse has trained them to be friendly to people and apparently the training has worked. They walk among the people as they do yoga and the most harm they do is chew on people's mats and, in the most embarrassing instances, poop on the mats. However, the poop is easy to just brush off and the goats mostly walk around. However, the distractions such as poop, pee, and animals chewing on your stuff has benefits. Davis says that dealing with any issues goats may pose teaches people to deal with obstacles thrown at them. Overall the goats make people laugh and do not mind people petting them.
I personally love goats. I am so sad that goat yoga is in Oregon but someday it might spread across America until it comes to New Jersey. When that day comes, I will attend a yoga class and would be honored to have a goat sniff me and chew on my mat.
