Goat Yoga by Robin O’Neal Smith

It is a New Year and time to try some new things, make a fresh start and rejuvenate your spirit. Why not try Goat Yoga?

Yes you read that correctly, Goat yoga is a fun way to exercise, enjoy nature and commune with the goats. I had never attended a yoga class, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to try goat yoga. I knew nothing about yoga and growing up on a farm I never associated farm animals with any type of fun exercise. But I like new adventures and was willing to give it a try for the unique experience, and let’s face it, baby goats are darn cute.

I participated in goat yoga with Arizona Goat Yoga in Gilbert, Arizona, a town located southeast of Phoenix. My goat yoga experience was sponsored by Discover Gilbert. All opinions are my own.

I learned that goat yoga involves simple yoga moves practiced while surrounded by live goats who also participate with you. I figured it would be fun. I assumed there would be about 15 people in the class and a half dozen baby goats running around as we exercised. There is something about baby goats frolicking around that just puts a smile on your face.

Goat yoga was much more popular than I realized. There were about 70 people of all ages and sizes in a huge circle doing Goat Yoga with two instructors. There were more goats than I imagined, forty goats and two alpacas were on the field for the goat yoga. watch.

Many were dressed in tropical t-shirts and other attire. One of the goats had a white shirt and tie on with a blond wig, his name was Trump!

The 60-minute session began with a brief introduction about the instructors, the goats, and the alpacas.

The instructors explained that

the goats were mostly friendly and they would just do their thing while we did yoga. They discussed how the goats would perhaps hop on top of you or go under you during the various yoga moves. Quite a few of the goats were babies and about the size of small dogs. There were also momma and papa goats.

They told us not to stress if the goats went to the bathroom near or even on our mats. Whoa … I hadn’t thought about dealing with that! They informed us that the tiny poo pellets would easily shake off.

We did a few simple yoga stretches while standing and then the instructor had us do the “downward dog” yoga pose. The laughs were abundant as the goats ran under us.

Throughout the class the instructors told us how the goats

By Robin O’Neal Smith

Freelance Writer https://RobinONealSmith. com

were cared for, their habits, where they live and the history of goat yoga. It was quite educational, interactive and entertaining.

Arizona Goat Yoga was the first goat yoga program in the U.S. It started in 2015 and when I visited in 2019, it was rated the #1 goat yoga experience in the Western United States.The goats are pets, and they crave human attention. They are spoiled with love and affections when not participating in goat yoga. Just like a puppy, they are taught new tricks and played with.

The goats have no retirement age at Arizona Goat Yoga. When they are too big to jump, they are taught to go under you and sometimes the bigger goats get excited and still jump.

I experienced this first-hand when we were to hold a plan position and the biggest goat of the bunch jumped on top of me and flattened me to the ground. It wasn’t pretty!

But for the most part the poses were easy and the baby goats would jump on top of one person and go under the next. The whole field was full of laughter.

We ended our session doing yoga poses that involved two people. Goats love to climb and they do whatever to get to the highest point. It was hilarious.

I think we enjoyed much more laughter than exercise, but it was such a fun experience.

It is a new year and it is good to try new things and rejuvenate your energy. Goat yoga has been proven to be therapeutic for all ages. It reduces stress and anxiety. Interacting with animals reduces cortisol while simultaneously increasing serotonin and dopamine, which lift your spirit and reduce feelings of sadness and grief. Combined with the laughter induced by goat yoga, tension is released.

The animals jumping on you won’t hurt (unless they slam you to the ground). Their hooves are hard, but feel sort of like a massage on your back. They don’t stay on you for long, either, as they hop on and off at their leisure.

At Arizona Goat Yoga, all the classes are held outside in a beautiful grassy field, so you get to enjoy the outdoors as well as the goats and alpaca. The class is an hour, but many, like me, stay up to an hour longer to take pictures and mingle with goats and alpaca.

I was a lot of fun and I can’t think of a better way to kick off the year. When I left, my smile muscles were hurting from all the laughing. I highly recommend goat yoga to all ages as long as you can get down and up from the ground and like animals. Just be prepared to laugh a lot.

Classes fill fast. Get your ticket online to guarantee a spot.

Wear comfortable clothing for easy movement. Remember goats may jump on your back with grassy hooves. Be sure to wear shoes that you’re not too worried about. You never know what you might step in!