Of all the yoga trends to ever exist, goat yoga is one of the quirkiest, and arguably the most adorable.
Otherwise known as caprine vinyasa, baby goat yoga will have you planking and stretching while surrounded by baby goats.
This yoga trend was designed to create a balance between the yogi and nature.
Additionally, it was created to expose yogis to the cuteness and uniqueness of baby goats.
While goats are a well-known, domesticated species worldwide, many of us in the Western world don’t get the chance to interact with them in such an intimate space.
What Is Caprine Vinyasa Or Baby Goat Yoga?
Caprine vinyasa is a gentle style of yoga that is intended to be relaxing.
Many of the poses, or asanas, are beginner level so that yogis of all skill level can join in on the cuteness.
Those participating in a goat yoga session are invited to focus on the yoga practice or pet the baby goats.
However, these lovable baby animals have been known to climb on attendees as they are trying to hold an asana.
These goat kids love to try and distract you so that you can stop what you are doing and play with them instead.
Sometimes, the goats will even gravitate toward a mat of their choosing to take a nap.
Depending on where you attend a session, the facilitators might hand out snacks to the guests so they can feed the baby goats.
You shouldn’t try to feed the goats anything you brought from home, and it’s important that you do not feed the goats without the organizer’s permission.
This practice seems cute and endearing on the surface, but there are lessons to be learned from the experience.
Goat yoga reminds us to not take life so seriously and to roll with the punches.
Even though you should remain concentrated on your yoga postures during your session, you just can’t help but melt if a baby goat climbs on top of you during cat-cow.
It’s a sweet little reminder that while we can’t always control what happens around us, we can control how we respond.
Sometimes it’s not such a bad idea to stop and smell the roses, or in this case, cuddle with a baby animal.
Needless to say, this is a practice that can really warm your heart, make you laugh, and relieve stress from normal day to day life.
How Goat Yoga Came To Be
This fun and unique trend officially started in 2016 by an Oregon farm owner, Lainey Morse, who would regularly host a “goat happy hour” at her farm where people could come over and interact with her goats.
One day, Morse’s yoga teacher suggested that they incorporate a yoga session into the next happy hour and, the rest is history!
Morse believes that goats are the perfect therapy animals.
This is because goats don’t need as much time to open up to people as other animals do.
Goats tend to gravitate to humans naturally, wanting affection, regardless of their age.
Goat yoga was such an enormous hit, that it has since taken off and is now practiced nationwide at various locations.
Tips For Your First Caprine Vinyasa Class
It’s safe to say that a baby goat yoga session is going to be a lot different from the yoga you are used to doing.
Here are some tips to make sure that you get the most out of your experience:
- Dress in clothes that you won’t mind getting licked or tugged on by the baby goats.
- Be prepared for accidents in the name of pee or droppings to happen during the practice. After all, they are still babies! The good news is that there is usually someone there whose job is to clean up the mess as quickly as possible.
- Make sure your hair is tied up and secured. Sometimes, the baby goats may try to play with it.
- Be open to all the love and cuteness of these tiny animals!
If you are interested in participating a goat yoga session, try searching online for an upcoming event near you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some of the most common questions people have about goat yoga.
What is the point of goat yoga?
There are many benefits of a caprine vinyasa session.
Stretching and breathing in the presence of adorable baby animals is an effective way to have some fun and destress.
Can you do goat yoga while pregnant?
We don’t recommend you take a goat yoga class when you are pregnant.
As with all yoga classes, it’s important to listen to your body and don’t do anything that doesn’t feel good.
Tuning into your body maybe difficult with a goat on your back.
Additionally, there may be sanitary concerns with goats.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. There are other forms of yoga to choose from when you are pregnant.
How does goat yoga work?
In a typical goat yoga session, yogis are invited to concentrate on their yoga practice while also engaging and interacting with the goats as they please!
How much does goat yoga cost?
The prices for a goat yoga session vary depending on the organizer.
While some classes cost as little as $10, other classes can cost around $75.
Where to do goat yoga?
Goat yoga is a trend that has been sweeping the nation ever since 2016.
It is available in states like Oregon, California, Texas, New York, and New Hampshire, just to name a few.
Search online to see if there are goat yoga sessions available in a location near you.
Do the goats have accidents during a yoga session?
Sometimes, the baby goats have accidents during the session.
However, there is usually someone there to quickly pick up the pee and droppings.
How long is a goat yoga session?
A typical goat yoga session can last anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes.
