Goat Yoga is Here to Namasté

BY MARCIA BIGGS

They are undeniably adorable, incredibly innocent and love to be cuddled and scratched. Goats might not be puppies or kitties, but get just the same lovin’ in the Goat Yoga classes held every Saturday and Sunday at Grady Goat Farm in Thonotosassa. As for the yoga part? Well, let’s just say these kids steal the show.

The story goes that partnering goats with yoga classes started on a goat farm in Oregon in 2016. Some say it’s a fad, having spread across the country. But farm owner Rob Canton feels fairly certain the classes will be continuing for quite some time. “We get between 30 and 50 people in every class, they fi ll up,” he says. Canton runs the yoga classes as a fundraiser for the Grady Goat Foundation’s Project G.O.A.T. (Global Off ensive Against Traffi cking), which benefi ts abused children from around the world. He says he gets people from all over the state coming to the goat yoga classes which cost $35 a pop.

I jumped at the chance to join the goat yoga class when Canton extended the invitation. Not that I am a big goat fan, mind you. But I have been practicing fl ow yoga for years and the chance to Down Dog on a Sunday morning beneath towering oaks and a blue spring sky were too tempting to turn down.

Rob and wife Debbie greeted arrivals with big smiles and ushered us into a gated corral where 55 yoga mats were strategically placed. As we waited for stragglers, baby goats were brought out with milk bottles and it was game over, all hearts melted. Some of these little guys were less than a week old and too young to join the yoga goats. But it wouldn’t be long before they would be nuzzling and snuggling with the best of them.

Once everyone was situated, the herd came running into the corral as if someone yelled DINNER! It was shockingly cute as they scurried up to the humans like a pack of wild puppies looking for scratches and aff ection. Oooooohm my.

Our yoga instructor Alicia was obviously experienced dealing with the distraction. She ignored the commotion and started with warmup stretches and spinal twists, but goats were everywhere, running, chasing, sniffi ng, jumping on backs, crawling under legs. I tried to follow Alicia -- Warrior 1,2,3, Tabletop, Cat, Cow, balance on one foot in Tree -- but what the hey (did I mention the entire corral was covered in hay?) goats were everywhere – on my back, nibbling my notebook.

It was also apparent from the moment we sat down on our mats that goats will pretty much relieve themselves anywhere anytime – and often. Yes, poop pellets and pee were plentiful, but thanks to a team of human cleaner-uppers, one need simply wave over a helper with rags and disinfectant and the little mess disappeared.

The laughter was contagious, cell phones were snapping photos everywhere, and after a while most of us just succumbed to the revelry and gave up with the yoga. As we lay on our mats at the end, many of the goats were tuckered out and laid down, too. After an hour it was over. More photos with the goats, buy the t-shirt and head up the dusty road back to the big city.

I did goat yoga and I loved it. Namaste.

Goat Yoga classes are at 10 am Saturdays and Sundays at Grady Goat Farm, 12551 Franklin Road, Thonotosassa. Advance reservations are a must as classes sell out. Go to www.gradygoat.org for more information