Goat Yoga, the latest and most adorable wellness trend, is exactly what it sounds like: yoga with goats. This quirky practice first captured our attention thanks to Instagram’s finest, including celebrities like Kevin Hart and Kate Beckinsale, who posted pictures and videos of themselves trying to keep their balance while a goat clambered onto their back. If you’re still scratching your head and wondering why goats are now part of yoga class, well, keep reading, and we’ll fill you in.
From Farm to Fitness: How Goat Yoga Was Born?
The story of Goat Yoga begins not in a yoga studio, but on a farm in Oregon in 2016, where Lainey Morse was looking for a way to cope with some personal challenges. After a tough divorce and an autoimmune disease diagnosis, Lainey found peace and comfort by hanging out with the goats on her farm.
She called it “Goat Happy Hour” and started inviting friends over to join her. But it wasn’t until one of her friends—who also happened to be a yoga instructor—suggested, “Hey, let’s do some yoga with these goats!” that Goat Yoga was born. And just like that, the goat-filled yoga revolution was underway, spreading across the world like wildfire.
But why goats? Well, goats are amazing therapy animals, especially when they’re baby goats, which are basically bundles of joy in fuzzy, bleating form. Studies show that spending time with animals can lower your blood pressure, ease physical pain, and improve mental health by reducing anxiety and increasing overall happiness. Goats, being the friendly and curious creatures that they are, love human attention. They’re like that one friend who always wants a hug—except they’ll probably also climb on your back and nibble your hair.
Goat Yoga: Laugh, Relax, and Find Your Zen with Goats
The beauty of Goat Yoga is that you don’t have to be an expert yogi to join the fun. The classes are beginner-friendly and open to all skill levels, even those who have zero flexibility and are terrified of downward dog (which, by the way, is probably going to be the most relaxed pose you’ll do because a goat will likely plop down on your back while you try to do it). There are no high expectations in Goat Yoga—just low mats and high hopes that the goats don’t mistake your head for a snack. In fact, the most common pose you’ll perfect is “goat snuggle” as a baby goat curls up in your lap mid-pose.
You might think yoga is all about zen, peace, and silent contemplation, but Goat Yoga is far from the usual silent, serious sessions. Instead of quiet reflection, it’s more like trying to do a headstand while a goat climbs up your legs like a jungle gym. Sure, you might fall over, but that’s part of the fun. Goats are natural comedians, and their antics are the perfect antidote to any stresses of the day. A goat may hop on your back mid-pigeon pose, making you giggle until you forget why you were even stressed in the first place. As a result, you’ll find yourself laughing, relaxing, and generally feeling like you’ve just stepped into an alternate universe where goats are the true masters of relaxation.
And let’s not forget the benefits—aside from the obvious mental health perks from laughing and having a goat cuddle you during your “yoga” session. These goats, much like the best personal trainers, help you focus on the present moment, which is a fancy way of saying you’re too distracted by their adorable antics to worry about anything else. The class doesn’t allow for much anxiety when you’re trying to stop a baby goat from crawling up your back or licking your toes while you’re in an awkward yoga pose.
Goat Yoga: Laugh and Stretch with Adorable Goats by Your Side
One of the best things about Goat Yoga is that it’s a much-needed break from the typical, quiet yoga classes that often just add more pressure to your day. The constant bleating and goat-related interruptions keep you from focusing on your to-do list or your worries, nudging you toward a state of happy distraction. Rather than sitting in silence, trying (and failing) to clear your mind, Goat Yoga encourages you to just let go, laugh, and enjoy the goat-filled chaos.
Goat Yoga is the perfect blend of stress relief, fitness, and farmyard fun. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a beginner who just likes the idea of goats climbing on your back, it’s the ideal way to relax, laugh, and get a little stretchy with some very cuddly companions. So if you’ve ever wanted to combine yoga with the pure joy of baby goats, now’s your chance. Just be prepared for some surprise goat cuddles and, of course, a whole lot of giggles.