Yoga With Goats: Oregon Farm Offers Classes With Cuddly Animals

Tree pose slowly morphs into right triangle, followed by garland pose and a smooth transition to bridge. Then a fluffy goat passes your purview before climbing onto your yoga mat.

No, the goat hasn’t escaped its pen. You’re yoga class’s studio is their farm.

According to The Oregonian, yoga instructor Lainey Morse is allowing the goats from her No Regrets Farm in Albany, Oregon, to participate and roam around classes. Morse, a former photographer, told The Oregonian the idea of Goat Yoga came about when she hosted a child’s birthday party at her farm and her six goats joined in.

"My goats are very social and friendly animals and love to interact with people," Morse wrote to the site in an email. "Animals are known to have so many health benefits for humans as well, so the mix of goats and yoga seemed to fit."

Along with her barn cat and chickens, the goats roam around between yoga posers’ mats or even climb up on their backs. The class has become quite popular and Morse’s Sept. 10 session is already sold out, but another is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Morse said she decided to focus on starting up a business around her farm, which eventually led to the hope that her animals could be used for therapeutic purposes.

"The ultimate end goal is to specialize in animal-assisted therapy for people suffering grief or abuse as well as people with special needs or disabilities," Morse said. "That is down the road but as for now, I'm starting out with Goat Yoga which has been a huge hit."

Channeling the bond between humans and the other animals who walk the earth is nothing new. According to the American Humane Association, animal-assisted therapy has helped veterans returning from service, neglected children, or patients facing major medical crises.