When you think about exercise, the last thing you would expect to hear is goat and yoga in the same sentence. Trust us when we say this… we didn’t either! However, goat yoga is a real thing, yes, you read that correctly!
Not only is goat yoga a real thing, but it’s surprisingly popular and more and more people are trying it each year. You may be wondering what on Earth goat yoga is, and if this is you, then you need to read this article.
In this article, we will be guiding you through everything you need to know about goat yoga. From its origins, to its health benefits, we will be telling you everything you need to know.
We’re not kidding when we say that it’s a fun type of yoga!
What Is Goat Yoga?
As its name suggests, goat yoga involves yoga with goats. It is typically performed in a group session. A group of people will have a yoga lesson, and goats will join them in the process!
While it is typically baby goats, called kids, that join the sessions, this is not a necessity and goats of any age can join in a goat yoga session. They are a fairly new concept, but it is something that has increased significantly in popularity in recent years.
Goat yoga is seen to be therapeutic. While yoga itself helps a person to practice mindfulness and helps to clear the mind, goat yoga adds the calming nature of animals into the mix too.
It is said to be very good for the mind, body, and soul. While you may not necessarily think of goats as therapeutic animals to begin with, recent studies have shown this to be the case. This is why goat yoga is only increasing in popularity.
You may wonder why animals such as cats or dogs aren’t used, which is understandable considering they’re common pets to own. However, in many cases dogs and cats especially, can be unpredictable.
Some dogs can get too excited, and some cats can be too nervous or aloof. Due to this behavior, unless they are your own pets, they aren’t the best animals to perform yoga with.
This is what makes goats the perfect animal to consider. Surprisingly they are a docile animal that is friendly and is more than happy to approach and interact with humans and strangers. They have a calming aura about them, and they are not typically aggressive animals.
The goats are present during the yoga sessions, and they can be placed onto people’s backs, or they can just be in the room. This depends on personal preference.
Where Did Goat Yoga Come From?
Goat yoga is a fairly new trend, and it can be dated back to around 2015. Its official name is captain vinyasa. The idea was created in Arizona, United States by two women. These women were Sarah Williams and April Gould.
From here, people began to gain an interest in their goat yoga classes, and it soon became the thing to do. More people decided to host their own goat yoga sessions, and it was widely spread across different social media platforms.
Their sessions are now even a part of the Guinness Book of World Records due to their popularity, which is interesting.
What Are The Benefits Of Goat Yoga?
There are many benefits of goat yoga, some of which we have already mentioned.
Mental Health And Wellness
To begin with, goat yoga is great for your wellness. If you are someone that struggles with your mental health, then it can be a great way to calm your body and your mind. The goats are said to have a soothing and calming effect, but like a therapy animal.
Fun Way To Exercise
In addition to this, goat yoga is fun. It is an intriguing take on yoga and provides people with a fun and compelling exercise. For those who maybe aren’t sold on the idea of yoga, throwing goats into the mix can encourage them to try out a new exercise.
Helps With Overall Fitness
As goat yoga features yoga poses, it is fantastic for your overall health, both physical and mental. It helps to strengthen your body, and encourages flexibility and movement. It is not too high impact, so it’s a great option to consider for beginners looking to kick-start their health journey.
Lowers Blood Pressure
When you carry out yoga of any sort, it is good for both your heart and your blood pressure. This is because it encourages relaxation techniques and teaches you how to calm your body and mind.
When goats are used in addition to the stretches and yoga poses, this further helps to reduce blood pressure and alleviate stress.
Strengthens Your Body
Yoga is a great way to strengthen your body in general, and adding goats to the mix only improves this. If a person has a goat on their back, this will strengthen their back and other muscles. It means they need to concentrate on each pose to ensure they are carrying it out correctly and that the goat on their back is safe.
As you can see, there are so many great health benefits to goat yoga, and it is something fun and different to try. Animals have been proven to help with stress and mental health, which emphasizes how great this exercise can be for you.
Summary
We hope you have found this article helpful. There are so many great benefits to goat yoga. While it may seem like a random and perhaps strange take on yoga to begin with, when you look into the health benefits, and the reasons behind it, it really does make sense.
The health benefits are fantastic. Not only is goat yoga a great way to get fit and healthy, but it is also remarkable for your mental health too. Looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your body and physical health.
I created this website to help newcomers to yoga and enthusiasts alike, and to share our common passions for yoga.
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