I had the unique privilege to get down on my fours and try the latest fad in town -- goat yoga, at Maple Hill Urban Farm in Ottawa. For those not in the know, goats are left free to do their will (on you) while you start your regime of Surya Namaskar, everything that goes in between, and end with relaxation.
Goat yoga, known for its therapeutic giggles, is a must-try for yoga enthusiasts looking for a little extraordinary. It was founded by Lainey Morse in July of 2016 at her farm in Oregon, after her yoga instructor asked if she could do a class in the field with the goats. Goat yoga was born, it spread like goat fire globally, and the rest as we say, is history.
Don’t Worry -- You Goat This!
A bit nervous for your first session? Don’t be. Just take all your shiny stuff off -- you don’t want to wait endlessly for the goat to pass your one-carat engagement diamond ring after consumption. That’s right, goats are attracted to gold, diamonds, zippers, handbags, anything with a bling. So put them all out of goat’s reach, roll out your mat, cross your legs, and relax.
As you commence the session, you are reminded by your instructor to tune-in to your breaths (or the goat's breath, if that's what works for you). Inhaling and exhaling deep breaths, acknowledge how goats show you how to live the moment, for they don't live in the past or future -- only the present -- as it should be. Also, goats don't judge. So throw away your judgment hat for the next hour-and-a-half, and live the moment. You goat this.
You Goat to be Kidding Me
The antics of the over-friendly and frivolous goats are a distraction and an ancillary to get you through some of the tougher stretches most people dread. Expect the unexpected should be your mantra. My ears got nibbled-on, my hair was soaking with goat saliva after one of the goats decided it made a tasty afternoon snack, and I got a plethora of goat hugs and kisses.
The ‘ram’ifications of the downward dog (or dare I say downward goat) are a tale on their own. The downward dog pose, child’s pose, and similar make for a flat play area (read: your back) for goats looking to have a good time.
- They’ll do a relaxation-guaranteed tippy-tippy-tap dance on your back with their hooves…
- They’ll use your back as a stepping stool to nibble at the man next door’s goatee … true story!
- They’ll give you sloppy kisses across the face…
Don’t feel BAAAAAAD if a goat poops on you. Napkins, sanitizers, and cleaning solutions are generously placed in front of each yoga mat, courtesy Maple Hill Urban Farm! Floral-scented air fresheners cancel out any unpleasant smell that may temporarily emerge.
Just when you thought you had enough goat kisses for a day, a lapaca, their llama / alpaca hybrid, will trot-in to challenge your tree pose. Its soft, wooly nuzzles are a bonus therapy. You really do feel cherished with all the attention you get. There is also a bunny available to cuddle with, if you are looking for some alone-time away from the goats. (Unless of course a goat comes forth to nibble at the bunny’s ear.) With such happy animals, you can’t expect anything less than a soulfully satisfying yoga session.
Canada’s Goat Talent
Maple Hill Urban Farm, located in Ottawa’s Greenbelt, is a publicly owned 20,000-hectare expanse of land including wetlands, farmlands and forests surrounding the Canadian capital. A big red barn, it is reminiscent of the barnyard stories you read as a kid. With childhood familiarity, you instantly feel welcomed. It is operated by Don Trott with assistance from Daniela Peschka.
Besides some over-talented, frolicking yoga goats -- Lufthansa, Willy, Donald, and Pinky, the farm houses ducks, chickens, turkeys, cows, kittens, and alpacas. All animals roam freely across the many pastures on the farm, and enjoy leftover farm-grown fruits, vegetables, sorghum, alfalfa, and hay.
Mr. Trott is a veteran in taking good care of his animals. Having a daughter-in-law with a PhD in animal welfare, a son with a PhD in nutrition, and his daughter a veterinarian, “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he says.
“The best part about goat yoga is seeing the fun people and goats have interacting at the same eye-to-eye level. When people see us, they appreciate our style,” he adds.
Mr. Trott sports a great sense of humor. On being asked how old kids need to be to attend the class, he replies, “Goat kids need to be at least two weeks of age to be able to handle the excitement. We watch the kids closely for signs of over excursion and send them out when necessary. As for people kids, we leave it up to the parent. I don't recall anyone less than twelve years of age or so.”
Take a Goatfie
Some things to keep in mind if you plan to attend a session:
- Wear winter clothing during winter sessions. Even though the class is held inside a barn, it still gets cold.
- Don’t wash your hair to look good for the goats. You’ll have to wash it again after the session. (I didn't bother to wash after the episode, but please don't judge -- be a goat!)
- Leave the bling at home, unless you are looking for a lot of goat attention.
- Don’t bring designer handbags. The goats will find a way to reach them even if they are hung high.
- Don’t forget to BYOM -- bring your own mat.
- At the end of the session, stay back to take goatfies -- that’s selfies with goats. They love it!
The session ended with an alpaca munching on what remained of my hair.
While animals have a way of calming people down with their playful and innocent demeanor, yoga is an ancient way of life to help promote healing, peace, laughter, and reduce stress levels. The combination of the two is priceless.
Maple Hill Urban Farm offers one hour sessions for $30 with a certified yoga instructor. You get to stay back after for goatfies. Classes are held outdoors during summer and inside a barn during the colder months. Visit their site to find out more about goat yoga and the forthcoming sessions: http://maplehillurbanfarm.com/goat-yoga-ottawa/
Give it a shot -- you won’t regret it.
Namaste!
Q&A with Gemma LeGresley (instructor)
How do you communicate with the goats?
As you might have noticed during the goat yoga class, the goats basically communicate with us and we follow their lead. I would describe it more as a relationship of students and goats being curious observers with each other.
Can the goats hurt people?
Sometimes accidents can happen during class if goats or students are too excited, but the goats don't intentionally hurt anyone. The biggest risk is having the goats nibble on hair or clothing when they're curious.
What do you think are the advantages of goat yoga?
Goat yoga is a great stress reliever for animal and yoga lovers alike. The goats are hilarious to watch and they remind us to be playful, curious, and be in the moment. The benefits of all the laughter alone in a goat yoga class are therapeutic, not to mention the benefits of yoga.
Laugher therapy: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/therapeutic-laughter.html
Benefits of yoga: flexibility, muscle strength and tone, balance, breathing techniques
Are there specific yoga poses that are more conducive to allowing the interaction with goats?
Yes! The goats seem to enjoy hopping from student to student when they are in child's pose, table top, plank, and poses close to the ground with the back exposed. They also love to cuddle with students during Savasana.
Can you mention some benefits of yoga? What other types of yoga do you teach, and where?
Benefits of yoga:
- Strength (bones, muscles)
- Flexibility (lengthens muscles, tendons, ligaments)
- Balance
- Focus (relaxation, breath work)
- Breathing, meditation (relaxes muscles, calms mind, slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, improves immunity, builds confidence)
I specialize in Hatha Yoga and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga. In addition to teaching goat yoga with Maple Hill Urban Farm, I teach Hatha yoga at LIV Apartments Ottawa and SUP yoga with Urban Ocean on the Ottawa River and in Carleton
Place in the spring/summer.
Here’s my website: http://www.supyogagem.ca
Goat Yoga: http://maplehillurbanfarm.com/goat-yoga-ottawa/
SUP Yoga: https://www.urbanoceansupottawa.com/