Goat Yoga: Lesson in Flexibility, Mindfulness, and Humor
In response to a recent Mindful Mondays on “Novelty,” Sharon Poarch shared her hilarious story of an unexpected situation in her goat yoga class when her goat handler didn’t show up. Sharon had to jump in and take over the job of handling the goat chaos, while continuing to teach a yoga class!
We asked Sharon to share her goat yoga lesson plan because it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that yoga is supposed to be about being calm, but the yoga practice can also be vibrant, playful, and a way to cope with the chaos. This is life.
These stories remind us that yoga is a lifestyle, not something to just be “done” once a week. Instead, it’s for anytime, anywhere … even with goats on a farm. The benefits of yoga bring joy and magic to even the most unexpected situations, even if it’s wrangling goats in and out of the barn!
As a yoga instructor, I am blessed to teach a yoga with goats on a farm (although I have also taken goat yoga classes where the goats are brought into the space). My class size is up to twenty-five people of all ages, and there are up to fifty goats.
Goat yoga is great! It can be a family activity, a date, a solo activity, a girls’ day out, a kid’s birthday party, or even an adult team bonding activity.
I teach my outdoor goat yoga class in a fenced-in area that has been cleaned by the goat handlers before the class. The space is usually inhabited by donkeys, which are moved for class.
As the students arrive and settle in, the goat handler gives each person a little bit of goat food before we start class.
Goat Yoga Lesson Plan
1-INTRODUCTION:
I start by asking students if they’ve done yoga before. If they have, have they done goat yoga before? Or were they dragged here by the person they’re sitting next to? 😉
I explain that whatever level they are at is fine and that the class will meet them wherever they are. A lot of people who come to goat yoga have never done any yoga before.
I start by saying something like this:
“This is your time, so enjoy the magical chaos that the goats bring. Maybe do some yoga, maybe just enjoy the goats, or take in the beautiful view of the farm. Do whatever you feel like doing most in the moment.
If you want to participate in yoga, you certainly can. But if you want to just pet or snuggle the goats, that’s totally okay too! Or maybe you just want to watch the goat chaos.
It’s a time to do what brings you joy in the moment… maybe even stop to take some pictures to help you remember the fun and be present in the moments of joy versus focusing on the yoga postures.”
I explain that being present in the moment is the goal of yoga and that it looks different for everyone.
*I also make a disclaimer that goats are live animals that might poop or pee on your mat. Having wipes available for a quick clean-up is a good idea. I also highly recommend teaching yoga with goats on a farm, not in a yoga studio—I’ve tried before as a student, and it was not a pretty sight!
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2-CENTERING:
I begin class with no goats present, but that doesn’t work if the goats are being driven to the location. I’m lucky to teach on a farm, so the goats are already there.
I tell the group:
“Start by closing your eyes or looking at the beautiful farm. Think about and acknowledge what your feelings are in this moment…
Are you nervous, not knowing what to expect? Excited? Or are you thinking that you should get in the car and drive away? That this wasn’t a good idea?
Whatever your feelings might be, they’re fine. Just notice them without judgment.”
3-BREATHING:
We practice some gentle breathing, usually a three-part breath, and I add a little movement and breath, maybe shoulder shrug, arms up and down, some twists, and some side bends.
4-RELEASING OF THE GOATS:
When I’m ready, I give the goat handler a nod, and she releases the goats from the barn. They run out to greet us, since they are expecting the food!
I take a moment or two… maybe 5 to 10 minutes, just to let everybody be with the goats. This may be my favorite part of class. Everyone is fully present—there is no way to be thinking of anything else!
They’re just enjoying the goats! The chaotic energy is amazing, and it keeps me coming back. 🙂
5-ASANAS (PHYSICAL POSTURES):
When the food runs out or whenever it becomes a little calmer, I say:
“I’m going to teach some yoga now, and you’re welcome to participate, or not. If you want to just enjoy the goats, that is completely fine.”
For those who participate, here are my typical yoga postures that I find work well with goat yoga. (I tend not to do any fully reclined postures as goats are animals, so poop might end up on the mat or they might inadvertently step on someone.
- Cat-Cow Pose Flow: It’s fun to be at eye level with the goats!
- Extended Cat Pose: Sometimes I call it “reach out and touch a goat.” 😉
- Plank Pose
- Side Plank: Either with both legs straight or modified with one knee down.
- Downward-Facing Dog: The goats like to crawl under, so this is fun. 🙂
- Low Lunge: People are more stable with their back knees down while they are distracted by the goats and the uneven surface of the pasture. This also makes a crawl space for the goats under their leg!
- Crescent Moon
- Standing Forward Bend
- Warrior Poses (1-3)
- Triangle Pose
- Tree Pose: I have them try to focus on a spot and then have them try to keep their balance as they look around at the goats and see how much harder is it to balance when they are distracted. I remind them this is a good lesson to take off the mat. 🙂
- Seated Boat Pose
- Cobbler’s Pose
- Seated Twist Pose
- Seated Stretches (Butterfly, etc.)
I tune into the group to figure out when to end class. I usually run it for 45 to 60 minutes.
6-RELAXATION:
After going through the asanas, I do not do a traditional reclined Savasana, and I just have them close their eyes (which is optional).
I have them check in and notice how their emotions are now: are they feeling different than at the beginning of class?
We take a few deep breaths in through the nose and let it out through the mouth. Often, we sigh it out or simply listen to the noise of their breaths.
7-PICTURES:
At the very end of class, I give some time to help them hold the goats and take posed pictures if that’s something they would like to do.
Going back to the story of when the goat handler didn’t show up to help with Sharon’s class, one of her friends brought three girls with her to that class and said:
“I’m sure it was stressful for you, but you handled it beautifully. My three girls had an incredible time. The girls said it was the highlight of their week, and it was even more fun because they got to help out with the goat-wrangling. Thanks as always for bringing your playfulness and humor to make it a wonderful time!”
So there you have it—whether you’re inspired to explore yoga in various settings, or actually find a goat yoga class near you, may you enjoy the magic however it comes to you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Poarch is a pediatric physical therapist working with kids in schools and for Birth to Three. She loves teaching yoga to all ages. She has been teaching group exercise classes since unitards and leggings were in style! Thanks to her real job as a pediatric physical therapist, her strength is differentiating instruction to make exercise fun and safe for people of all ages and abilities. She also teaches goat yoga, stand-up paddleboard yoga, and kids yoga classes. Sharon loves being outside, spending time with her family, and being at her lake cottage. She has three grown children. Other things that bring her joy are: hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, yoga, teaching adaptive water skiing, taking pictures, and watching sunrises and sunsets.
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