• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Snacking in Sneakers
  • Home
  • About + Contact
    • About
    • Contact
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
  • Running + Triathlon
    • Free Training Plans
    • Running
    • Triathlon
    • Race Reviews
    • Fitness Tips & Workouts
  • Wellness + Travel
    • Nutrition
    • Health + Wellness Tips
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Journey to Healthy Eating: 28 Day Nutrition Challenge
    • Printable Fitness Planner
    • Triathlon Art – Set of 3 Digital Prints
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Chrissy
  • Recipe Box
  • Wellness + Travel
  • Fitness, Run & Tri
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Fitness, Run & Tri

    Goat yoga is the latest fitness trend you need to try!

    May 17, 2017 by Chrissy Carroll 18 Comments

    Disclosure:  I was provided a free goat yoga class at Heifer Farm in Massachusetts.  As always, all opinions are my own (and I can’t say enough good things about this)!

    Take a second to envision a group of athleisure-clad adults, flowing to the instructions of a dynamic yoga teacher.  Everyone is grounded on their mats; deep breaths flow in and out.  And then as everyone settles into child’s pose about 10 minutes into the class…a handful of baby goats come pouncing through the room, ready to play, snuggle, and nibble anything in sight.  Welcome, my friends, to goat yoga.

    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.
    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.

    When I came across an article from the Boston Magazine about this new (slightly unusual) fitness trend, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to reach out to Heifer Farm and try it out.  It lived up to the hype, and was probably one of my favorite experiences from the past year.

    The best way I can think to describe goat yoga is:

    • 1/3 yoga
    • 1/3 laughter and pure joy
    • 1/3 animal therapy with goat petting and snuggling
    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.
    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.

    You start off in a quiet room at the barn on your mat, taking deep breaths and settling into a nice relaxed state.  About 10 minutes into the class, the staff at Heifer Farm brings the baby goats into the room.  Immediately the “awwwws!” start erupting from everyone’s mouths and people can’t wait to pet the baby goats.

    The yoga instructor does a great job of continuing to lead the class throughout the hour and a half session.  You’ll inevitably stop mid-pose to pet a goat, or to snap some photos, or laugh hysterically because the goat peed on the same guy’s mat 3 times.

    (Yes, that happened.)

    Goat Yoga Peeing on Mat

    The goats do have some accidents throughout the class, but the staff is great about coming around to clean them up quickly.  Paper towels and cleaning wipes are scattered throughout the room to help with such occasions. 

    Here’s what I absolutely love about this class:  you know how in regular yoga sometimes your mind starts wandering to all the things you have to do?  Unfortunate, but true for me sometimes.  Well, in goat yoga, there are none of those thoughts.  Your focus is only on the poses and the insanely cute animals frolicking around the room.  It’s an hour and a half of smiles and relaxation.  It’s insanely calming and therapeutic. 

    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.
    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.

    Whether you need an outlet to de-stress a bit, or you feel a little blue and want an event that’ll cheer you up – or you just want to grab some amazing goat yoga selfies – I highly recommend trying this out.

    Goat yoga is a thing and it is amazing! This new fitness trend sounds kind of silly, but it’s so fun and therapeutic. As you flow through yoga poses you’ll be treated to baby goats frolicking around the room, ready to snuggle and play with you.

    A few tips for your first class:

    • Dress in comfortable workout gear.  Keep in mind your class might be inside a barn or outside on the farm, so I recommend dressing in layers according to the weather forecast.
    • Bring a yoga mat if you have one; the farm has some for use but if it’s a big class you want to ensure that you have one.
    • The goats will nibble on any clothing or shoes or anything that you leave out on your mat, but the farm offers a side room to store any extra belongings so you can toss everything in there.
    • Keep your phone/camera handy because you will definitely want to snap some photos!
    • Keep in mind there’s an extremely slim chance that a goat might pee on you (it happened to one woman in our class, lol – the goat was standing on her back and started to tinkle on her).  You may want to have a spare set of clothes in your car *just in case*.

    PS – If you’re thinking you’ve heard of Heifer before, you probably have – Heifer International works tirelessly to help end hunger and poverty through agricultural projects.  They help connect small scale farmers to market opportunities, increasing their likelihood of success and economic stability.  You can make monetary donations that support providing livestock and agricultural support to international families in need.  Heifer Farm, where I took the goat yoga class, is one of the organization’s learning centers.  Located in Rutland, Massachusetts, they offer educational experiences and events for children and adults.

    Share with me:  Have you ever taken a goat yoga class?  Do you think you’d be into it?  Are there any other fitness trends you’re seeing right now?

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
    Latest posts by Chrissy Carroll (see all)
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Pops - June 22, 2025
    • Savory Sweetpotato Ricotta Breakfast Bowls - June 16, 2025
    • Peanut Butter Honey Cheerios Bars - June 13, 2025

    More Fitness, Run & Tri

    • A woman's feet next to two sets of heavy kettlebells.
      Should Runners Lift Heavy Weights or Light Weights?
    • A man doing a long run outside on a dirt path.
      Do You Really Need to Cap Your Long Run at 3 Hours?
    • A woman doing a forearm plank outside.
      Cross Training Tips for Runners (From a Coach)
    • A man looking down at his phone while out on a fall run.
      4 Best Ways to Carry Your Phone While Running – and the 3 Worst Options!
    87 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Let’s connect!

    Instagram
    Facebook
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    Looking for something?

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deano

      May 18, 2017 at 7:32 am

      I think this is one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen, ha! Looks like fun though!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:25 pm

        LOL so random right?! But it was pretty amazing!

        Reply
    2. Abbey Sharp

      May 18, 2017 at 1:16 pm

      This is amazing. Looks so peaceful! I had no idea this existed

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:25 pm

        I didn’t either until I started hearing all about it last month. It’s sweeping the nation, lol!

        Reply
    3. Tasting Page

      May 18, 2017 at 2:01 pm

      I’ve started to see goat yoga around, and every time I see a picture, I have a smile on my face. Like right now. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:26 pm

        Haha, glad I could put a smile on your face today! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jessica @Nutritioulicious

      May 18, 2017 at 4:39 pm

      Ha, this is so cute! That would definitely be a way to get your mind off things!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:26 pm

        There was literally not one worry on my mind during that hour and a half class!

        Reply
    5. Christina Bauer

      May 18, 2017 at 5:16 pm

      Confession: I’m not an animal person, so the thought of a goat sitting atop me, or munching on my mat, makes me totally cringe! However, I can see the allure – they’re pretty darn cute.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:27 pm

        Hahaha! They were so sweet, but I totally get it’s not for everyone.

        Reply
    6. Mikki

      May 19, 2017 at 7:39 am

      Oh my! How cute is that!! I saw a video about this, but I thought that it was a joke. What a fun way to exercise.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:27 pm

        It’s awesome! Definitely try it out if you get a chance!

        Reply
    7. Jill Conyers | Fitness, Health & Happiness

      May 19, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      I’ve never taken a goat yoga class and really not interested in trying it. But I’ll never say never.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:27 pm

        Haha, totally get that it’s not for everyone 😉

        Reply
    8. Agness of Fit Travelling

      May 30, 2017 at 8:25 am

      This seems like so much fun. I love yoga and I would love to try this kind!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 30, 2017 at 7:11 pm

        It was a blast! And just so cute to have all those little baby goats running all over.

        Reply
    9. Bob sylvia

      April 29, 2018 at 3:22 pm

      I am very interested in your Goat Yoga classes. I am hoping to bring my sister, along with 2 granddaughters to attend a class. They will be here during the week after July 4.
      Is anything available?

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        May 3, 2018 at 3:01 pm

        Hi Bob! I don’t actually host goat yoga classes; this post featured my experience at a class I took on a local farm. 🙂 I don’t believe this farm still has classes but you can reach out to them directly to see if they do!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Snacking in Sneakers! That's me, Chrissy, and I'm here to share all my favorite fitness, food, & wellness stories & tips. I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, runner, triathlon coach, foodie, not-so-extreme couponer, and all around fun lovin' gal.

    More about me →

    Latest

    • A woman's hand holding a chocolate peanut butter protein popsicle.
      Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Pops
    • A spoon drizzling honey on ricotta in a sweetpotato breakfast bowl.
      Savory Sweetpotato Ricotta Breakfast Bowls
    • A woman's hand holding a peanut butter honey cheerio bar.
      Peanut Butter Honey Cheerios Bars
    • A cast iron skillet with peach blueberry crisp and a few scoops of ice cream.
      Healthy Peach Blueberry Crisp

    Let’s Connect!

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Snacking in Sneakers

    87 shares
    • 45

    Want to start running - and stick with it?

    Sign up for our email list to get a free Beginner Running Guide with helpful tips and 4 beginner-friendly training plans!

    Screenshots of several pages in a beginner running guide.

    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing! Check your email in the next few minutes for your free guide.