Attempting to restore your spiritual balance with a small goat perched on your back might not sound that relaxing but instructors insist it is very therapeutic.
Donna said, “In our first class we had goats clambering on our backs, licking our toes, chewing our hair and nibbling at the yoga mats, which was quite hysterical really.” She further added that people struggling to imagine how a goat might help them unwind will be surprised how light and gentle their hoofs feel.
She continued, “The longer you’re still, the more likely they are to climb on you, which encourages people to be calm and relaxed.”
The farm’s owner, Chris Murray, said he thought Miss McCheyne was joking when she suggested they set up goat yoga classes. He said, “I didn’t know whether to take her seriously or not. But having researched it online, I found that not only does goat yoga exist, it’s really rather popular.”
Leading animal behaviorist, Dr Roger Mugford, said it was no surprise yoga pupils found the presence of goats therapeutic.
He said, “These animals can lower the heart rate because they release the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin, which produces the same type of feelings as when a mother looks at her baby or a lover looks at their partner.” But he warned, “Goats are notorious for eating anything they can, including clothing, so might be a little bit distracting.”
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