My first reaction to Goat Yoga was, “Wow, that looks so cool! I have to try it!” The class definitely lived up to my expectations! The team from Goats To Go, located at Great Rock Farm in Georgetown, MA, is first rate and made the goat yoga class truly memorable. The goats are the main attraction during the class, which means this is a fun event best enjoyed with friends. Grab your best buds and head to Great Rock Farm or the farm nearest you. Goat yoga classes are available across the country so if you don’t find one near you, make sure you check it out during your next vacation.
About the Goats and the Farm
Maureen and Alan Aulson own and operate Great Rock Farm, and through their business, Goats To Go, specialize in using their herd of goats for weed control and brush/poison ivy removal. In 2017 they joined the goat yoga trend and began offering classes on the farm, either in the barn or beside the pond.
The Goats to Go goats are raised as pets, rather than for a dairy operation. The baby goats remain on the farm with their parents and “brothers and sisters” after birth. The Aulsons take hygiene seriously, so rest assured the goats are clean and well cared for.
In addition to caring for their goats, Great Rock Farm is beautifully maintained. The property boasts a large, nearly spotless barn with an open hay loft for indoor classes. Outside, a wooden split fence surrounds the small pond and green, freshly cut grass.
Yoga
Keep in mind the main attraction is the goats and yoga is secondary. If you’re looking for a full-on zen yoga experience goat yoga is not for you. Expect the goats to unexpectedly jump on your back or shoulders during the class. That’s part of the fun! This is a great opportunity to release your anxieties, let out your inner child and have fun with the animals.
Only the baby goats (kids) are used in the yoga class. Each goat has its own personality but all are very playful and love to jump. It’s comforting to know you won’t have a full size goat jumping on your back in the middle of downward dog.
The class is designed to encourage the goats’ participation, i.e. jumping, so be prepared for a lot of flat back poses. The Goats to Go yoga instructor was very patient amid the distractions and seamlessly continued the class while we laughed and took breaks to give the goats treats.
You might be thinking, “what happens when the goats need a bio break?” Well, they’re animals so they go when they need to. Luckily, no one in our class got wet and the poops are small pellets that you can easily brush off the mat. The yoga area is fenced in, so you can place anything you don’t want to risk getting dirty outside of the fence.
Your yoga mat, on the other hand, will definitely get dirty. Use a towel instead of a mat if you prefer. I used my mat but was able to clean it at home by soaking it in the bathtub with dish soap.
The yoga portion of the Goats to Go class lasted about 40 minutes, after which, we had about 20 minutes to play with the goats, feed them treats and take pictures with the goats. I definitely recommend bringing a phone/camera to capture a few pics. The owner, Maureen Aulson, attended the class to keep an eye on the goats and was happy to take group pictures and action shots during the class.
Finding Goat Yoga Classes
Goat yoga is most definitely a unique experience and I highly recommend animal-loving yogis give it a try. It has quickly gained popularity since Lainey Morse started Original Goat Yoga on her Oregon farm in 2016 (I see goat yoga and Oregon wine country in my future!). Since then, she’s opened additional locations in Oregon and licensed her name to farms across the country. If you can’t make it to Georgetown, MA, click here to find a location near you or simply Google Goat Yoga classes in your area.
