SPL HEALTH
27 March/April 2020 StPeteLifeMag.com
chance to Down Dog on a Sunday morning
beneath towering oaks and a blue spring
sky were too tempting to turn down.
Rob and wife Debbie greeted arrivals
with big smiles and ushered us into a
gated corral where 55 yoga mats were
strategically placed. As we waited for
stragglers, baby goats were brought out
with milk bottles and it was game over, all
hearts melted. Some of these little guys
were less than a week old and too young
to join the yoga goats. But it wouldn’t be
long before they would be nuzzling and
snuggling with the best of them.
Once everyone was situated, the herd
came running into the corral as if someone
yelled DINNER! It was shockingly cute as
they scurried up to the humans like a pack
of wild puppies looking for scratches and
Our yoga instructor Alicia was obviously
experienced dealing with the distraction.
She ignored the commotion and started
with warmup stretches and spinal twists,
but goats were everywhere, running,
crawling under legs. I tried to follow
Alicia -- Warrior 1,2,3, Tabletop, Cat, Cow,
balance on one foot in Tree -- but what
the hey (did I mention the entire corral was
on my back, nibbling my notebook.
It was also apparent from the moment
we sat down on our mats that goats will
pretty much relieve themselves anywhere
anytime – and often. Yes, poop pellets
and pee were plentiful, but thanks to
a team of human cleaner-uppers, one
need simply wave over a helper with
rags and disinfectant and the little mess
disappeared.
The laughter was contagious, cell phones
were snapping photos everywhere, and
after a while most of us just succumbed
to the revelry and gave up with the yoga.
As we lay on our mats at the end, many
of the goats were tuckered out and laid
down, too. After an hour it was over. More
photos with the goats, buy the t-shirt and
head up the dusty road back to the big city.
I did goat yoga and I loved it. Namaste.
/StPeteLifeMag.com