Goat Yoga Classes Gaining Popularity In New Jersey (VIDEO)

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — There’s a strange-but-ebullient new way to reach your moment of zen spreading in New Jersey: “goat yoga.”

What’s goat yoga? According to the staff of Iris Mind and Body in Cedar Grove, the unique mashup is just like regular yoga but with a special twist… adorable critters acting as inspirational gurus.

Iris Mind and Body is one of two places in New Jersey that are now offering the quirky classes, which feature animals from self-described “traveling petting farm,” Totes Goats. The Pompton Avenue studio’s first class on June 23 class is sold out, but there are others slated for July 15 and Sept. 15.

In what may be one of the most smile-inducing disclaimers ever written, the staff of Iris Mind and Body warns: “Be advised that attendees may be subject to being climbed on by happy goats.”

If that’s not enough motivation, here are some reasons to hang out and do some stretching with Joeybagadonuts, Mica, Shay, Coconut, Mini Mocha and Baby Bells, according to Totes Goats.

“A lot of people ask ‘why goats’ for the goat yoga? The simple answer is because they’re just awesome! The more detailed answer is that they are added as a therapeutic measure to an already mindful experience. The goats add a level of entertainment and amusement that other animals can’t seem to match. They are all independent thinkers (who love food) and they have their own personalities that add to the enjoyment of the class. They wander around, eat off your mat, run and jump around, maybe jump on your back and possibly sleep on your mat. Yoga is awesome, goat yoga is amazing!”

Totes Goats – started in May of 2017 by Tyler Morella – has also hosted ongoing goat yoga classes at The Weis Center in Ringwood and Pennings Farm Cidery in Warwick, New York. (See video below)

According to the company, classes are led by a certified and insured instructor. The company is willing to travel up to an hour to host events. It also runs a petting farm that includes goats, pigs, chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits.

GOAT YOGA: ‘DO YOUR RESEARCH’

While the goat yoga craze has been rising in popularity throughout the nation, some animal welfare organizations have offered words of caution.

In April, PETA UK posted a blog bashing the new exercise trend after an Australian petting zoo that provides baby goats for “goat yoga” events was hit with 10 cruelty charges after some of its animals allegedly became dehydrated and malnourished.

“This type of abuse goes against one of the fundamental principles of yoga: ahimsa, doing no harm,” PETA UK stated. “In addition to enabling the neglect and abuse that often occur in petting zoos, baby-goat events also contribute to a cruel cycle of breeding, abandonment, and killing. Kids grow into adult goats quickly, so companies need to replace them often.”

The Canada-based Farm Animal Rescue and Rehoming Movement (FARRM), which hosts yoga classes with rescued goats, pigs, sheep, roosters and cats, offered a different take on the rising popularity of goat yoga.

According to FARRM:

“Simply put, please, please, PLEASE do your research to ensure that you are supporting only ethical, non-harming organizations, practices, and activities that promote positive animal welfare initiatives. Goat yoga is now a social media sensation, with super cute 10-second video snippets of bouncing baby goats bounding off the backs of yoga participants. The reality of those situations may be something entirely different than what is being represented. What happens to the goats once the yoga sessions end? What happens to the goats once they grow up? When you leave your session and the goat yoga fad fades, what becomes of the animals? Please do your research.”

In April, a goat yoga company from upstate New York cancelled their months-long program the day before classes were slated to start due to Health Department concerns.

• See related article: No Goat Yoga For Brooklyn, Organizers Say

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File photo: Shutterstock (goat pictured is not one of the animals in the above article)

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