As people practiced yoga in the third-floor courtyard of the Graduate Hotel, baby goats headbutted each other while another climbed on an attendee’s back. The tranquility of vinyasa flow yoga met with the hectic nature of baby goats Sunday afternoon at “Goat Yoga at the Graduate,” hosted by Rise Yoga & Events.
Attendees were guided through various yoga poses while surrounded by goats and had the chance to feed the goats and interact with them up close.
Rise Yoga & Events, established in 2018, brings animal yoga to locations across central Indiana. Host Erin Peckinpaugh held her first animal yoga event in 2018 at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market with 75 attendees. She got an official certification to teach yoga after she discovered a growing interest for animal therapy combined with yoga.
Peckinpaugh specifically chose goats because she believes they keep yoga lighthearted and add to the welcoming environment she wishes to establish.
“They are quirky but sociable like dogs, and it is fun for people to do something that is completely different,” Peckinpaugh said.
Part of Peckinpaugh's mission is supporting nonprofits. This event specifically focused on Red Frazier Bison in Spencer, Indiana. Peckinpaugh has donated a portion of her proceeds to nonprofits since 2018, and has always focused on organizations that highlight issues including food insecurity and animal welfare.
“If you do an event that serves a good cause, everyone feels better about it and it gives purpose to this project and makes it bigger than just an event,” Peckinpaugh said.
Another goal of goat yoga, Peckinpaugh said, is to reduce the intimidation of looking good in front of others while doing poses. When the animals are there, she said people can take it less seriously and are not as in their own heads.
Peckinpaugh’s approach introduces those who are not familiar with yoga to the basics. Attendee Jang-Ho Cha had never done yoga before but always had a passion for all things animal-related.
“I think it is great that you get to really interact with the goats and it is hilarious seeing them,” Cha said.
Janice Gatliff and her husband came from Indianapolis to honor the 10th anniversary of their daughter’s death. Like others in attendance, it was the couple’s first time doing yoga. Gatliff wanted to come somewhere she knew would spread positivity.
“For us, animals are a big source of love and hope,” Gatliff said.
Sunday’s event was just one of the 125 total yoga events that Peckinpaugh has held since their start in 2018. She also hosts puppy yoga, which gives adoptable puppies from the Humane Society for Boone County exposure to people while also doing home checks to make sure the puppies are going to the right homes. Potential adopters for these puppies get interviewed by the organization on whether their house fits the individual needs of the dog. The animals, primarily mutts, often get adopted following these events.
“People fall in love with these animals once they get to meet with them, interact with them and see how they are in a large setting while the puppies get to play,” Peckinpaugh said.
The next Bloomington goat yoga will be held Nov. 8 at Upland Brewing Company The organization will also host a French bulldog yoga event Nov. 16.
Editor’s note: Erin Peckinpaugh was a columnist for the IDS while she was a student at IU.
