Goats walk among people in an outdoor goat yoga class. (Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock)
Get your bahhh-maste on at these goat yoga classes offered throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Ever dreamt of attending a yoga class in which laughter is not only allowed but encouraged? For those who find traditional yoga classes too stuffy and uptight, goat yoga is a trending, charming, and at times uproarious way to get in a full-body workout.
What is goat yoga?
During a goat yoga class, pet goats hop, jump, and graze in the grass around yogis as they hold and flow through a series of postures. Sometimes, goats even hop on a yogi’s back as they flatten out in plank position, while the final resting posture usually has a goat or two nudging at your side, requesting a cuddle session.
This exercise trend traces its roots to Albany, Oregon, where Lainey Morse, a local goat farm owner and marketer, hosted the first goat yoga class in summer 2016. After photos from the class were printed in Modern Farmer magazine, goat yoga officially became a craze, and Davis began maintaining a 500-name-long waiting list for attendees.
Why is everyone so eager to do yoga with goats? As Heather Davis, the yoga instructor who taught those first classes, told Yoga Journal, the presence of goats removes the pretense from the practice, encouraging both seasoned yogis and newcomers to find their place in an environment that “incorporates playfulness and humor.”
Goat yoga in Dallas-Fort Worth
Luckily for those living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, there’s one organization making sure everyone has the opportunity to cuddle with fluffy goats during shavasana: Goat Yoga Dallas. With classes offered nearly every weekend at public locations ranging from breweries to parks to the farmers’ market, Goat Yoga Dallas is the Metroplex’s leading purveyor of this trendy exercise activity.
Some things to keep in mind before you attend class:
- Yoga mats are not provided, but towels are.
- These classes are suitable for children aged five and above, with a participating parent or guardian required.
- Goats are curious creatures, and they have cloven hooves paired with a full mouth of teeth, so they may scratch, nibble, or step on attendees.
- After class ends, there will be a designated time to take selfies with the goats and socialize.
- Finally, please note that goats are not potty-trained, so a sanitizing station will be available.
Ready to get your bahhh-maste on? Find a goat yoga class near you in this list of offerings spanning the entirety of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex:
1. Harwood Park
408 S. Harwood St., Dallas
On the last Saturday of every month at 10 a.m., Goat Yoga Dallas hosts a class at Harwood Park, a family-friendly recreation destination located in the East Quarter neighborhood not far from the Dallas Farmers Market. This one-hour class is $32 for adults and $20 for kids aged 5-12, who must be accompanied by an adult inside the classroom perimeter. As this class is held outside, be sure to dress for seasonal weather and bring plenty of water.
2. Martin House Brewing Co.
220 S. Sylvania Ave., #209, Fort Worth
Find true peace and relaxation on the last Sunday of every month at 11 a.m., when Goat Yoga Dallas hosts a class at Martin House Brewing Co. in Fort Worth. After working up a sweat at this outdoor class, cool off with a microseasonal draft like the Best Maid strawberry pickle beer from Martin House, whose taproom conveniently opens its doors just as class ends. The brewery also sees a rotating cast of local vendors offering delectable meals on-site.
3. Toyota Music Factory
316 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving
On the third Saturday of each month, at either 9 or 10 a.m., Goat Yoga Dallas hosts a class at Texas Lottery Plaza, a grassy area within the Toyota Music Factory that regularly brings locals together for fitness. After class ends, treat yourself to one of the venue’s many entertainment offerings, which include the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater and an open-air pavilion for live performances.
4. The Stix Icehouse
301 Eldorado Parkway, #100, McKinney
Kick off your Sunday Funday on the right foot (or cloven hoof) with a goat yoga class at The Stix Icehouse, a bar and restaurant modeled after the Texas watering holes of yesteryear. Hosted by Goat Yoga Dallas on the second Sunday of each month at 10 a.m., this class costs $32 for adults and $20 for children. The best news is The Stix’s famed brunch service begins just as class ends, so you can recharge post-shavasana with favorites like huevos rancheros and biscuits and gravy.
5. Frisco Fresh Market
9215 John W. Elliott Dr., Frisco
Not feeling motivated to get the week’s grocery shopping done? Perhaps attending a revitalizing goat yoga class might do the trick. Visit Frisco Fresh Market on the second Saturday of each month at 9 or 10 a.m. for a class hosted by Goat Yoga Dallas. When class ends and you’ve gotten your fill of goat cuddles, peruse the many stalls at this long-standing farmers’ market selling local, farm-fresh produce, artisanal goods, and crafts.
6. TUPPS Brewery
402 E. Louisiana St., Building 2, McKinney
On select Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m., Goat Yoga Dallas hosts classes at TUPPS Brewery in McKinney. In addition to the usual goat yoga offerings, the class series at TUPPS also features holiday-themed classes. In October, attendees are encouraged to sport their spookiest Halloween costumes, while December’s class takes on a jolly, holiday vibe. No matter when you attend a class, TUPPS will be open with its full menu of beer, wine, seltzer, and bar food favorites from The Grain Room Kitchen.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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