Yoga with goats raises funds for charities in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON — Many yoga teachers encourage a sense of childlike play in the practice, and what better way is there to do that than yoga with kids — the furry kind.

Yeah, the goat yoga phenomenon has (of course) reached western Mass., and it’s doing more than make yogis giggle. The owners of Valley Hot Yoga and Sage Meadow Farm have raised $1,500 so far for charity with three goat yoga classes. Audrey Blaisdell, co-owner of the Northampton yoga studio, said the funds will be donated to the Easthampton Community Center, the Easthampton Farmers’ Market and Dakin Humane Society.

“It’s hilarious,” Blaisdell says of the goat yoga practice. “it’s just a stampede of little tiny goats.”

The baby goats hail from Sage Meadow Farm in Easthampton, owned by Easthampton City Councilor Joe McCoy and his husband Stan McCoy.

“Stan is training to be a teacher with us and someone sent him a link the Oregon (goat yoga) class,” Blaisdell said. “He sent it to me and said: let’s do it.”

For $25 a class, yoga students head to the Keystone Mill, who donates the space for the community’s goat yoga needs. Blaisdell said she stacks the class with plenty of low-to-the-ground poses to entice the kids to do their thing.

“And they did — they climbed,” Blaisdell said of the first two classes earlier this month.

There’s also one on Friday, though Blaisdell said it’s sold out.

But goat-seekers need not fret, as Blaisdell said there will be classes next month on May 14 and May 20. Those interested should email admin@sagemeadownfarm.com or

info@valleyhotyoga.com.

“I love it,” Blaisdell said. “It’s bringing everyone together.”

Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.