Got your goat?

“The goats add a little bit of unpredictability and chaos,” said Amber Ricchetti, who, along with five other certified yoga teachers, leads classes at Lemos Farms. “There are always events out of our control and yoga can be about how to embrace that.”

This latest take on the ancient Hindu tradition has been gaining popularity throughout the country over the past several years, and has only recently caught on in California, Ricchetti said, adding that she discovered the phenomenon while living in Wisconsin.

Bob Lemos, who is the third generation to work his family ranch, said he started offering goat yoga after a local recommended it to him several times, though he didn’t take it seriously at first.

“The third time I ran into him I said it looks interesting so we gave it a try and the phone has been ringing like crazy,” Lemos said.

His website saw 3,000 hits shortly after offering the first goat yoga class, which quickly sold out. Now he’s booking corporate events and private parties.

“We’ve had people from all over the Bay Area signing up, and one girl was going to fly to Oregon to do this so she was grateful someone was offering it here,” he said.

Typical classes accommodate about 15 people, which usually means a roughly 1-to-1 goat-to-yogi ratio.

Ricchetti said goat yoga caters to all demographics, and of course it especially appeals to animal lovers. Though sticklers for cleanliness will have to contend with the likelihood of goats relieving themselves on mats, among other locations.

In these classes, yoga is secondary to the animals, she said. Some people find themselves just petting or playing with the goats throughout the hour, while most adhere to the cycle of poses, taking a moment here and there to interact with the friendly creatures. Each class ends with a 15-minute petting session.

During a Thursday class, nearly everyone lucky enough to have a goat climb up and balance on their back said it felt like a massage.

“We pay to be kids and it’s the cheapest form of therapy I can think of,” said Kristie Kershner, who attended a Thursday class at Lemos Farms. Kershner, who grew up in the countryside, but now lives in San Francisco, said goat yoga offered a “nice escape” from the bustle of city life.

And that’s part of why goats are such popular animals to pair with yoga. Yoga with other animals including cats preceded this latest craze, but Ricchetti said goats offer a “little mystery,” as they aren’t as accessible as cats and dogs for most people, especially city residents.

“Goat yoga gets us out of our heads, away from stress and everyone gets pure joy and love from these little creatures,” Ricchetti said.

Goat yoga is offered at Lemos Farm every Thursday and Saturday and costs $31.21. Visit lemosfarm.com to book a class.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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