Goat Yoga
Goats & Yoga on Harrison Farm began as a simple idea in late summer 2016. Neither of us knew quite how much it would impact us as a yoga teacher and a animal farmer.
We host public Goat Yoga classes and private parties from May through October each year.
Our story
Katherine Harrison and I were introduced by a friend in early 2016 while I was in the midst of planning my wedding. Outside of farming, Katherine’s other career is as a well-organized and meticulous event planner, and she agreed to help manage our big day.
Knowing that I was in yoga teacher training, Katherine invited me out to teach on her farm after I graduated. Katherine’s commitment to bringing community to her farm shines in this way, as she so generously shares through special events on her farm just outside Canal Winchester, OH. I quickly agreed, as I knew by her warm and welcoming demeanor that her farm would be an amazing place to host classes.
It’s hard to believe that this was happening for us at the same time “goat yoga” became a viral idea out in the world. After reading an article about the concept, we agreed that it very much fit us as a team.
Harrison Farm is home to goats, sheep, chickens, farm cats, ducks, two dogs, a donkey and a horse — or as Katherine calls it, a farm full of misfit animals. It was a natural fit to see if a few goats would want to join us during yoga, so we began hosting classes.
During the first season, we hosted a handful of sessions, paired with coffee, sweet treats, more animal snuggles and farm tours at the end — all things we still love to share with visitors. Each season since has brought people from around the world (Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, and all throughout the U.S.) to enjoy a day at a working farm in Central Ohio.
Our experience has been featured in The Columbus Dispatch, 10TV, and Time Money, among other blogs and Columbus publications.
In 2024, we’ll ring in season nine of Goat Yoga, and we’re looking forward to it!
Our reasons why
Photo: Elizabeth Frere
Photo: Heidi Shapiro
Katherine and I aim to make working farms and the yoga practice accessible to all. Though the idea of hosting classes came by us organically, we’ve found that Goat Yoga aligns with our missions—as individuals and as a team.
Community
Katherine and I both deeply value community. Goat Yoga brings people of all walks of life together to share in the collective experience of yoga on a farm. We’ve worked hard to create an experience that many have come to love and return to the farm each year for more goat shenanigans.
Nature
If you’ve never practice yoga outdoors, I highly recommend it! The sights and sounds of the outdoors will add to your on-farm yoga experience. The shining sun, warmth of the air and the snuggly animals (that do unpredictable things) are an incredible way to de-stress and enjoy the being outside.
In the case of rain, we host classes under the cover of The Hangar on Harrison Farm. After holding Katherine’s grandfather’s old plane for many years, his magical structure was renovated in 2017 to host yoga classes and events on the farm. It offers a wide view of the farm around us, while keeping us — and the goats — dry and happy.
Education
Katherine shares the realities of farming with visitors — the good and bad, the joyful and painful. Farming is often a hard career with demanding hours, but is also an incredibly rewarding experience to care for animals (large and small).
As a yoga teacher, I get to share the practice with people who may or may not have done yoga before. For many, it’s a lighthearted way to enjoy a simple yoga practice, weaved together with the stories of the farm and approachable yoga philosophy.
Lighthearted fun
Katherine and I might be crazy, but we find that the presence of goats makes anything ten times as cute, hilarious and challenging.
And after all, yoga is a breath-based practice. One of my teachers once said, “If you’re laughing, you’re breathing” (and in my opinion, that’s already a yoga practice).
Did you say goats?
“I’m just here for the goats” is a common thing said before class, and we’re all about it! We have about 15-20 yoga goats from the herd that enjoy interacting with people and eating the sweet feed during class. In most cases, they tell us if they’d like to be out during the day by their enthusiastic line up when Katherine goes to the gate and shouts “yoga!” toward the herd. We have a wily collection of mamas, babies and a few kind gentlemen that are ready to hop, stomp or lay on your yoga mat.
Goat Yoga will take you out of your comfort zone and ask you to remain present in this very moment. The goats will present the challenge for you to remain focused in the midst of beautiful distraction.
And who knows, you might find yourself with a newfound interest in farming or yoga.
Goat Yoga events
We host public Goat Yoga classes and private parties from May through October each year.
