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Original Goat Yoga TM wasn’t anticipated. There were no business plans or focus groups to point the way. However, its core existed in the form of a nightly farm walk that visitors came to know as “Goat Happy Hour ®.” Those walks led Lainey Morse to understand that she was essentially ‘farming happiness’ by delivering animal therapy in the form of attention seeking goats and rural vistas. Nonetheless, she was a long way from the lightening bolt moment that became goat yoga.
The Original Goat Yoga Mission is to farm happiness by providing; 1. A joyful experience that improves mental and physical health though the healing powers of nature and animals. 2. The economic development of rural households and family farms throughout the world through agritourism.
The first sign that the forecast might change came at the suggestion of local yoga instructor Heather Davis. Her request to hold a yoga class on Lainey’s farm became the world’s first goat yoga event one lazy summer day in August of 2016. Not anticipating what would become, Lainey sent pictures from that event to Modern Farmer magazine with the thought that it might make for fun dinner conversation if they were printed; That was an understatement!
It turns out that being struck by lightening sounds like a phone ringing off-the-hook with worldwide interview requests. Flash forward to today and Original Goat Yoga has become a support service for farms nationwide, a mental health service for Corporate health and wellness events, a source of joy for ten’s of thousands of attendees, and a financial backstop for farms and rural households nationwide. Original Goat Yoga’s main focus is to help improve the mental health of our communities all over the World.
So what exactly happens at a goat yoga event or class? Well, the fact that Lainey felt she was ‘farming happiness’ pretty much hit the mark. Imagine an event where you can’t help but find yourself laughing along with total strangers. Imagine attempting a yoga pose for the first time, or the 100th, and finding yourself contouring your body around a goat that claimed your mat. Imagine looking into the eyes of an animal that is part dog in its interest in people, and part cat in its demands that you take interest in them on their terms. Now package that experience in wonderful barns, farm fields, or sometimes even in urban oases, and you have goat yoga.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never done yoga. What matters is that you come prepared for a wholly unique and joyful experience (and this goes for the biggest and burliest of men…the tougher they are, the harder they fall for that goat that picked their mat to lie on).
Of note, goat fur is hypoallergenic so allergy sufferers really only need to be concerned about pollen from surrounding farms and green spaces. Occasionally, a goat may poop on a mat; However, they are consistency of pebbles and easy to clean. Very rarely, a goat may pee near you, but VERY infrequently do they do that on someone.
On this website you will see locations that have the “Original Goat Yoga” or “Goat Happy Hour” seal of approval. Those locations are licensing the Original Goat brand, have been vetted as providing appropriate veterinary care, a focus on a calm and happy event environment, and an attestation that their goats are loved and that the location abides by certain ethical business practices. Our Headquarters provides all business development, customer service, event coordination, marketing and social media services. Each location is independently owned and operated. They are all unique in their offerings but they all have the same focus which is…farming happiness.
If you are thinking of holding your own goat yoga events but you need some information on how to proceed, what your location might earn, and how to deliver an awesome customer experience, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
What do you do when you’ve just been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease, you are going through a divorce, and your job of ten years is winding down? Do you throw caution to the wind and start something the world has never known, or do you play it safe?
Playing it safe was not an option for Lainey Morse. Instead, she drew inspiration from the happy distractions provided by six adorable goats and in 2016, Original Goat Yoga was born!
Are you interested in becoming an Original Goat Yoga™ or Goat Happy Hour® Satellite Location? Our brand spanned the globe in 2016 and was touted as the best yoga class of all time! We’re excited to branch out nationally and internationally to bring the Original Goat ™ brand to the World where we farm happiness! We know what it takes to establish successful locations and we’ve made this an easy to adopt business model. I’m very excited to help you succeed in building your very own Goat business, whether it be providing goat yoga events, providing Goat Happy Hour® therapy at your farm or The Goatel Rentals (goat-themed office space or overnight rental)
We offer Licensing opportunities for:
Original Goat Yoga™/ Goat Happy Hour® Therapy Farms/ The Goatel®
"We had a fabulous time today. My daughter has been very anxious about all the decisions to be made in the next few weeks and to see her smile and laugh the way she did with the dogs and the goats was just wonderful! Your story and your ability to share your joy and home with us is so appreciated. I will seriously be back as often as I can when we come to visit her. "
