Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? It was designated as such back in 1949 as a way to raise awareness about mental health issues, educate the public, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illnesses in general. Mental health struggles are more common than many people realize and can range from mild to extreme cases. Therefore, treatment plans and mitigations for managing each unique situation can vary by person.
It’s no secret that interacting with animals has proven a wide range of therapeutic benefits, including stress reduction, relief from tension, and the cultivation of a calmer, more relaxed body and state of mind. That’s why more than ever, many folks are opting for alternative therapies provided by peaceful, loving animals.
Animal services assume several diverse formats. The most obvious are home and hospital visits via certified support animals. It’s also worth mentioning the myriad essential services that dogs and other animals continue to provide to countless people who rely on them for carrying out everyday tasks or keeping health-related conditions in check.
As for mental health and stress/anxiety management, animal therapeutics are known to raise overall endorphin levels in countless ways. Whether it’s practicing reading or talking out loud to a nonjudgmental audience or cuddling a cute creature in a warm embrace, it can even be rightfully argued, where alternative management practices are concerned, that animal therapies are among the greatest of all time—the “GOAT,” so to speak. Coincidentally, goats themselves are often instrumental in therapy sessions. Two of the most popular trends today include Goat Cuddling Sessions and Goat Yoga.
Are you ready to experience the benefits of a goat yourself? Here’s a list of locations throughout the Delmarva region that offer some awesome Goat Yoga/Goat Cuddling Sessions guaranteed to make a believer out of you.
Delaware
Bluetail Yoga
Instructor Laura Michnya has been leading her creative yoga practice for over two decades, combining her passion for yoga with the outdoors, animals, and other unique compilations. Her goat yoga offerings are among the most popular and unique mindfulness opportunities available. As a mobile practice, Bluetail Yoga ventures throughout various Delaware and Maryland locations, providing a broad range of awesome goat yoga sessions to diverse populations spanning all ages, activity levels, and conditions.
Find out more about Bluetail Yoga on the website.
Goat Joy
22114 Ritter Lane
Harbeson, DE 19951
As part of Ritter Family Farms, a family-owned operation in Harbeson, Delaware, Goat Joy provides plenty of opportunities to take note of. In addition to regular goat yoga sessions between April and October, they also host “goat socials,” in which a certain number of individuals may sign up to spend personalized time with the farm’s resident goats. Private events featuring the goats are also available. Click the website link to learn more.
Ramsey’s Farm
440 Ramsey Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
Goat yoga at Ramsey’s Farm is offered on select Wednesdays and features a herd of mini goats and one not-so-mini alpine goat named Reba. While sessions are suitable for those of all activity and experience levels, their offerings are geared more toward participants who are 10 or older. To learn more or preregister for an upcoming goat yoga session, visit the website.
Maryland
BreakAway Yoga Studio
3615 E Joppa Road, Ste 150
Parkville, MD 21234
Started by Jennifer Lucas as a brick-and-mortar studio, BreakAway Yoga Studio now offers mobile experiences throughout the greater surrounding regions of Baltimore. Among the offers are, of course, goat yoga events at various locations that provide a multitude of experiences. Go to the link to find out more.
Goat for the Soul
10209 Fountain School Road
Union Bridge, MD 21791
Goat for the Soul has successfully mastered the art of combining both wellness and animal therapy practices into their goat yoga offerings. In addition to yoga in their pastoral farm setting, they are known to partner with area wineries, distilleries, breweries, and creameries. They also provide goat cuddle sessions as an added stress-reducing bonus. Click here to learn more.
Goat ‘n Around
While goat yoga isn’t on the list currently, Goat ‘n Around in Silver Spring offers a wide range of services and opportunities for unwinding with their farm’s resident goats. Among the experiences offered are Goat Grams, Goat Hikes, and various packages and event specials. Visit the website to learn more.
Strohmer’s Farm
3501 Hernwood Road
Woodstock, MD 21163
In addition to full-service farm operations, Strohmer’s Family Farm has been known to provide plenty of unique and engaging opportunities in agritourism and kid-friendly follies. Among their popular goat offerings are opportunities for booking 30-minute stress-reducing goat cuddle sessions. These sessions can accommodate up to five people at a time and include brushing, petting, and hugs. Read more or book your session here.
Yoga with Goats
13995 Triadelphia Road
Glenelg, MD 21737
Touted as “Maryland’s original yoga with goats,” offerings here typically take place on location at Emma’s Daisyhill Farm. They also host various other events and experiences, including picnicking with goats. Visit the link to find out more.
Virginia
Beth A. Wolfe Yoga
3051 Mt. Vernon Avenue #B
Alexandria, VA 22305
Yoga offerings here include popular goat yoga as well as unique kitten and puppy yoga sessions, which are offered only sporadically. Beth A. Wolfe partners exclusively with Walnut Creek Farm to provide monthly goat yoga events in addition to utilizing her services at other venues within the Northern Virginia corridor. Alternative goat offerings include a Goat Social Hour, Goat Cuddling, Painting with Goats, and Bingoat. Visit the website to discover more.
Charming Hill Farm
Gravel Road
Brandy Station, VA 22714
As a privately owned and operated family farm based in Amissville, Virginia, Charming Hill Farm provides the perfect balance of traditional farm services in addition to those geared toward more unique experiences. Private farm tours and pony rides are among their highlights, along with their mobile services and even their “unicorn for hire,” who puts in appearances at private parties and events. But onsite goat offerings still take the cake. These are available as hour-long goat cuddling sessions and scheduled goat yoga opportunities. Discover more here.
The Little Goat Farm at the Lake
8954 Burwell Road
Nokesville, VA 20181
With a name like that, you know your time at the farm is goats galore. All goat yoga sessions are held outdoors and require registration. Times vary, with the option to schedule private sessions as well. They also have Bunny Snuggle and Baby Goat Bottle Feedings available. Click here for more details.
Pactamere Farm
15577 Stone Horse Creek Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Pactamere Farm holds a one-hour light-hearted goat yoga class every Saturday and Sunday. In addition to yoga, they provide various other animal therapeutic services, including goat and cow cuddling sessions. Packages can be customized accordingly to include hugs, playtime, and more. Visit the website for additional details.
Silver Maple Farm
1829 Withers Larue Road
Berryville, VA 22611
Goat yoga and snuggle sessions are offered at Silver Maple Farm, usually on Saturdays. Tickets are $30 a person, but free for children under two who come for snuggling sessions. Private event bookings can be arranged. Click here to learn more.
These are just some of the many goat-related therapy alternatives offered in the Delmarva states. In addition to good times with goats, there are also several other yoga and cuddle opportunities worth checking out. These include Animal Cuddling at Mary’s Land Farm (in Maryland) and Kangaroo Yoga at Coastal Wild (in Delaware). Furthermore, new experiences are forever emerging. So it’s always best to stay in the know.