Coloradans are wild for animal yoga

By Natasha Lovato

There’s nothing like shavasana, downward dog or chaturanga alongside cats, dogs, goats, pigs, sharks or kangaroos. You can support your animal friends while opening up your chakras, furthering your knowledge on conservation and maybe adopting an animal yogi of your own. We’ve compiled a variety of yoga options to try.

Kangaroo Yoga at Zoo Chateau

Golden

You’ll find yourself in down-under dog as you practice yoga alongside Bindi and Rooney, the kangaroos of Zoo Chateau. This vacation rental in Golden strives to give guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience interacting with animals while also teaching awareness of animal care and the importance of rescuing and responsibility.

“We are USDA licensed as an exhibitor, we want to make sure we aren’t a roadside zoo, so we limit the interactions and strive on being a passion project by educating our visitors,” said Keaton Crawford, Zoo Chateau manager. “If you’re going to get animals, the best thing to do is rescue, but if you’re going to get one from a breeder, the best thing is to make sure you have the financial means and the space.”

So, what is yoga with kangaroos like? These curious and furry friends will approach you for the occasional chest rub and hop around in search of granola snacks.

“They’ll come up and sniff people. Sometimes they’ll get in a shavasana pose or lick people because they like the salt in the sweat. If you’re in bare feet they will lick your feet, so we get lots of giggles,” Crawford said.

Puppy, kitten and goat yoga with

OmKai Yoga - Northern Colorado

There will be a lot of cuddles, a lot of laughs and a lot of fun with OmKai alongside puppies, kittens and goats. Puppy yoga is hosted at Maxline Brewing where each attendee gets a beer or kombucha for attending. Kitten yoga is held at multiple Northern Colorado locations in partnership with the Fort Collins Cat Rescue. Barnyard Buddies happily hosts OmKai for goat yoga sessions where you can expect a baby goat to jump on your back as you find yourself in Marjariasana pose.

For Kaitlin Mueller, owner of OmKai Yoga, it’s a great way to help the community, spread awareness about a non-profit and practice yoga.

“The rescues I work with bring animals from other states that are on the euthanasia list and we give them new hope in finding a perfect family. It’s also a great way to bring awareness to yoga,” Mueller said. “It brings instant joy the moment the animals are released into the space. It makes you fully present in the space by focusing on the animals and the postures. You can’t help but smile and laugh throughout class and it’s a great experience for the animals to interact with the humans and learn social skills.”

Yoga with Sharks

Downtown Aquarium

You can flow alongside the sharks at Denver’s Downtown Aquarium. Classes begin at 8 a.m. before the Aquarium opens to the public to allow for an intimate morning with the sharks. You’ll appreciate the integral part these giants play in the ocean, from the other side of the glass of course. Bring a yoga mat, water and be sure to book your reservation online.

Pig Yoga with YogaRitas

Metro area

Elvis and Tequila Barbie trot around yogis, picking up Cheerios and carrot snacks while getting a lot of pets from their adoring fans. For yoga instructor Sydney Fontaine, it only made sense to let her service pigs join in the fun. Many of the classes are held in Albuquerque, but Fontaine makes her way up to Colorado for pig yoga classes at places like Resolute Brewing Company and Vinue Food and Wine Bar in Cherry Creek.

Once the tutus and headbands go on, Elvis and Tequila Barbie know it’s show time and Fontaine makes sure the guests leave with a memorable experience.

“Tequila Barbie and Elvis create awareness on how smart and sensitive pigs can be,” she said. “After all, they have an IQ of a 2-3 year old. They are very emotional, love to work and most importantly they love to work for treats.” Fontaine shares her love for pigs with her guests and also makes sure they know the commitment required for adopting one.

“You never know what you are getting when you rescue or buy a pig. I made a commitment that no matter how big Tequila Barbie and Elvis get, I will provide a loving home for them. I encourage everyone to have the same attitude toward any animal they rescue or purchase,” she said.

Cats on Mats

The Denver Animal Shelter

Stretch off all your cares in the world and support the Denver Animal Shelter in a “yoga with cats” experience. This professionally instructed yoga class is made even more fun and relaxing thanks to roaming and adoptable kittens and cats. Bring your mat and enjoy an hour of kitten cuddles and if you connect with a special cat, consider beginning the adoption process that day.

Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga

Throughout Colorado

Although Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga’s primary locations have been Longmont, Golden, Denver, Littleton and Colorado Springs, you can find them across the state. RMGY owner Jim Naron started goat yoga in 2017 to bring a physically, mentally and spiritually healthy practice to Coloradans.

“Interaction with animals has proven to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Our goal is to cultivate happiness and smiles,” Naron said. “This is also very good for our goats. The goats we exhibit in the lessons are all bucks rejected by dairy or show farms, sometimes even rejected by their mothers. We give them jobs which provide for a great life.”

The goats are natural snugglers, climbers and are trained to love and interact with humans. Naron explains just how excited the goats get for yoga as the guests play a part in surrogate motherhood. Guests give the goats a back to jump on just as they’d do with their goat mothers, thus encouraging the behavior they are already instinctually drawn to.

Yoga with Rescued Pigs

Throughout Colorado

Get your stretch on with Hog Haven Farm’s rescued pigs and maybe even enjoy an aprés beer or food from a food truck as Hog Haven takes their piggy friends out for yoga at places like Diebolt Brewing Company and Seedstock Brewing Company. Hog Haven has about 100 pigs that have been recovered from homes, shelters or farms.

Native Natasha Lovato celebrates the Colorado lifestyle through hiking, biking or playing bingo while enjoying a sour ale or two.