Spencer – It’s no secret that spending time with animals has many benefits.
According to the American Heart Association, owning a pet has been shown to improve fitness levels, lower stress, cholesterol, and blood pressure, as well as reduce depression and increase serotonin levels. There’s a reason dogs are known as man’s best friend.
Now, animals appear near and far on yoga mats for participants to sit back, relax, and of course have a chance to take selfies.
A few years ago, it was goat yoga that caught the attention of the Worcester area. In fact, Worcester Common Oval held his class in 2018 as well. This year there will be a competition between goats and piglets.
“We’re in a world of ‘go, go, go.’ Just being around these baby animals helps you focus on the moment,” said Beyond, located at 15 Oak Lane in Spencer. said Ashley Bousquet, owner of Yoga & Wellness. “Ultimately, the benefits of being around animals are endless.”
Bousquet launched Beyond Yoga & Wellness in January, but has been teaching yoga locally for several years, including a series that includes yoga classes at Oakham Brewery and drinks at the bar.
An animal lover himself, Bousquet owns a number of reptiles, including Neo, a 23-year-old iguana. Zelda, a 13-year-old chuckwalla. and Jade the crested gecko. Although she has hosted goat yoga in the past, she decided to try something new this year and she is hosting piglet yoga classes around central Massachusetts.
“As soon as we release a class, it sells out within a day,” she said. “And in a day, she gets over 100 reservations and a waiting list.”
The best way to reserve a spot is to find Bousquet on Facebook or email her directly at Ashley@Beyondyogaandwellness.com.
More than 30 people arrived Tuesday afternoon for an outdoor vinyasa class in Bousquet’s backyard next to Thompson Pond. Attendees came from all over the state, from Ludlow to Lexington.
The yogis were joined by three five-week-old piglets (Charlotte, Wilbur and Blue), as well as Munchie the goat and several rabbits from Mable’s Acre in North Brookfield.
“I drove here from Charlemont,” Crystal Jarvenpah said. “I’m totally obsessed with pigs.”
Jarvenpaa works as a hairdresser. According to her, it was a customer of hers who saw the piglet class being offered and sent it to her. She currently has two pot-bellied pigs named Drake and Dustin.
“Be sure to wash your hands and change your clothes before you go back to those two’s houses. They will be jealous,” she said.
It was Jarvenpaa’s first time taking a yoga class. She said she would do it again, even though it was a 90-minute drive.
It was also the first class for Gianna Brown, Jill Cara and James Martin, who work at TJO Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization “committed to the health and welfare of animals.” The group was there for “Team Building Tuesdays,” a new initiative Ms. Brown created to strengthen bonds with her colleagues.
“I thought it would be really cool to do this as a group,” Brown said, looking at Carla and Martin. “And we work for a nonprofit that helps raise money to help animals, so things like this are right in front of our eyes.”
“And it’s so fun to look down and see the pigs,” Martin said with a laugh.
Aside from the pink distractions and endless selfies taken, there’s actually a lot of yoga going on.
“The class is what you make it,” Bousquet told the group before class. “You can pose or you can just stand up and play with the pig.”
And we played in groups.
