And this little piggy went to yoga class
A pig lies on a yoga mat in the middle of class. The animals’ antics elicit many smiles from the students.
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Brookfield, Mass.
The class begins with exercises in deep breathing and concentration. All is quiet and calm, until a few attention hogs make some noise. They snort; they wiggle; they explore with their snouts while giggles slip out from the class.
This is pig yoga, and it’s squeal-y popular.
Ashley Bousquet, owner of Beyond Yoga & Wellness, based in Spencer, Massachusetts, started holding the classes on Mother’s Day in a fenced enclosure in Brookfield. She borrowed three piglets – Charlotte, Wilbur, and Blue – and a few other animals from a friend who owns a minifarm. By late June, Ms. Bousquet had taught 15 sessions of pig yoga and now plans to hold more.
Why We Wrote This
Pigs are highly social creatures. In this yoga class, they’re also the perfect companions to help students combat stress.
“Pigs are so inquisitive,” she says, noting that the creatures are very social and thrive with human interaction. “They feel what you’re feeling.”
In addition to the pigs, two goats roam the space while the students practice their yoga poses: Munchie, an intelligent 5-month-old, and Daisy, a playful younger goat whom class members enjoy cradling like a baby. There are also a few young bunnies.
Student Anne Fuess says she was “pretty stressed coming here,” but the four-legged friends took her mind off everything going on in her life.
Meanwhile, Andrea Kimstadt examines her stained clothing after the session. With a smile and a laugh, she says, “It’s so worth the laundry.”