Experience goat yoga from GoatCountry LLC around Dayton

Climbing or cuddling, they are the perfect yoga companions and GoatCountry LLC has them in abundance.

While practicing yoga is good for the body and mind, it’s the adorable goats that are the main attraction at the many events the family-owned business holds.

“It’s just so much fun,” said Cassie Keeton GoatCountry co-owner and goat coach. “When you hear that much laughter, it’s just infectious.”

With longer days and warmer temperatures, Etta Moo, Elmer Ricky Bobby, Elvira Hale, and the rest of the goat crew will be hitting the road for a full slate of goat yoga events in the Miami Valley this spring. The popularity of goat yoga is something Keeton did not expect.

“I was hoping for 15 people two times a week,” she said. “This has turned into a full-time family business.”

With her husband as owner, and all five of their children working on everything from teaching class to wrangling goats, the Keetons keep busy year-round but outdoor events increase the fun as well as the number of participants. With spacious venues like The Greene and Austin Landing as well as local park districts, the goat crew will soon be out in full force.

When the Keetons established GoatCountry LLC in 2021, they had 15 goats and practiced yoga primarily in their small studio. There are now 25 goats, including eight babies, available for public yoga classes at wineries and breweries as well as private team-building events.

“We just love to make people smile, it becomes a medicinal thing,” Keeton said. “A natural antidepressant.”

As a former nurse, Keeton understands the relationship between mental and physical health. Her cuddly goats help tick both boxes.

“This is a great introduction to yoga for those who haven’t tried it, but it’s about emotional fitness as much as physical fitness,” she said.

The participants, however, aren’t the only ones enjoying themselves.

“My goats love doing what they do, they run and line up when it’s time to go – tails wagging like a dog,” Keeton said. “They know they will get treats and get loved on.”

When class is underway, the goats wander about, wiggling through legs and even climbing onto backs.

“They are so social, they just want to be around people,” Keeton said of her crew of yoga goats. “And don’t forget your cell phone – set on selfie mode – as they also pose.”