Yoga with Alpacas is a Thing

First there was cat yoga, then there was kitten yoga, followed by dog yoga, and of course goat yoga (Northern California). However, we never expected that there would be Alpaca Yoga, which is now a thing in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Interested? The Alpaca Owners Association is offering an hour-long yoga class with a group of friendly and beautiful alpacas at the Natural Fiber Extravaganza in July.

Sponsored by Long Hollow Suri Alpacas/ New Era Fiber. The classes will take place in the back yard area of the Wilson County Exposition Center on Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 at 8 a.m.

Yoga instructor Sheri Link leads the class. “This will be a fun event,” said Sheri. “Bring a mat, water, hand towel and your sweet spirit!”

A Yogi for 8 years, Sheri leads a monthly class at Feathers and Friends Alpaca Farm in Franklin, KY. She teaches hatha yoga at Byrum Porter in Orlinda, TN and at her studio, Mind, Booty and Soul Fitness in Franklin, KY. Additionally, Sheri leads yoga classes at various events through Free Spirit Gypsy Heart Yoga, the wandering Yogis.

Yoga with alpacas can be more than a fun, new activity to talk about later with friends. Sheri recalls one participant at a recent Yoga with Alpacas event she led.

“She wrote me a letter thanking me for the class. She explained that her nephew had been stabbed by a drunk neighbor while trying to defend his wife and daughter just months earlier,” said Sheri. “Because of this incident, he suffers from PTSD and panic disorder. These issues can manifest in physical pain. Night terrors and insomnia also plagued this young man. Following the event, he told his aunt that he hadn’t felt so relaxed in months and slept so well that night. You never know what people are going through and to have a hand in easing their pain gives me insurmountable joy.”

Admission to the Natural Fiber Extravaganza Sponsored by Long Hollow Suri Alpacas/ New Era Fiber is free. Workshops and seminars are available to paid registrants or can be purchased a’ la carte. Details are available at www.FiberExtravaganza.com.