Last year, we realized goats and fitness were indeed, a real thing. At first, you may have been skeptical, thinking you had misheard things.
Wait, there’s a yoga class with real goats? Yes, baby Nigerian Pygmy Dwarf goats.
And the goats are supposed to climb on you while you pose? Yes, it’s super therapeutic.
This weekend, these lil’ goats are going up against legit predators Hollywood-style — the cast of Shark Tank. YOGA & GOGA is going to appear on ABC’s Shark Tank on Sunday, March 3.
Co-Founders of YOGA & GOGA, Rachael Phillips and Trey Kitchen, will host a celebration of their appearance on the show at their studio in the Hill Country Galleria. There will be a free yoga class, cocktail hour, and episode viewing. But before we dive into the party details, let’s take a look at how this unique business came to be.
A philanthropic beginning
GOGA was founded by Rachael Phillips and Trey Kitchen right after Hurricane Harvey landed in Texas. The couple wanted to find a way to raise money for Harvey victims, and Rachael had been bugging Trey about Goat Yoga since meeting his mother, Roxie, and her goats a few weeks prior.
Trey finally called his mom to pitch their crazy idea to her, and being the crazy goat lady that she is, she agreed to partner with them. The three of them immediately found that their strengths and weaknesses perfectly complemented each other, and they quickly realized they were going to make a great team.
Rachael and Trey noticed that thousands of their GOGA customers had never tried regular Yoga before and this inspired them to start a regular Yoga studio, using GOGA as a way to introduce customers to the practice of Yoga in a more fun and less intimidating way.
It’s yoga with goats
In GOGA, yogis participate in a 45-minute traditional Vinyasa class while baby goats run around interacting with attendees. The goats are little and don’t weigh too much, so no cause for alarm. The GOGA goats typically weigh about 10 to 20 pounds.
It’s a humorous and playful spin on the traditional workout. But it works! The goal of GOGA is to create a friendly environment where novices can practice without feeling intimidated, and veteran yogis are encouraged not to take themselves too seriously. It’s a win-win for everyone involved, goats included.
Sunday fun day episode viewing
If you’re interested in joining the fun and watching our local business owners get in the tank, RSVP via Eventbrite. Registration will close once max capacity is reached.
You can enjoy appetizers from local favs like Chisos Grill, Thirsty Goat Amber Ale from Thirsty Planet Brewing, beef jerky from ATX Homemade Jerky, and Waterloo Sparkling Water. There will also be a raffle with prizes including four $50 gift cards to Jules Design Bar and a yoga mat and strap from Lululemon.
Schedule of events on Sunday, March 3
3:00 p.m.
– Free community yoga class
– 45-minute vinyasa class, non-heated
– You are encouraged to bring your yoga mats
7:00 p.m.
– Free cocktail hour at YOGA & GOGA begins
– Light food, photos with baby goats, and raffle prizes
9:00 p.m.
– Shark Tank episode begins
– A large projector will play the “Shark Tank” episode live
