Do not be alarmed by the goats wandering the halls! WCHS has implemented a new class into the curriculum: Goat Yoga. The growing recognition of the importance of mental health drove the decision to incorporate goat yoga into the WCHS course options. The unconventional approach blends physical fitness, mental health and lots of fun.
Goat yoga is a trend that has gained popularity across the country and gone viral on social media. It is taught like a typical yoga class, but the only difference is the addition of goats roaming freely around the room. The instructors guide the goats throughout the class on how to interact with the students.
“I think goats are a great addition to the WCHS community,” Honors Goat Yoga teacher Looney Tunes said. “The presence of goats can uplift the mood of students and trigger the release of endorphins. I think everyone could benefit from goat yoga.”
Many students have switched out of the usual physical education classes, including net sports and foundations, and opted for goat yoga. WCHS freshman Patty Cake was the first student to register for the course.
“I love goats so much and was so excited when I heard about the new class,” Cake said. “Even though one of the goats did eat my hair and I am now bald, I still find it a lot of fun. My balance has improved because I have to worry about goats crawling onto my back.”
For the main part, the class has received much praise, but a few staff members are not too pleased with it. Although most of the goats have gone through proper training for a school environment, some still encounter hiccups. The goats are not monitored very closely and have been found in sticky situations.
“I think goat yoga needs to go,” Honors Biology teacher Nick McRage said. “I walked into my class recently and found that all the experiment materials were eaten and everything was destroyed. The goats were found standing there and showed no sign of guilt. It is not ok!”
Whether disliked or not, goat yoga has greatly improved WCHS. Students have self-reported being more excited about exercising, which has improved their overall health.
“The students are very engaged in the class,” Tunes said. “They are preoccupied and do not realize they have 25 pounds of goat balancing on their back. It is such a positive environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle.”
