Going to the goats: Shelby County farm introduces a new workout

On Saturday mornings at Teshua Farms, visitors can enjoy the strength and stretching of yoga with the adorable addition of baby Nigerian Dwarf goats. 

Mike and Renee Betz moved to their 45-acre farm off Old Highway 280 in 2017. They chose the name because Teshua means “God is my deliverer” in Hebrew, and they said it was the perfect word for the story of their journey to owning a farm. 

Before moving to Birmingham, where they lived in Brook Highland for nine years before buying their farm, the couple always dreamed of a farm life. 

“Somehow instead of raising our children on a farm, we raised them in the suburbs of Atlanta and life got away,” Renee Betz said. “I grew up on a farm and my husband was an agriculture major, so we always dreamed of a farm life.”

During her battle with cancer, Betz began eating organic foods. The couple also started the The MarketPlace at Lee Branch in 2016 as a way to bring fresh food to the U.S. 280 corridor. 

Betz did Piyo, a mixture of Pilates and yoga, during her recovery. When the couple saw goat yoga for the first time on a trip to Florida, they immediately knew they wanted to bring it to the farmers market. After spending time learning about it and touring farms, they decided to hold classes at their own farm. 

Both Betz and her husband have backgrounds in corporate offices and they have used the classes as team learning experiences.

“We saw the application of getting people outside of their comfort zone and having fun and laughing together and apply it toward team building,” Betz said. “We saw its benefits and the way people love it, and it also gives people the opportunity to interact with animals they may not otherwise have.”

She added that the goats are very balanced animals, and climbing and jumping are what they instinctually do. Class guests do not need any prior yoga experience. The baby goats will climb on guests while they are in tabletop, child’s pose and plank positions to help with balance. Typically between three and six months old, the goats weigh less than 15 pounds and love people. 

“They are the perfect size for making sure they feel good and connect with you, but not too big to put stress on the body,” Betz said. “Our demo classes have been a mix of beginner and advanced levels, but it’s also a great family thing to do on a Saturday morning.”

A certified yoga teacher leads the hour class. Betz says all are welcome, but children younger than 12 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Seven is usually the age when children can start participating more fully, but they have had children as young as 4.

Since May, Teshua Farms has offered two classes every Saturday. When the weather is nice, they are held outside in the field. In the event of rain, it’s moved inside the barn. The farm provides yoga mats, and guests just need to wear comfortable yoga clothes they don’t mind the goats climbing on. After the class is over, guests can visit with other animals on the farm.

The classes take place at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The times may be adjusted as needed as the weather gets hotter. Tickets are $25 and includes mat rental. 

Teshua Farms is located at 3922 Westover Road. Reservations are required and can be made at teshuafarms.com/goat-yoga.