Yoga has become increasingly popular over the past several years and there are constantly new variations of yoga being invented.

From naked yoga to paddle board yoga, this sport is always evolving to find new ways to help people feel relaxed.

One of the newest trends in the yoga world is goat yoga.

The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) will be jumping on board this year and will be hosting a goat yoga session during orientation week.

The event will take place in the SUB courtyard on Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. Students can sign up starting on Sept. 4 at 9 a.m. at the Biz Booth.

There will be limited spots available so students are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.

According to goatyoga.net, goat yoga was started by a woman named Lainey Morse from Oregon. She started the idea at a birthday party in 2016 and the craze has been taken worldwide.

Goat yoga is a form of animal assisted therapy and is a way to disconnect from daily stress, sickness and depression. Animal assisted therapy has several mental and physical benefits including decrease anxiety and increase mental stimulation, lower blood pressure, release hormones and diminish overall physical pain.

The goats at the FSU event will be coming from Full Circle Ranch in St. Thomas, Ont.

Full Circle Ranch, aims to create a safe and natural environment to promote self-discovery, healing and transformation. They offer individual therapy, group therapy, weekend workshops, team building and more.

Andrew Waterworth, student life co-ordinator for the FSU, said he is excited for the first goat yoga event at Fanshawe and if the event will go over well, so they can do it again in future years.

“We have done the petting zoos in the past which is probably the closest some people have gotten to goats,” Waterworth said. “I think people will be more interested with the goat part than the yoga part.”

The Student Wellness Centre holds yoga events frequently throughout the school year and Waterworth discussed that he believes the popularity of those events will transfer over to the goat yoga event.

“The yoga aspect of it is really good because it gets you active and one with yourself. It gets you doing a lot of stretches which is important in the world where there is a lot of sitting down,” Waterworth said. “I think students will enjoy it because it combines being active, but also [is] a fun aspect of having goats around you.”

So far, students have shown a keen interest in the goat yoga event and spots are expected to fill fast.

Nicole Moore, a second year Fanshawe environmental technology student said she has never tried yoga before, let alone goat yoga. She expressed her interest in the event and is excited to try something new during orientation week.

To find out more about FSU events visit fsu.ca and to learn more about Full Circle Ranch, visit fullcircleranch.ca.