Yoga with goats and cats, under the stars or on a farm. Yoga goes beyond the studio.
Have yoga mat, will travel.
That seems to be the motto these days as yoga is held in planetariums, breweries, even with kittens and goats.
These places test the limits of where you can do yoga — or what you can do yoga with. We scoured spots in the Triangle hosting yoga in nontraditional ways. Here are our favorites.
Yoga experiences
Outdoor Art-Inspired Yoga
North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
April 24, 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
Art and nature combine in this longer class for those of you who want to challenge your flexible stamina. The 75-minute long vinyasa-style class is given in appreciation of the arts outside of the museum. In the event of rain, the class will be held in the gallery. This class is $15 for non-members. Look for yoga to be held occasionally in the gallery. ncartmuseum.org
Yoga in the Museum Spring Series
City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh.
May 4, 11 and 25, 11:30 a.m.
OK, maybe this is our favorite because it is free, but it also is in a beautiful museum. The spring series allows history buffs and yoga enthusiasts to come together. Classes are first-come first-serve. Bring your own mat and water bottle. facebook.com/CORMuseum/
Yoga Under The Stars
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, 250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill.
April 24, May 1, 6 p.m.
Participants head to the Morehead’s GlaxoSmithKline Full Dome Theater for a relaxing yoga class under galaxies of stars. Instructors come from Carrboro Yoga Co., and no experience is necessary. We challenge you to find the Big Dipper while doing your Upward Dog pose. Participants are asked to bring their own mat and arrive 15 minutes early. $20 per person. moreheadplanetarium.org/yoga
Yoga at Dix Park
Williams Field at Dix Park, corner of Blair Drive and Umstead Drive
Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Two types of classes are offered at Dorothea Dix Park with certified yoga instructor Dana Lindquist. All levels are welcome. Gentle flow yoga is the first and third Wednesdays. Meditative, deep stretch yoga is the second and fourth Wednesdays. Bring your own mat, a towel and filled water bottle. Free, but registration is strongly encouraged. dixpark.org
Yoga in the Garden
Gregg Museum of Art & Design, 1903 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
June 13, 6 p.m.
The free yoga class will be in the Jackson-Thiem Pollinator Garden, led by instructors with Alexander Family YMCA. Bring a mat and water. Bonus class: On July 11 at 6 p.m. try Tai Chi in the garden. gregg.arts.ncsu.edu/programs/
Yoga with pets
Yoga with your dog
Woofinwaggle, 8471 Garvey Drive, Raleigh.
Tuesdays through April 30. 6:45 p.m.
Dog parents can bring their pets to fitness classes at Woofinwaggle. The goal is to encourage the human-dog bond through happy yoga. There is no judgment in this area, according to the website. It’s OK if your dog barks or is overexcited. No experience is necessary for humans or their dogs. Bring your own dog as well as a mat, so it may be a bit awkward if you showed up without those. Dogs must be attached to participants with a belt or runner’s leash. $20 a person. woofinwaggle.com/raleighyogaclasses/
Cats on Mats Yoga Night
For all you crazy cat people, this kind of sounds like your jam. For $15 a session, a professional yoga instructor will teach yoga with cats, which roughly translates to 40 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes of “kitten cuddles time.” The Purr Cup Cafe hosts yoga with cats once a month, often at AniMall Pet Adoption and Outreach Center in Cary.
“There are lots of laughs in kitty yoga,” said Sarah Newton from Purr Cup Cafe. “Cats are so unpredictable; they do some wild things. It’s also a really fun way to meet other cat lovers.” Future dates haven’t been announced. Go to facebook.com/PurrCupCafe/ for updates.
Yoga with goats
Hux Family Farm Goat Yoga
1923 Shaw Road, Durham
This farm has 15 Nigerian Dwarf Goats of different ages and they provide many classes. They encourage people to bring their own fruit to feed the animals and to stay after the classes and enjoy cuddles and play time with the animals. They have goats, sheep, rabbits and a dog. What a time to be a goat farm, right? Classes are every Saturday and Sunday at varying times and costs. The farm offers therapeutic yoga, gentle goat yoga with meditation, a class with a goat cheese tasting as well as private and group classes. See huxfamilyfarm.com/yoga.html for details.
Baby Goat Yoga
Spring Haven Farm, 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel Hill.
This farm brings goat yoga to next-level cuteness by only allowing baby goats. They have a Goat Yoga Studio specifically made for these classes. The goats are known to hop on your back when you are laying down and interact fully throughout the yoga class. No experience is necessary. No classes scheduled. Check springhaven.farm/goat-yoga for updates.
Boozy Yoga
Crank Arm Yoga
Crank Arm Brewery, 319 W. Davie St., Raleigh.
Sundays, 10:45 a.m. to 12 noon
This yoga class combines three of our favorites: fitness, beer and philanthropy. For $12, you get a yoga class and a 9-ounce beer with $2 going to Triangle Spokes Group, which provides bicycles for children in need. crankarmbrewing.com
Plank and Drank
Clouds Brewing Co., 1233 Front St., Raleigh
Sundays, 11 a.m.
Yoga class and a drink are $10. Need we say more? Drinks are limited to a mimosa, beermosa or a pint of your choosing. cloudsbrewing.com/calendar
Beer with Yoga
Trophy on Maywood, 656 Maywood Ave., Raleigh.
Every other Sunday, Next class April 28, 11:30 a.m.
Classes are a suggested donation of $12 and include a beer. If you prefer to go beer-free, pay what you can. trophybrewing.com/food-truck-calendar
Yoga and Cider
Bull City Ciderworks, 305 S. Roxboro St., Durham
Sundays, 10:45 a.m.
Classes are $12 and include a cider or cider-mosa. No reservations necessary, but a 10:30 a.m. arrival is suggested. The instructor is from La Vita Yoga. bullcityciderworks.com/durham-events