Animal Classes

Dr. Doolittle would love these Pilates offerings.

PILATES WITH PYGMY GOATS IN SCOTLAND

Inspired by goat yoga videos she saw on the internet (and having tried a class in San Francisco), Jo Munro, owner of The Pilates Attic in Edinburgh, which is also the BASI host studio for Scotland, began searching for some method-friendly goats near her. “Eventually someone introduced me to Holly [PatrickThomson] at Bellcraig Farm,” Munro recounts. “She was as excited as I was about the idea. Her goats, Mabel, Hazel, Fergus and Angus, are gorgeous. When we introduced them to the concept of Pilates, they took to it instantly. They are very people-friendly and love the interaction and attention they receive.”

Classes are held in an old stone cottage on the farm, which is in the countryside about 45 minutes outside of Edinburgh. “We begin with standing exercises and the goats wander around checking everyone out,” Munro says. “We then move on to sitting exercises during which people can stroke and feed them. The real fun starts when we begin the exercises on all fours: As soon as the goats see someone in a Plank or kneeling, they will jump on their back! Goats love to climb and love to be the tallest goat in the room. And when we have a room full of people, they will jump from person to person.”

The goats weight around 33 pounds, “so it can feel like a good deep-tissue hoof massage when they stand on top of you,” she notes. “Plus all the laughing helps with core engagement!” For more information, go to pilatesattic.co.uk.