Beyond Yoga & Wellness Welcomes You

SPENCER — How about a little oink-oink with your downward dog? Piglet Yoga is the all the rage in Central Massachusetts.

“It’s not a gimmick. Absolutely not. It’s a scientific fact that animals are therapeutic,” says certified yoga instructor Ashley Bousquet, owner of Beyond Yoga & Wellness.

According to the National Institutes of Health, along with helping to lower stress and blood pressure, "studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support and boost your mood.”

There is plenty of snorting and squealing when the three little piggies arrive for class in Bousquet’s fenced in backyard. There are also a couple of bunnies and a baby goat, all imported from a local farm for the one-hour Vinyasa yoga sessions.

Goat yoga became a sensation in 2017, but now it is the piggies that are bringing home the bacon. Classes usually sell out within 24 hours.

“It’s no longer about the goats, everyone wants a piece of the piglets,” says Bousquet.

​

The class is for all ages and all levels. The last 15 minutes is set aside for “pictures and extra cuddles.” Don’t try picking up these piggies, they’ll act like you are taking them to market.

The first thing she does is make everyone feel at home.

“It’s all about what feels good for you,” she tells the two dozen women and children (and one man) as they stretch out on their mats.

​

“In our world of go, go, go with the constant to-do list, we’re never in the present moment. The animals bring you this calming, relaxing aura and it’s great,” says Bousquet.

It’s gentle flow yoga, nobody is sweating like a you know what.

“If at any point you want to hang out and cuddle with the pigs, absolutely do it.”