Category: Yoga

June 21, was International Yoga Day, where people in over 84 countries celebrated the amazing benefits of yoga. This celebration is a fairly new thing, but yoga has been around in the United States for more than a century. Since it was first introduced in Chicago in 1893 by a Hindu Monk named Swami Vivekananda, it has morphed and changed to to be what it is today —  a widely popular path to wellness and mental wellbeing.

While our last yoga class didn’t fall on international yoga day, the spirit of yoga was felt at Purple Alpaca Farms.  Visitors came to feel at one with nature, see some beautiful alpacas and take in their amazing energy while breathing deep the scent of nature and fresh air.

After the guests checked in at our AlpaCafe for their alpaca yoga class, they were led to our Violet pasture, where our female alpacas live. Once there, they formed a circle and set up their mats and began with the practice of grounding. Grounding is the process of centering your mind, body, and spirit, so that you have a clear mind to begin the practice of stretching and breathing. Think of it like stretching before your strength or cardio workout, but for your mind.

As the guests begin the yoga class with the instructor from Yoga on Main in Elkin, the alpacas start meandering into that part of the pasture where the yoga is happening.  This session also included a visit from the farm’s protector, Vanilla, a Great Pyrenees.  We think she wanted to try Alpaca Yoga too.

The practice of Yoga, as we know it in the United States today, involves the combined use of controlled breathing, posture and poses, and a clear mind that is focused only on what you are doing in the moment. This is challenging even for seasoned yoga practitioners and so newcomers to yoga are never judged on their skill level, fitness level, or even how they look. Everyone is welcome, whether it is your first time or if you have been teaching yoga yourself for decades.  The very nature of yoga is being aware of yourself.

The alpaca yoga is no exception to the yoga practices that you find in studios and gyms. The best part of doing yoga with alpacas is the energy and vibes you experience from the beautiful animals and the absolutely stunning nature around you. As the practice wraps up, the guests have moved into position to begin the wind down, reflect on their own thoughts, or even clear their mind completely. Some have been known to even fall asleep during this time. When you finally feel completely relaxed, you slowly begin to wrap up your yoga session and end it with the Anjali Mudra; which is a hands together praying position starting at your bent forehead and moving it down to over your heart, connecting your head to your heart, and saying namaste to yourself and the others around you, welcoming this more relaxed version of yourself.

Namaste, is technically a formal hello, but much like how yoga has evolved, so has the meaning of the word “namaste”. Namaste can be a gesture to yourself, connecting with your inner self, or even used as a way of connecting to others. 

Once you have finished your yoga session, you head over the AlpaCafe, where you can refresh with a drink and snack, whether it be chips or a healthy protein bar, and enjoy relaxing on the deck watching the farm’s chickens forage in the grass.  On days when yoga is in the morning, you can stay after for a full farm tour and experience the alpacas even more hands on.

If alpaca yoga at Purple Alpaca Farms sounds like something you would be interested in, you can register here. Our next date is July 24, 2021. 

We hope to see you soon.  Be sure to follow along with our newsletter and social media to stay up to date for upcoming events.