Take a deep breath in and slowly breathe out.
On your mat, with legs crossed, stretch out your arms as far as you can towards the alpacas as they wander the lush green fields and forest surrounding you.
Let their soft hum amidst a warm fresh breeze connect you to your inner Zen and help wash away the stresses of today.
And if you suddenly feel the need to stop and touch them, you can.
This is Yoga with Alpacas.
“Alpacas are so gentle. And they have these big beautiful eyes,” says Penny Burton, who runs Brae Ridge Farm and Sanctuary in Puslinch.
Burton says Yoga with Alpacas was something of a surprise for the new family run farm.
Since COVID-19 hit, she is so thankful to be able to offer a unique experience and share her love of alpacas.
“When the pandemic started, I was just so thankful to have my alpacas, to visit them and for me, to de-stress. So, when someone suggested Yoga with Alpacas, I contacted some yoga instructors and it just took off from there,” Burton says.
Yoga with Alpacas classes are offered every Saturday and Sunday. The instructor guides participants through an all levels yoga class while alpacas quietly wander around, generating the soothing benefits of traditional yoga, nature and animal therapy.
Yoga classes shared with animals such as cats, dogs and other furry friends, are becoming more and more common.
And it’s not just warm and fuzzy.
Studies show that when humans interact with animals, they experience physiological changes, including a drop in heart rate, lower blood pressure and a reduction in stress and anxiety.
“This is great for beginners, it’s great for families and for all levels. If people want to stop to take a pic, they can. Everyone feels really comfortable. And kids just love it. We had a little girl here with her dad a couple weeks ago. The alpacas must sense that young energy and they just kept going up to her. And another participant got a kiss from one of the alpacas.” Burton said.
Yoga with alpacas has limited participant numbers to ensure social distancing protocols are followed but the classes are also designed to offer participants, a more intimate setting
“I want it to be more private. It makes for a better experience. The point is not to bring out as many as you can, as much as it is to share my love of alpacas in a beautiful environment,” Burton said.
For Burton, it was love at first sight.
“My curiosity about alpacas, turned into a seven-year love affair before I took the plunge. It all started at a New York City street market where I purchased an alpaca cape,” Burton said.
“I just fell in love with that cape and its warmth. So, I began to research alpacas. They are so gentle on the land and they produce great compost, a slow release fertilizer. They have such a gentle nature and they hum. When I visit the barn, they hum.”
Three years ago, this month, Burton along with her husband and three children decided to make the big move from the city and bought their peaceful property, Brae Ridge Farm.
And when it comes to her beloved alpacas, Burton has even learned to shear them.
“I was so scared, but I learned how to shear. I bring my fibre to a woman in Freelton who spins it and my mom knits,” she said.
“Initially, I bought five alpacas and now I have 10. I love that number because you can really have that one-on-one with them rather than having a herd. And I have just fallen in love with them. I feel I have a relationship with them. They come running to me when I see them,” Burton said.
But Yoga with Alpacas was not part of the farming plan originally.
“I really wasn’t planning on this. I had no farm experience, so it has been three years of learning and getting my feet wet. I didn’t really feel ready but when the idea of Yoga with Alpacas came up, I thought we would get some feelers out there and it just took off,” says Burton.
Classes have been running since July 1 and Burton says people keep coming back.
“The instructors want to keep coming back and lots of people come back and bring friends. We have many repeat customers. They say that it is amazing and better than they expected, just to have the alpacas walk around them,” Burton says.
While holding a stretch or pose, Daphne, the matriarch alpaca at Brae Ridge, might make her way around you, always alert and looking for any potential hazards while Dayna, the graceful dancer and is always ready to jump in and have some fun.
“They each have their own personality. Some are very playful and some are very quiet. Our one-year-old boy, Walnut is a real mommy’s boy and he’ll need to get out with the rest of the boys soon,” Burton says.
Burton plans to continue to offer Yoga with Alpacas every weekend into September.
“During the pandemic, the alpacas have been so good for my own anxiety and it is so pleasurable to share this with others and to see their gratitude and their smiles,” Burton said.
“To share Yoga with Alpacas, it’s been so gratifying. It’s all about sharing the peacefulness of these animals.”
