Come on out for 'Alpaca Yoga'

“Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.” – John Muir

Since 2015, here in the United States, there has been a rise in the popularity of “Animal” yoga. By most accounts, it started trending on goat farms in Arizona and Oregon and then with the explosion of short videos on social media, the movement caught on and expanded throughout the country.

However, as author and blog writer Siobhan Searle notes, “Animals have influenced Yoga since its inception 5,000 years ago in Northern Indiana. In a country with high regard for creatures in general, ancient yogis believed imitating animals would help one become enlightened. They found it not only aided with the development of self-clarity and environmental awareness, but also with cultivating a holistic perspective and an appreciation for the world around us.” (Searle, Siobhan. “Goats, Horses, Llamas, Oh My: Are there benefits to yoga with animals or is it just a gimmick?” The Mindful Word, 29 October, 2020). Accessed 18 May 2026.

Event participants do yoga in the alpaca pasture

Now you can find opportunities to do yoga with dogs, cats, bunnies, mini-pigs and even horses. And any person who loves animals can tell you why. Animals make everything better. And of course, it is widely known that for those folks, just being around animals releases lots of the happy hormones like dopamine and oxytocin. Add some mindful meditation, stretching and breathing exercises and you’ve got a whole lot of natural, health self-care!

Always looking for ways to give folks in our community an opportunity to disconnect from the daily grind and improve mental and physical health, we were curious at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC), a ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, to see if there was any interest in trying yoga with alpacas. So, in October 2024, we partnered with one of the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) student groups to test it out.

After receiving great feedback about the one-hour session, we tried it out again in the spring, this time enlisting the help of the SMWC Head Athletic Trainer, Shannon Hamilton, who also happens to be a Yoga instructor as well. That session, and the few we have had since, have been met with enthusiasm and positive feedback, so we’ve launched a summer Alpaca Yoga series in partnership with Shannon!

Students and others at one of our recent Alpaca Yoga sessions.

We have been delighted to work with Shannon and sent her a few questions to get to know her a little better.

How long have you been interested in Yoga?

I have been interested in yoga since around 2017-18. I incorporated it into a class assignment when I was in the Doctorate of Athletic Training Program at Indiana State University and it ended up unexpectedly taking off from there.

What goes into becoming a Yoga Instructor?

There is an endless amount of options to becoming a yoga instructor varying from in-person training to online training to a combination of both. Additionally, there are many different training sessions offered for many different styles of yoga (you name it). There are also different hour levels of training: 200-hour training sessions, 300-hur training sessions, etc.

I did a 200-hour Power Yoga Teacher Training through Yoga Alliance. This particular structure lit into my irregular schedule and gave me a solid foundation to be able to teach a variety of different styles.

How long have you been teaching?

I started leading yoga sessions (untrained) with athletes who I worked with (as an athletic trainer) in 2017, so technically, I have been teaching since then. However, I have been certified as an instructor since 2021. I began teaching at Common Ground in Terre Haute in 2021 as well.

Shannon Hamilton with some of our alpacas!

In your opinion, why has adding animals to Yoga become so popular?

I think adding animals to yoga has increased in popularity because it helps to make the activity a bit less intimidating and offers people a fun opportunity to engage in social, spiritual AND physical wellness. I think animal-based yoga often focuses less on the actual physical practice and shifts more so to the social experience and connection with the animals which, to me, is a really cool way to get people more exposed to the benefits yoga can provide.

Why is “Grounding” oneself important?

One of my favorite mantras is, “I have the power to protect and restore my energy.” I am a big believer in having ownership of energy and choosing what you are able to give off and to take in. Grounding is important because it helps to draw awareness to energy, creates a sense of presence and allows us to set clear intentions. Being grounded gives you that heightened awareness of the things that do and don’t serve you/your energy.

What are some Shannon Fun Facts?

I have three pit bulls: They are my babies and they also enjoy participating in wrestling on my yoga mat.

I went swimming with sharks in the Bahamas last summer.

If I had to eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be tacos.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Shannon was hired as the Head Athletic Trainer at SMWC in July 2019 and also earned the River States Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 2024, making her the first to do so in SMWC history! We are grateful to have her join us in this endeavor!

We hope you will join us this summer for an opportunity to take some time for yourself to reconnect with nature and restore your energy!

Sessions will take place on the fourth Sunday of the month from May through August (May 24, June 28, July 26 and August 23) from 11 a.m.-noon. It is open to ages 18-older and we ask that you bring a mat, water and a towel.

Guests will meet at the White Violet Farm Store at 10:45 a.m., where there is ample parking. Cost is $15 per person with special student pricing available for $5.

Facebook X (Twitter) Bluesky Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Tara Elmore

Tara grew up in Seymour, Indiana, but has lived in Terre Haute for many years. She graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Communications. In 2014 Tara did a year-long internship at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. She then spent the next few years living in the Pacific Northwest working on farms with her husband John-Michael. In 2018, they customized a 2012 Seattle Times delivery van and spent the year visiting all 50 states, volunteering with at least one organization in each state. In December of 2019 she joined the staff of White Violet Center where she currently works as the Director of Outreach and Events. In addition to taking care of our alpaca herd and chicken flock, Tara shares her passion for all of creation with visitors when she leads tours and field trips. She also is a published author having co-written the children's book, "Herbert the Edgy Hedgie."