Local college students bring trendy goat yoga to Utah


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OREM — Derek Westover and Benson Richardson's friendship began a mile apart on farms in Idaho.

They tried to start a couple of small businesses together in high school. But their latest venture took quite the turn for these 22-year-olds: yoga.

Westover, who goes to UVU, and Richardson, a BYU student, consider themselves country boys working together to help calm mostly college students.

"This week is finals week for BYU. Stressful right," Richardson said.

But to feel more at home, these guys added something that always gave them comfort growing up — goats.

"Puppies are nice, cats are nice, other therapeutic animals are nice, but they don't offer that fun lively vibe that the goats can give for us," Richardson said.

When the unique workout began in Oregon, they knew they had to bring it to Utah.

"We started talking about it. You like goats. I like yoga," Richardson said.

So they started "GOGA." Trailering their six goats to different locations for classes.

"It's not your regular yoga atmosphere where it's super chill, quiet, and that can be kind of intimidating, that's why we have so much fun," Westover said.

But classes don't always go as planned.

"Pepper the black goat she's a hair chewer ... no big deal. Just go home take a shower. It's a little slimy," Westover said.

The reaction of the yogis — or gogis — as the guys call them says it all.

"You can always tell someone's having a good time because they're Snapchatting it," Westover said.

Derek Westover and Benson Richardson hope GOGA—or goat yoga—gives gives locals a sense of what brought them zen back on the farm in Idaho. (John Wilson, KSL TV)
Derek Westover and Benson Richardson hope GOGA—or goat yoga—gives gives locals a sense of what brought them zen back on the farm in Idaho. (John Wilson, KSL TV)

In some ways, they say goats have a lot in common with college students.

"So the baby goats, they eat Rice Krispies and the older goats like Doritos, the nacho cheese kind," Westover said.

Westover and Richardson hope GOGA gives locals a sense of what brought them zen back on the farm.

"That's the beauty of goats is that their happy, they're positive. They're fun. They're lively. They make happiness a real thing it's nice," Richardson said.

For more information about GOGA, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages: GOGA guys.

Class times and locations vary, either in Pleasant Grove or Provo, and they hope to add more venues across Utah County in the near future. Classes are $10 each and everyone is welcome.

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Caitlin Burchill

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