Goat Yoga Solo in Upstate New York
It Was the Weird, Healing Reset I Didn’t Know I Needed
Let’s be real for a sec: solo travel isn’t always sipping wine in Rome or journaling in Bali. Sometimes it’s about finding peace, presence, and play—in the most unexpected places. Case in point? I recently signed myself up for a retreat, the goat yoga solo in Upstate New York. Yes. Goat. Yoga.
I went in thinking it would be a silly story to tell over brunch. I left with a stretchier spine, a clearer head, and the kind of joy that you don’t find in a museum or tourist trap.
First of All… What Even Is Goat Yoga?
If you’ve never heard of it (or assumed it was just a TikTok thing gone too far), here’s the scoop:
Goat yoga is an outdoor yoga class—usually on a farm—where adorable goats wander freely around your mat. They climb, cuddle, and occasionally photobomb your poses. It’s low-pressure, high-fun, and surprisingly therapeutic.
🧘 It’s yoga for people who don’t take yoga too seriously.
🐐 It’s therapy with hooves.
📸 It’s Instagram gold—but it’s also the kind of authentic joy you can’t fake.
Why I Did It (Solo)
I was burnt out. Like “I can’t remember the last time I really laughed” level of burnt out.
Scrolling through Jessie on a Journey’s solo travel blog (she’s kind of my virtual travel bestie), I saw her post about goat yoga in New York. Her vibe? Curious, real, and exactly the kind of “don’t knock it ‘til you try it” energy I needed.
She said:
“It’s the kind of silly, grounding joy you didn’t realize you needed.”
Same, girl. Same.
I didn’t want a big group tour. I didn’t need a packed itinerary. I needed something that reminded me I’m allowed to just be. No performance. No pressure. Just a solo moment of peace... and goats.
Why It Was the Perfect Solo Travel Activity
💫 1. Unapologetically Unique = Instant Main Character Moment
Goat yoga isn’t your average yoga class. You’re stretching in a field, surrounded by baby goats who literally hop on your back. It’s unexpected, charming, and gives serious “I’m living my best life” energy — aka, peak main character vibes. When you travel solo, you want something memorable, and this? This is unforgettable.
🧘♀️ 2. Deeply Grounding, Yet Playful
Goat yoga hits that perfect sweet spot between mindfulness and joy. You’re breathing, moving, connecting with nature… and then a goat nibbles your hair. Solo travel is often about re-centering — this lets you do that without taking yourself too seriously. It’s therapy + comedy hour in a meadow.
📵 3. Permission to Unplug + Be Present
There’s no pressure to post or perform. Goat yoga gives you a rare moment to just be. No phones, no pressure, no “are my poses right?” Just pure, unfiltered presence with animals who couldn't care less about your to-do list. As a solo traveler, you’re allowed to be in your own little world — and here, that world includes goats.
🐐 4. Instant Connection (Without Needing a Plus One)
Even though you come solo, goat yoga is naturally social. You’ll laugh with strangers, bond over goat antics, and maybe even make a new friend or two — all without needing to “network” or perform. It’s a shared experience that makes you feel less alone without demanding too much energy.
📸 5. Instagram-Worthy, But Not Try-Hard
Let’s be real — it’s photogenic AF. Aesthetic barns, rolling hills, and adorable goats? Content gold. But unlike tourist traps that scream “look at me,” goat yoga feels organic, local, and off-the-beaten-path. It’s luxury in the form of intentional whimsy.
✨ 6. Soul-Food in Experience Form
Solo travel is often a search for something — peace, healing, fun, freedom. Goat yoga delivers a bit of all of it. It’s not about sweating or mastering poses. It’s about joy. Presence. Connection. And walking away with a story no one else has.
🎯 Final Word:
Goat yoga in Upstate New York isn’t just an activity — it’s a microadventure.
It lets you laugh at yourself, reconnect with nature, and experience something so specific and pure that it becomes a core memory. For the solo traveler who’s not here to do basic things in basic ways? It’s perfection.
Where to Do It (And Why Upstate NY Is a Dream)
Upstate New York is such a vibe for solo travelers—especially if you’re craving nature, stillness, and something different from the usual city chaos.
Jessie on a Journey recommends several goat yoga spots, but if you’re up for a full solo reset, here’s what to look for:
🏕 Stay somewhere glampy. Think canvas tents with beds, string lights, and birdsong in the morning.
🔥 Go for the weekend. Enjoy bonfires, trails, and slow mornings with local coffee and goats that might join you.
🌌 Let yourself unplug. Leave the laptop. Bring a journal. Let weird be wonderful.
And if you want to go all in? Check out Gilbertsville Farmhouse—they offer goat yoga and luxe glamping all in one stunning, solo-friendly package.
Thinking About Going Alone? DO IT.
Look, solo travel isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes it’s lonely. Sometimes it’s awkward. But sometimes? It’s goat yoga in a sunlit field, where the only thing on your to-do list is exist and enjoy.
If you’re craving a new kind of solo adventure—one that’s not about ticking boxes or taking the perfect photo—try this.
Let your inner child out. Let your mind rest. Let a goat nuzzle your shoulder while you try not to fall over in Tree Pose.
Goat Yoga Is the Ultimate Solo Travel Surprise
It's low-stakes, high-reward joy.
It's wellness without ego.
It’s you + nature + a goat = one ridiculously happy version of yourself.
Ready to try it?
✨ Browse Jessie on a Journey’s guide to goat yoga in Upstate NY 👉 Explore Now
✨ Or go all in with a glamping retreat at Gilbertsville Farmhouse—where solo souls go to reconnect.
Want a printable solo travel itinerary or a “goat yoga for first-timers” checklist as a freebie lead magnet? I can make that too. Just say the word. 🐐💛
Let’s make this your year of yes, one weird little adventure at a time. Try the goat yoga solo in Upstate New York. Book your session now.
