Hoppy Holidays Deep Relaxation Bunny Yoga Dec. 14th

Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate the holidays with your friends or family? Are YOU needing to claim some self care time this holiday season?

Your $40 ticket includes;

• deep relaxation yoga session in a festive cozy indoor setting
• connection time with the bunnies
• produce gift of your choice
• portion of the proceeds donated to local rescue organization

What to Expect

Yoga with Bunnies takes place on our farm in our indoor, open concept workshop space - twinkling with fairy lights and glowing candles for the holidays. Diana, our yoga instructor, will lead us through a session with a focus on deep relaxation, observation, and self awareness. Our farm bunnies are encouraged to visit us at our yoga mats with a variety of bunny treats. We suspect they will hop and flop nearby as we move through our asanas but they may also find some bunny mischief. They are very unpredictable! After the yoga session is done, you are invited to hand feed the bunnies and connect with them a bit more. Before you leave, you'll pick out something from our produce shelf to gift to someone special or to enjoy yourself!

Yoga with Bunnies is not like goat yoga or puppy yoga...

Connecting with a prey animal like bunnies is a unique experience. It taps into softness and vulnerability. Whether a bunny flops near you or hops by during a stretch, if a bunny decides to connect with you during class, it's a special thing.

Bunnies are extra sensitive to their environment. If you have tried goat yoga or puppy yoga, this experience will be quieter, calmer (and perhaps even more introspective). Getting lost in your yoga practice is the best way to make a bunny friend! They love to approach you on their own terms. Likewise, if you are loud or unpredictable in your movements, the bunnies will retreat.

With this in mind, this yoga experience is best for adults and young people who are interested in yoga and able to focus on the mindfulness practice. We're loosely suggesting this yoga experience is best for adults and young people ages 11+ who can remain calm in the presence of fluffy adorableness but we'll trust your judgment.

Here is our comparison of yoga with bunnies vs. goats and puppies.

Bunny Yoga:

• Atmosphere: Bunny yoga is characterized by a serene and tranquil environment. The presence of soft, gentle bunnies creates a calming atmosphere that enhances relaxation and mindfulness during the yoga session.
• Interaction: Bunnies are small, quiet, and naturally more careful in their environment. They are also curious, so they might hop around or flop near participants, providing a comforting experience without much disruption. Their interactions are subtle and can help deepen the sense of peace and connection in the practice. They are curious and may try to nibble on your yoga mat. Don't worry, we'll put some leafy greens on your mat which they much prefer!
• Focus: The yoga practice emphasizes personal growth, with the bunnies adding a layer of interest.
• Energy Level: The overall energy of a bunny yoga class is quiet and peaceful, ideal for unwinding and de-stressing.

Goat Yoga:

• Atmosphere: Goat yoga, on the other hand, is lively and playful. The presence of energetic goats adds an element of fun and unpredictability to the class, creating a more dynamic and interactive experience.
• Interaction: Goats are curious, playful, and sometimes mischievous. They might climb on participants, nibble on yoga mats, or engage in amusing antics. This can lead to laughter and light-heartedness, making the class feel more like a joyful, communal activity.
• Focus: While yoga poses are still central, goat yoga often becomes more about the experience with the animals than about traditional practice. It’s a blend of fitness and entertainment, where participants embrace the unexpected and enjoy the goats’ antics.
• Energy Level: The energy in a goat yoga class is high-spirited and lively, perfect for those looking for a fun, social, and unique yoga experience.

Puppy Yoga:

• Atmosphere: Puppy yoga is lively and heartwarming, with an atmosphere that’s both playful and affectionate. The presence of energetic puppies adds excitement and a sense of warmth to the class.
• Interaction: Puppies are exuberant and full of energy. They might jump on participants, lick their faces, or playfully tug on yoga mats. The interactions are more active and engaging, often leading to laughter and joyful moments throughout the session.
• Focus: While yoga poses are still practiced, puppy yoga often emphasizes playfulness and the joy of being surrounded by affectionate animals. It’s a blend of exercise and social interaction, with a focus on enjoying the puppies’ enthusiasm.
• Energy Level: The energy in puppy yoga is high-spirited and vibrant, perfect for those looking for a fun, lively, and interactive experience.

In summary, bunny yoga offers a calming, restorative experience focused on relaxation and peace, while puppy yoga or goat yoga provides a more playful, energetic session filled with entertaining interactions and lively moments. If you are seeking calm and quiet, give this a try!

Our Bunny Consent Based Approach

You will arrive and set up your mat in our open air space. The bunnies generally circulate around the outer edges of the room, so choose your spot accordingly! You will be given some leafy greens to place on your mat as a way to encourage the bunnies to visit your mat. (If you wish to bring your own leafy green treats for the buns, please choose from the list outlined in the FAQ's. Bunnies do love variety!) When Diana has started the class, the bunnies will have their bunny room door opened. This is their invitation to check out what we are doing in the yoga room. We have 8 bunnies in total and some of them may decide to join the class and others may decide to stay in the safety of their bunny room. The more calm our yoga room is, the more likely the bunnies will feel safe to join us.

When the bunnies are moving around the room, just continue with your yoga practice. Some bunnies like to be patted (and are more willing to receive pats while they are eating their leafy greens) but some do not. If a bunny flops near you take that as a compliment! You must have great energy and the bunny is feeling safe and comfortable with you! At the end of class, for the safety of the bunnies, we will invite you to hand feed the buns any treats that are left near your yoga mat.

FRIES Consent Principles for the Bunnies

We like to follow consent principles for our bunnies.

F - is their consent freely given? We invite the bunnies to yoga by opening their bunny room door.

R- is their consent reversible? We leave their pathway to their bunny room free of obstacles so they can return to their safe space at any time during bunny yoga.

I-is their sent informed? We try to keep the yoga room routines and rules for adults consistent so the bunnies know what to expect and so the bunnies can trust they will be safe. This is why we have a minimum age suggestion and rules about not picking up bunnies. We want the bunnies to know what to expect.

E-are the bunnies enthusiastically consenting to be there? This one is tricky because bunnies are curious and hesitant by nature. We are inviting the bunnies to you as a way to meet their needs for stimulation and connection and play. All the bunnies, regardless of whether they joined yoga, have other outlets to meet their needs for stimulation and connection. All bunnies receive leafy greens regularly and after the yoga session is over, they all receive leafy green treats. It's our way of making sure the consent to join yoga is made more enthusiastically, not out of desperation or as a reward only given to the more outgoing bunnies. Our more hesitant bunnies will get ther needs met too. This is another strategy we are offering them to meet their needs.

S-is the invitation we give them to join bunny yoga specific? We have been establishing routines and trust with our buns so that yoga is enjoyable for them. We aren't going to surprise them by acting like we're doing yoga and then burst out into dance routines. That one would probably go against your consent too!

About our Instructor

Our Deep Relaxation Yoga Instructor is Diana from Shivana Yoga. Diana is sharing yoga that is trauma informed and safe for people with a variety of abilities to participate. She has ample experience combining animals and yoga and we are lucky to have her sharing her most relaxing yoga practices for this deep relaxation session at our farm.

About the bunnies

Below are photos of the bunnies who are most likely to join us for Bunny yoga; Ringo, Daisy, Bow, and Opes. Our other bunnies Sterling, Dandy, Olive, and Ruby may or may not venture into the yoga room. Sterling is a three legged bunny and is understandably more cautious about her safety and slower to build trust. Dandy, Olive, and Ruby are our babies. They haven't been interested in yoga yet but they have peered at us from the hallway.

Bow playing outside in our bunny playground. Bow enjoys pats and meeting new people.

Daisy is our most athletic bunny and often the first to arrive for yoga sessions. She likes to be with people but on her own terms.

This is Ringo. We think he is dapper, chill, and charming. He is often one of the first to join the yoga room. He loves to explore and eat the treats before the other bunnies build up the courage to check things out.

This is Opal. He is a happy guy who likes people and sniffing new people. He is currently working through some drama with Ringo. They are trying to decide who will be the dominant male of the colony.

Host or Publisher Blue Dot Acres Farm