BEHLA SCHMIDT/THE CREIGHTONIAN
The Creighton Students Union Program Board invited students to a plethora of spring-inspired events, including a trip to JAMS Goat Yoga to decompress with some fluffy goat friends.
As the spring weather has finally been taking its course and classes are beginning to wind down, students are surely looking for ways to de-stress and enjoy the sunshine before final exams can fully sink their claws in. To curate such uplifting vibes, Creighton Student’s Union (CSU) Program Board hosted their annual Spring Jam, spanning over the week of April 13 to 18, in which many exciting events and activities for students to enjoy were featured.
The festivities began on Tuesday with bubble soccer and other yard games in the Rasmusen Center to promote some friendly com petition. The following day, for their weekly Wednesday’s After Class (WAC) activity, a popsicle truck was parked in between Swanson Hall and Kiewit Fitness Center, enticing all that passed by to stop for a sweet treat.
Why go to Coachella when you can experience the next best thing? On Thursday, Program Board hosted their very own Creighcella, offering students and other music groups the opportunity to perform in Graves Courtyard. While enjoying the music, attendees were also able to craft their own bouquets from flowers provided by The Kindling Company Flower Truck, as well as munch on provided snacks. Additionally, Friday night featured bouncy houses on the courts of the KFC, granting participants an excuse to let their inner child freely rampage for a few hours.
On Saturday morning, the long-awaited event of the week had finally arrived: goat yoga. With only two classes offered, one at 10 a.m. and the other at 11 a.m., it was evident from the full sign-up sheet and running waitlist, as well as the packed bus on the way to the class, that all were eager to attend this activity.
Found in Douglas County, JAMS Goat Yoga is located on a farm about twenty minutes outside of Omaha in the countryside. By combining therapeutic yoga and stretching practices with goats, the family-owned business strives to promote a relaxing experience in which all participants, human and animal, can interact and have fun. The classes are held outdoors in a fenced area, allowing the goats to wander around and even jump on individuals as the class is led. Such an immersive approach ultimately helps foster a sense of authenticity and contributes to the light-hearted atmosphere.
The session began with several deep breathing techniques to release any tensions. Shortly after, the instructor led everyone through a series of stretches, while encouraging us to focus on our surroundings: the cool crisp breeze, the faint chanting from birds perched high in the trees and the cloudless blue sky. During this time, the goats roamed around, skeptically observing from corners of the pen, until some gained the courage to come closer or were guided by the other employees. We were also able to hold several of the goats, notably the five new babies that had recently joined the herd.
The calming and whimsical ambiance continued throughout the session, as we transitioned from pose to pose, laughing and awing as the goats scurried around the yard. Overall, the class was very beginner-friendly, and the instructor did a great job of keeping everyone engaged, despite all the excitement from the presence of the furry participants. As things came to a close, everyone in attendance was reluctant to leave our new friends behind, giving them one last pat as we left the pen.
Unsurprisingly, this event was ultimately a hit and permitted students to reconnect with nature, decompress and enjoy one of the last weekends before the semester concludes. As we look ahead to the next few weeks, be sure to find the time to appreciate the small things or try something new.