New trend from the USA: snake yoga

This unusual concept attracts people who want to overcome their fears in a special way – through conscious breathing and direct contact with snakes.

Yoga with animal support

Costa Mesa, located in the US state of California, is home to a studio that attracts attention with an unusual offer: In the LXRYOGA studio, yoga enthusiasts can practice their practice with the support of snakes. However, it is not just about physical exercise, but also about dealing with fears. Studio owner Tess Cao tells People magazine that conscious breathing helps participants overcome their fear of snakes.

The fact that animals are integrated into yoga courses is not new. There have been courses in which dogs or cats, for example, play a supporting role, for some time now. But the LXRYOGA studio goes one step further. Here it is not four-legged friends who accompany the yogis, but ball pythons who are “carefully and gently” integrated into the exercises during the 45-minute units. An introduction before the start of the lesson prepared the participants on how to deal with the snakes and what they should keep in mind.

A ball python, during the snake yoga session.

© getty

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Coping with anxiety through mindfulness

Holding and observing the snakes during the yoga session is said to help participants dissolve their fears. “No one has been bitten yet!” assures studio owner Tess Cao, adding that the oldest of the no snakes in the studio is now four years old and there have been incidents so far.

Yoga with snakes is intended to help overcome fear.

© getty

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Snake yoga as a calming experience

The idea for this extraordinary course comes from Tess’ personal fascination with snakes. They have adopted several of these reptiles over the past four years and want to help their students overcome their reservations about these animals. During the course, participants have the opportunity to even let the snakes crawl over their bodies. For many, this is a “grounding and relaxing” experience, says Tess. The aim of the course is for participants to leave the lesson strengthened and with a new appreciation for snakes.

A python snakes its way towards a participant during snake yoga.

© getty

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Will this trend also prevail in Europe?

It remains to be seen whether this unusual offer will also be popular in Europe. There are currently no known snake yoga courses in Germany or Austria. But given the ever-increasing popularity of yoga combined with special support, it could perhaps only be a matter of time before studios in this country open up to this thrill.