So puppy yoga, kitten yoga and goat yoga have all had their moment — but leave it to Portland, Oregon to keep it weird and say, “You know what this needs? Snakes.” A reptile shop that already offers turtle shell waxing and tortoise spa days, is now hosting snake yoga.
Owner Dru Morales came up with the idea, and yoga instructor Katy Vanek was game — even though her usual students don’t have scales. During class, handlers drape pythons and boas over people’s shoulders while they pose — which is either deeply relaxing or a setup for your new villain origin story.
About 80% of the attendees are reptile fans. The rest? Exposure therapy. But even the nervous folks say the snakes feel like warm, living weighted blankets — gently squeezing instead of purring.
Vanek swears snakes are actually easier than cats or puppies. “Kittens are chaos,” she says. “Snakes are chill.”
So next time you’re in Portland and want to stretch your comfort zone… literally… maybe book a slot at HISSS — where cobra pose finally has real meaning.