Over puppy yoga? Try it with snakes.

## Summary
March 11, 2026 5:30 AM ET By Deena Prichep Move over, goat yoga — in Portland, Ore., you can do snake yoga Listen · 3:42 3:42 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed < iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5743865/nx-s1-9680850" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Christina Chang is encircled by Gemma, a carpet python, during Snake Yoga at HISSS in Portland, Ore. on Feb. 28. Celeste Noche for NPR hide caption toggle caption Celeste Noche for NPR The staff at HISSS signed on to handle the snakes during class and came up with protocols to keep the animals safe (evaluations and cleanings both before and after handling, plus monitoring the animals for signs of stress). Celeste Noche for NPR hide caption toggle caption Celeste Noche for NPR A snake slithers across Kristen Bender; a ball python is wrapped around another Snake Yoga attendee's wrist. Celeste Noche for NPR hide caption toggle caption Celeste Noche for NPR Student Christina Chang says that being mindful of the snakes slithering around keeps her grounded in the practice. "You have to really stay present," she laughs.

## Article Content
Culture
Over puppy yoga? Try it with snakes.
March 11, 2026
5:30 AM ET
By
Deena Prichep
Move over, goat yoga — in Portland, Ore., you can do snake yoga
Listen
·
3:42
3:42
Transcript
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Transcript
Christina Chang is encircled by Gemma, a carpet python, during Snake Yoga at HISSS in Portland, Ore. on Feb. 28.
Celeste Noche for NPR
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Celeste Noche for NPR
Yoga classes featuring animals are pretty old news. You're probably already familiar with people doing downward dog alongside
actual dogs
, or letting a
goat
scamper across their tabletop pose. In Alaska, they've even done
yoga with reindeer
. It seems we may have reached peak animal yoga.
But here's one more entry: in Portland, Oregon, one yoga class goes beyond the usual furry, adorable yoga classmates, and teaches yoga with... snakes. Yup, snakes.
Animals
Move Over, Goat Yoga. Alaskans Now Have Reindeer Yoga
A reptile shop becomes... a reptile yoga studio
Snake yoga is held at
HISSS
, a reptile-centered pet store that opened last year.
Dru Morales
, the owner, started the shop to provide all things reptile.
" We offer beak trimming services for turtles and tortoises, nail clippings, spa packages," says Morales. "Shedding assistance, a turtle and tortoise shell wax service…" The list goes on.
And a few months ago, he wondered: what about snake yoga?
Morales cleared out space in the shop's large, light-filled front room, and reached out to yoga teacher
Katy Vanek
(who did not have any snake experience, but was game to try).
Snake Yoga instructor Katy Vanek brings the class into Warrior II pose with Gemma, a carpet python, wrapped around her neck.
Celeste Noche for NPR
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Celeste Noche for NPR
The staff at HISSS signed on to handle the snakes during class and came up with protocols to keep the animals safe (evaluations and cleanings both before and after handling, plus monitoring the animals for signs of stress).
And the classes took off. HISSS says they tend to be about 80% snake fans, 20% people coming as exposure therapy (or grudgingly/fearfully attending with an enthusiastic family member).
"It's not snake yoga without our cobra pose"
At a recent snake yoga class, a variety of pythons (and one baby boa constrictor named Mango) come out over the course of the hour. They range in size from a foot long – to a whopping seven feet.
The reptile handlers drape the snakes over students' shoulders or bellies, but snakes also start winding their own way around the room and climbing up people's bodies (apparently some snakes' tree-climbing instincts are applicable to scaling humans as well).
Science
He let snakes bite him some 200 times to create a better snakebite antivenom
Student Tara Entrieri has all seven feet of Gemma, a carpet python, wound around her shoulders, and loves it. "If she's missing, she came home with me," mock-confesses Entrieri (who, we will note, left the snake at the shop).
As the class progresses and people generate body heat, the cold-blooded friends take advantage of it, snuggling closer. And some non-snake reptiles are introduced: a
Tegu lizard
the size of a small dog; a weirdly fast little gecko; and a very slow tortoise named Pebbles. Over the course of a standard snake yoga class, 2-3 handlers bring out about fifteen reptiles.
Pebbles, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is one of several non-snake reptiles brought out during Snake Yoga at HISSS.
Celeste Noche for NPR
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Celeste Noche for NPR
A snake slithers across Kristen Bender; a ball python is wrapped around another Snake Yoga attendee's wrist.
Celeste Noche for NPR
hide caption
toggle caption
Celeste Noche for NPR
Student Christina Chang says that being mindful of the snakes slithering around keeps her grounded in the practice.  "You have to really stay present," she laughs. But the snakes also cause amusing distractions, as when python Fizzy periscopes up to get a better view of the class, and the class stops to observe him.
Yoga teacher Katy Vanek integrates the animals into the flow of the class. Of course, there's the classic cobra pose (a must in snake yoga). But Vanek also has people round their back into turtle pose, using humming breaths to connect with vibration-sensing creatures, and using the outstretched arms of some poses to greet new snake visitors.
National
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She also has to keep reminding people to check their mats before reaching down or stepping backwards in case a snake has moved into their way while they're not looking. "When you're ready, turn mindfully, moving those hands and knees," she says. "You never know who's gonna be right by your side."
While perhaps not as cute as puppies, snakes have their own appeal

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- As the class progresses and people generate body heat, the cold-blooded friends take advantage of it, snuggling closer.

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- It seems we may have reached peak animal yoga.
- Science He let snakes bite him some 200 times to create a better snakebite antivenom Student Tara Entrieri has all seven feet of Gemma, a carpet python, wound around her shoulders, and loves it. "If she's missing, she came home with me," mock-confesses Entrieri (who, we will note, left the snake at the shop).

### Expert Commentary
This article covers yoga, snake, snakes topics. Notable strengths include discussion of yoga. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1122.