Anna’s Story

The first time owner Anna Henschen tried goat yoga, she felt a pure joy that was unlike anything she’d experienced—and she became determined to share that joy with others.

Anna joined Army National Guard when she was 17 and served for 9 years. After her military service, she went into the car business, where her bubbly personality and gift for connecting with people shined. One day, a man came in to buy a truck, and little did they know that they would one day end up married! In Nick’s words: “that’s the most expensive purchase I’ve ever made!” Hilarious, Nick.

Anna and Nick bought their farm in Alhambra in 2015, got married, and started building their family. Three beautiful children later, Anna was left feeling like she wasn’t able to spend the quality time with her family that she wanted to—then, COVID hit. Like so many others, Anna’s life was turned upside down, but the hardship of the pandemic made her realize how truly precious her time with her family was. Taking a brave leap of faith, Anna left the car business and went in search of something more flexible and fulfilling.

Anna began working as a Beach Body Coach in 2021, combining a life-long passion for fitness and a God-given talent for motivating and lifting people up. One day, her team of Beach Body coaches attended a team-building event that was—you guessed it—a goat yoga class. From that first little goat nibbling her nose while she tried to hold a plank, she was hooked.

On her way home, Anna pitched a wild idea to Nick—why don’t WE start a Goat Yoga business? They already had chickens and cows, so Anna gradually started purchasing goats (the first ones came from Craigslist!), and took small steps every day toward her dream.

2 years and a whole bunch of Google-ing later, Goat Yoga of Southern Illinois brings the joy of goats and the accessibility of yoga to hundreds of people in the St. Louis Metro area. Anna’s passion and faith-based life philosophy permeates every class, and she feels blessed by the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives every day.