Over puppy yoga? Try it with snakes.

"We offer beak trimming services for turtles and tortoises, nail clippings, spa packages. Shedding assistance, a turtle and tortoise shell wax service. The list goes on. And a few months ago, he wondered: what about snake yoga?"

"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)."

HISSS, a reptile-focused pet store in Portland, Oregon, offers snake yoga classes combining traditional yoga instruction with live snake interaction. Owner Dru Morales created the concept after establishing the shop to provide comprehensive reptile services including grooming and care. Yoga instructor Katy Vanek leads the classes, which feature pythons and boa constrictors ranging from one to seven feet in length. Staff members handle safety protocols including animal evaluations, cleanings, and stress monitoring. Classes attract approximately 80% snake enthusiasts and 20% people seeking exposure therapy or accompanying reluctant family members. Snakes are draped over participants or allowed to climb freely during poses.

Read at www.npr.org