News Summary
The Carolina Panthers held a goat yoga session at Bank of America Stadium, featuring 25 goats and several players. Sponsored by Blue Cross NC, the event aimed to raise mental health awareness, particularly among youth. Players enjoyed the light-hearted atmosphere, sharing experiences that highlighted the importance of mental well-being in professional sports.
Charlotte, North Carolina – The Carolina Panthers organized an engaging goat yoga session at Bank of America Stadium on a Monday afternoon as part of an initiative to promote mental health awareness. The event featured a total of 25 goats, ranging from tiny kids to larger adult goats, providing a humorous and lighthearted atmosphere for participants, including several Panthers players.
Among the players involved in the goat yoga experience were Chuba Hubbard, Trevin Wallace, Tommy Tremble, Tershawn Wharton, Chandler Zavala, and Ikem Ekwonu. Notably, linebacker Trevin Wallace was the only player initially at ease with the goats due to his rural background and ownership of two goats. Other teammates, including Bryce Young, Robert Hunt, and Derrick Brown, also made appearances to support the event.
The yoga session was sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which aims to raise awareness about mental health, particularly among youth in the state. The initiative focuses on making mental health resources easily accessible while promoting community support and prevention strategies.
Dr. Marcus Wallace, Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross NC, underlined the significance of having manageable mental health resources to handle daily stressors. Goat yoga is a unique style of yoga that allows goats to roam freely among participants, which is believed to help reduce stress. Participants quickly found that the goats generated laughter and joy rather than actively contributing to their yoga practice.
Some of the players shared their experiences from the session, with Tershawn Wharton comparing his first experience with goats to a previous yoga class he attended with dogs. Chuba Hubbard added that activities like goat yoga help build chemistry among teammates and foster stronger relationships on and off the field, an essential aspect of their profession.
The casual and enjoyable atmosphere of the event provided players with a break from the intense pressures of professional sports. Wharton pointed out the importance of being around cheerful teammates, suggesting that laughter has a beneficial impact on mental well-being. Players also discussed their personal methods for managing mental health, which included quality family time, meditation, and regular yoga practice.
The goat yoga session aimed to mitigate the stigma surrounding mental health discussions, specifically within the male-dominated realm of professional sports. Wharton acknowledged that mental health issues are serious and affect athletes just like anyone else. The Panthers organization is visibly dedicated to mental health, featuring an in-house mental health clinician and collaborations with Blue Cross NC for further support.
In addition to raising awareness about mental well-being, the goat yoga experience served as a unique bonding opportunity for the players, strengthening friendships while they embraced the goats’ quirky personalities. Denny Kellington, the Panthers’ VP of player health and performance, reinforced the organization’s commitment to providing players with essential mental health resources.
The players shared humorous anecdotes from their interactions with the goats during the session, contributing to an overall atmosphere of joy. Ekwonu humorously likened the goats’ behavior to sibling rivalry, noting the need for mild discipline to maintain order during yoga poses.
Overall, the sentiments expressed by the athletes highlighted the positive impact of engaging in light-hearted activities like goat yoga on mental health, an important factor for performing well in a high-stress sport. This event coincided with Mental Health Awareness Month, further encouraging conversations about mental well-being both in sports and within society at large.
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Additional Resources
- Carolina Panthers Official Site
- Charlotte Observer
- QC News
- CharlotteFive
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mental Health
