Snake yoga is here to get you squirming — and maybe conquering a crushing fear

In an exercise studio, goat and puppy yoga are a thing of the past.

Now, people can relax while a snake slithers down their back.

LXRYOGA, a studio in Costa Mesa, California, offers the latest in snake yoga—and people who fear slithering reptiles are the target audience.

“Some may say our offering is a ‘scam like other animal-incorporated yoga,’ but we truly believe in what we offer,” Tess Cao, co-owner of the studio, told People.

The goal is “to help individuals overcome their fear of snakes through breathing,” said Tess, who owns and runs the studio with her husband, Huy Cao.

Tess and Huy bring their pet ball pythons to the 45-minute, $160 classes, where they “mindfully incorporate themselves into this gentle yoga class.”

The six snakes are named after crystals, and the four members of the session will randomly draw a crystal to find out which snake is their trusty partner.

Tess said snakes are “very social and friendly pets,” but to “not cause them any anxiety,” they hold an orientation before the class to teach participants what to do — and, of course, what not to do. — with a snake.

“No one has ever been bitten! Our oldest snake is 4 years old and we’ve never been bitten either,” she told People.

Of course, the prospect of an attack is terrifying for some.

Tess recalled a man and his girlfriend who had opposite reactions to the induction process.

“She was screaming with excitement,” Tess told SFGATE.com. “He was screaming in fear.”

The reporter covering the yoga session also took part in the exercise, prompting Tess to explain that a snake’s movements can be misinterpreted.

“If you feel any tightness, it’s her just trying not to fall,” Tess told the writer. “She’s not trying to like or attack or anything like that.”

How comforting.

Not only do participants handle the snakes, but they allow the slithering creatures to roam their bodies while still.

“Savasana”—where students lie on their backs with their eyes closed while snakes are placed on their bodies—feels like an episode of “Fear Factor,” but most say it’s actually grounding and relaxing. Tess explained.

A studio visitor was able to shake off her uncomfortable feeling after handling a ball python.

“I was scared at first,” Daniela Tunny recently told the Orange County Register, but now I’m so glad I did it.

This revealing aspect is what Tess hopes for.

“Some may take our class for fun, some are curious about snakes, and some really want to overcome their fear of snakes,” she told People. “But what’s most important is that we’ve seen everyone walk away feeling empowered, along with a new perspective and appreciation for snakes—not to mention, many love their snake after their experience.” .