Rising Stars: Meet Brian Thomas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Thomas.

Hi Brian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Baptiste Power Yoga Phoenix in 2018 as a “pop-up” yoga community, hosting yoga events across the valley at breweries, restaurants, coffee shops – basically anywhere that would have us! We would bring in local small businesses as vendors, raise money for local charities, and invite anyBODY and EVERYbody to practice with us. This allowed us to make so many connections to locals, yogis, and business owners who shared our principal of being up to something bigger than ourselves. It wasn’t about making money or having a sold-out event, it was always about connection.

When COVID hit, we went virtual. We started hosting classes via Zoom and Instagram Live (something we still do every Sunday, even now!) and we were able to reach people all across the world – literally! This only deepened my passion for using yoga as a tool for connection, and so I leaned in. This sealed the deal for me chasing my dream: opening a yoga studio in Phoenix.

Fast forward to February 2021, I signed the lease for our current space and began envisioning the whole community we’ve built over the years connecting inside our own four walls. We’re located across from the Paradise Valley Mall, between the Target and R.E.I. We will be opening our doors in September 2021 and will offer heated power yoga and deep stretch classes. Because community events are our bread and butter, we’ll be hosting those too – now just in our own space! Follow us on IG (@baptistepoweryogaphoenix) to keep up with us, and check out our website (www.bpyphx.com) for details on upcoming events, memberships, and more!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Operating a small business is never a smooth road, even when we didn’t have our own studio space to worry about! Being an active duty Arizona Air National Guardsmen, I have a lot on my plate. That’s why I’m so thankful for my friends and fellow business owners who were always a YES for letting us pop-up in their spaces and my behind-the-scenes dream team.

My wife Mallory (aka @drfoxyfit) has been in the wellness industry in Phoenix for over ten years as a Movement Specialist. She runs our business operations and asks the really tough questions – usually the ones I want to ignore. Mallory keeps us grounded and always reminds us of our why. I wouldn’t be able to do this without her.

My Studio Manager and social media coordinator Jessie Ray (aka @jessieray33) came to us at the most serendipitous time, in the summer of 2019 when our events were really starting to pick up steam. She was moving to Phoenix and were connected by a mutual yoga friend. She really came on the team to run our Instagram and be another set of hands out our events. Little did we know, Jessie was a firecracker of a yoga teacher and a whiz at all things social media! She keeps us in the flow of growth and excitement but also keeps our feet on the ground.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think what sets us apart from others is that we are such an unlikely team. I come from a military background and if you told me ten years ago I’d be opening a yoga studio, I would laugh in your face and probably flip you off. I had such a story around “who” people that practiced yoga were. I definitely wasn’t one of them, no way. But after my first class, I started practicing more often and found Baptiste Yoga, which at its base is really about coming from right where you are and seeking possibility. I thought, “Okay, so I can do downward facing dog and balance in tree pose. . . what else can I do?” From there, the possibilities grew. I really had to drop what I thought I knew about yoga and have my own experience. That’s why we say our classes are for “everyBODY and ANYbody”. Mallory has a traumatic brain injury that she has to adjust to every day, Jessie is a busy graduate student studying library sciences, and both of them come from competitive athletic backgrounds. We all are so different and come from such a wide range of backgrounds – but that’s what helps us drop those “stories” and connect. We’re proud of who we are and that spreads into our community and invites in so many other unlikely yogis.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I have to shout out (again) my wife Mallory! You can find her on Instagram as @drfoxyfit. She is a mindfulness master and has an amazing platform sharing all the tips and tricks she uses to practice mindfulness. Mallory endured a traumatic brain injury in the summer of 2018, and although it has been a huge challenge, she’s really been able to turn it into something magical and has built a resilient community through her Instagram, blog, and daily mindfulness text messages.

Additionally, Baron Baptiste’s books “Being of Power” and “Perfectly Imperfect” are solid reads for anyone interested in the principles of Baptiste Yoga. We teach to a specific methodology that empowers and supports each individual yogi, so if you want to dive in deeper, read those first!

Pricing:

• Founders Membership is currently on sale for $109/mo. This gets you unlimited in-person and on demand yoga classes, free access to all of our events, and discounts on workshops
• $129/mo – Unlimited Membership (all benefits listed above included, this is just our normal price)
• Yoga On Demand – $15/mo unlimited access to our streaming platform of yoga flows, meditations, and (coming soon) mini workshops!

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@bpyphx.com
• Website: www.bpyphx.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/baptistepoweryogaphoenix
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/baptistepoweryogaphoenix

Image Credits
Tida Radevski / SIP Coffee and Beer