Meet Kathryn Budig | Author and founder of Haus of Phoenix

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathryn Budig and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathryn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Haus of Phoenix was born from a desire to create a true home. I’ve always known a brick-and-mortar yoga studio wasn’t in my cards, and I honestly couldn’t have foreseen starting my own online studio either. The need for autonomy is a powerful elixir, and once I said yes to the idea, the floodgates opened up — all the pieces of me that big business wouldn’t nurture came forward, including the ability to pivot to my community’s ever-changing needs, showing up exactly as I am, and filling our Haus with diverse and powerful voices. It has been – and continues to be – an astronomical amount of work, but it is easily the most rewarding work experience of my life. I knew we could create our own version of success, as long as we stay true to building and fostering community.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always been a creative, and like many who pursue this path, I have often been told to “stay in my lane.” My advice? Swerve. Lease, don’t buy — and don’t be afraid to rev the engine. We don’t need a monolith of people trying to one-up one another in gradients of the same color, nor do we need businesses that prey on people’s insecurities to make bank. Haus of Phoenix is the antithesis of mainstream: I re-write myths from around the world and spin them into asana classes (not exactly a hot market), we host rituals and encourage folks to channel their inner magick (with a “K”: not the pulling-a-bunny-from-a-hat kind, but the kind our ancestors want us to remember), we host an educational book club, and we lead yoga and movement classes that never, ever discuss losing weight or any verbiage meant to attack the human form. It’s honestly a bit of an anti-formula to success in the wellness world, but the people we’ve attracted are OUR PEOPLE. The core of Haus of Phoenix is so strong, and I will continue to trust that a successful business doesn’t simply rely on growth and metrics.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We happen to live in one of the most amazing cities in the US (Charleston, SC), so it’s impossible to squeeze all the goodness in. We’d start by serving them the best oat milk lattes in Charleston — made by MY WIFE in our home. Then we’d zip them over the bridge to our historic downtown, take them for a long walk through Hampton Park to admire the birds and foliage. Next, we’d pop over to one of our local businesses (Sightsee, Babas, The Daily) for a delicious little bite. I’d probably pressure them into being on camera for one of my Haus of Phoenix classes, then get lost in the old neighborhoods of downtown Charleston. We’d head to Bar Rollins, Graft, or Last Saint for a pre-dinner wine or cocktail, order pizza from Renzo or tapas from Estadio, then hit up some live, local music. Then, we’d probably beg them to come home and play Charades, because WE ARE COOL.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest shoutout goes to my late mentor Maty Ezraty. Small in stature, mighty in heart. She gave me yoga and the seed of belief that I was meant to be a teacher. Seane Corn comes in at a tight second. She was the first person to challenge me to find and use my voice. She has continued to push and inspire me. She was the one who nudged me to go off on my own and introduced me to the platform that hosts my business Haus of Phoenix. And fun fact: she officiated our wedding!

Website: www.thehausofphoenix.com www.kathrynbudig.com

Instagram: @kathrynbudig @thehausofphoenix @theinkyphoenix

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynbudig

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0WhIaJclRCyvP4M0MFtT7A

Image Credits
Photos by Dries Kento Vandenberg and Lequire Photography