Meet Brooke Page-Thompson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Page-Thompson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
I have been teaching a form of meditation for 6 years now called Yoga Nidra and it has transformed how I live my life AND how I run my business. I used to get all wrapped around the axel and stressed about how other people felt or things I should sacrifice so that others felt “welcomed”. Always giving more than I asked of others…and I gave and gave and gave until burnout was not just creeping in…it had taken residence and was in my face. I had really look at my business and ask…is it serving me? Do I still get that same sense of pride and honor thinking about running a yoga studio in my town…and the answer was always yes. But the why had shifted.

I had originally re-opened this space because I loved the community and the owner and wanted to see it continue to succeed. I knew I could do it…I just didn’t realize how much energy the pandemic and the effects thereafter would take on my psyche and soul. We opened in 2019 and 7 months later were confronted with the hardest decision with COVID. We thrived during the pandemic because we had the curiosity to try new things before we had to close. And online classes were already in the works…We did look to others for answers, we did what we knew was right for the community.

Having lots of set backs and lots of wins makes you re-evaluate life. Why do we do what we do? And the answer for me has always been…because I love what I do. I love supporting a space where others can teach, students can grow, we can run yoga teacher trainings and immersive retreats and workshops that allow the mind to open and the heart to explore new depths. I’ve learned what it means to keep going when you don’t know if you can anymore…to surround yourself with people that deeply care for you and your success and to ask for help. I’ve had to get really clear on my boundaries in life and when my tank is on E, I have to listen to it. This work has taught me how to find my voice and stand up for what is right. Even when it isn’t mainstream.

This work is my SEVA- my act of service for my community asking nothing else in return, other than it sustains itself and continues to GROW the students that grace our doors.

What should our readers know about your business?
I currently am owner of 2 businesses, both very different, and yet very aligned.

Back in 2018, I was in a horrible job. I was miserable, agitated, exhausted and on edge every single minute of every day. My boss was unrealistic in demands and abusive in many ways. Thank god I had done my 200 hour teacher training before taking this job, otherwise I would’ve had a really bad mental health episode. After a brilliant question from my dad- if you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? In Sept of 2017 I put out an into the world I wanted specific things that felt so out of reach. In June of 2020, I had them. Not only was I able to take a full time job at an amazing consulting firm and eventually become partner and president, I was able to live out my passion of yoga and mindfulness in the work I get to do.

As I was waiting to find Velocity, in March of 2019 I was approached to purchase my home studio. I loved the idea so much I dived straight in…just 7 months before COVID. We didn’t flinch (yes, it wasn’t easy…) and we moved online the day we closed our doors for 3 months. Buka Yoga in Castle Rock has been a life saver for my heart and soul, and I know for many of our students and teachers. It was the glue that kept us all together…reminding me that community is so important. How I show up for my community and how we as a studio support our communities.

These two worlds often collide in such beautiful ways reminding me…you can do the things that bring you joy. It won’t be easy and without a lot of effort, but the outcome is something you could never imagine or dream of. The name, Buka Yoga, in Sanskrit means laughter and hummingbirds…2 of my favorite things. And I love to hear true laughter in our classes and programs. Because laughter heals the heart, brings lightness to the soul and reminds us…don’t take life so seriously.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If the weather is nice, I’d go to the incline, followed by a lovely breakfast at Castle Rock Cafe. A little coffee stop over at Crowfoot coffee and yes, of course! Yoga at Buka Yoga. We’d schedule a massage with Wildmoon Alchemy (Hannah is magic) get mani/pedis at Copperfalls by Aveda, spend a day shopping at the outlets and Mod Mountain Boutique and plan some long walks along the many amazing trails that run through and around Castle Rock. We’d have a nice dinner out at Mashawi Mediterranean and a lunch at Tamarind Indian. If we had time we’d head up to Lone Tree and have a private sound bath with Triresonnace!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My teachers at Buka Yoga deserve the shoutout as much as I do! Courtney, Danny, Amanda, Sara, Claire E, Claire H, Mindy, Jess, Jeanette, Lauren, Jenny, Dasa Das, Susie, Natalie, Adrianne, Erin, Mindy, Mona, Mara, Phyllis and our friends at Wildmoon Alchemy- Hannah, Abri, Amy and Asja!

My partner, David.

My mom, dad and brother.

My partners at Velocity.

Website: www.bukayoga.com; lifeislivedinthepause.com

Instagram: Bukayoga; finding_the_pause; brpthompson

Linkedin: Brooke Page-Thompson

Other: Insight timer- Brooke page-thompson

Image Credits
I have taken all pictures myself and have the rights.