By Melissa Hagedorn, Northwest Yoga Conference Director
Kathryn Budig
It is well-documented through past interviews that you were originally on a career path towards Hollywood and acting when you diverted over to teaching yoga as a career path. Do you find overlap in the skills you were developing and honing for acting and the ones you now use as a yoga teacher?
My theatrical training has helped immensely. There are many ingredients that go into being a good teacher, but the theatrical background helps me be strong in front of large groups and to hold their attention. I like to believe everything happens for a reason, so I think my acting background helped make me stronger as a teacher.
As small business owners, my husband and I are always fascinated by when a person or business “makes it big.” Looking back now, can you see where the “breakthroughs” were for your career as a yoga teacher? What were the major turning points for your yoga career?
Hands down the most important component was my training. I was lucky enough to train under Maty Ezraty, one of the best teachers in the world. It doesn’t matter how talented you are at asana if you don’t have the skills to back it up. Maty is a magician. I was lucky enough to shoot with Yoga Journal early in my career, which helped get my image and name into the mainstream. ToeSox created quite the dramatic stir, which was unexpected but ultimately useful. My undergrad studies in English helped as I began to write and blog regularly and injected my voice into some mainstream publications. Ultimately, it’s a long list of events backed with a lot of drive and belief in myself.
Your dad has been incredibly successful in many realms. What influence has he had on how you approach the business side of your career?
I watched my dad achieve anything he put his mind to. He has been the president of three universities. He’s always been incredibly passionate about baseball, and before I knew it, we were leaving Kansas for the east coast because my dad had became the President of the American League of Baseball. Watching him live his dreams made me think anything is possible when you stay true and apply yourself. I’m so grateful for those lessons.
What three traits do you feel contribute the most to your success?
My ability to aim true, my accessibility and my playfulness/honesty.
Kathryn modeling Under Armour’s women yoga clothing line
You are a well-endorsed yoga teacher and public figure sponsored or endorsed by many companies – ZICO Coconut Water, Under Armour, ToeSox and Women’s Health, to name a few. In my opinion, you broke new territory. Does it feel surreal at times?
Totally surreal. I’m honored to work with the amazing companies that I do. It’s amazing to see yoga going mainstream and being respected by heavy hitting companies. It’s quite the ride to get to represent yoga on such a level.
How do you manage your social media without your social media managing you?
Ha! Good question. Honestly, I’ve always really enjoyed social media. I was very artistic when I was younger and feel like social media is this great platform to collage your ideas and inspirations. Granted, the more followers I’ve garnered, the nastier the comments I’ve received. That’s the shadow side but also a good lesson in that not everyone is going to love you and that is absolutely fine. Keep doing what you’re good at, what you love, and don’t let anyone drag you down.
I have had the pleasure of working with your assistant, Taylor. For those yoga teachers who have an assistant, it’s not always easy to find a good fit for an assistant. What advice can you offer to finding a good fit?
It is incredibly hard to find a good assistant and Taylor is a total godsend. You need to find someone who is not only incredibly organized, but driven, and that you can trust with all of your personal information. Also, that someone has to be really good at being your ‘voice.’ Taylor happened to be a best friend who saw me struggling in between assistants and stepped up to bat. I’m so grateful for that.
You travel the globe pretty much every weekend teaching yoga. How do you proactively prevent teaching burnout?
My students keep me inspired and honest. All I need is to see the excitement on their faces to keep me motivated. I owe it to my students to deliver the absolute best.
Kathryn offering a handstand spot during a workshop
This fall, you and Gina Caputo are offering a yoga teacher training. What can attendees expect from this training?
I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty epic. Gina is one of the funniest, brightest women I’ve ever met and I’m so honored to collaborate with her. This TT will offer all the basics you need to be a great teacher, but we want to take it beyond the basics and really dig into what it takes – beyond the foundations. How to stand out in a sea of teachers, how to keep your aim true and your heart open, and how to succeed in what you love will be other focuses of ours.
What can attendees at the Northwest Yoga Conference expect from your workshops?
A really, really good time.