We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittnie Selbert a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brittnie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

We (my co-owner Beth and I) experienced Baptiste Power Yoga for the first time, years ago, at the studio we now own. We went through a life-changing yoga teacher training there and were both inspired to share the practices of yoga with as many humans as possible. When our mentor and previous owner of the studio offered to sell us the business, we knew the universe had big plans for us and we went for it! We created an LLC, renovated the entire space in just one weekend (with the help of our amazing friends and studio community) and had sold-out classes the first week!

We had five months of successful operations before we had to close temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic. We took extraordinary measures to continue to serve our community during the physical closure of the studio by offering free online classes via social media, live Zoom classes, recorded classes that could be accessed on-demand, and classes outdoors at a local park. Once we were able to reopen the studio in late 2020, we supplied our members with the best masks for sweaty, power yoga and worked together to keep everyone safe and on their mat, which meant only 5 of us could practice together in our small space. We’ve slowly rebuilt our community, one student at a time. We’re proud that we didn’t quit when things got really, really hard and we’re honored to be able to continue to serve our community today!

We rebranded in 2022 and that was the start of Gateway Yoga!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are a womxn-owned yoga studio offering in-studio, online and outdoor yoga classes, workshops, community events and yoga teacher training. Our mission is to create fun and powerful experiences, on and off the mat!

We specialize in the three practices of Baptiste Power Yoga: yoga, meditation and inquiry. We’re passionate about sharing our experience of how this practice has helped us live more powerfully, on and off the mat. Our power yoga classes are fun and sweaty, giving our students access to power, vitality and freedom in their bodies. Our meditation events help students access a new level of presence. Our inquiry and journaling programs offer space for our students to discover new possibilities in their lives. We also offer one-on-one coaching, private group sessions and Workplace Wellness programs for local businesses.

Though our target customer is adults from the age of 18-60 in the greater St. Louis area, we offer a safe space to practice yoga and we welcome everyone! Our classes are accessible to everybody and every level. We offer free classes for high school students. We provide opportunities for our members to connect off the mat with online and in-person events like: meditation challenges, personal empowerment programs, sound healing classes, and festivals/events where other local small businesses can share their talents and passions. We also work with our members financially and make sure that everyone gets the yoga they need, regardless of their financial situation. We sell handmade and homemade products created by members of our community and offer outdoor classes at a local park (when the weather allows!)

We are stand for others, contributing monetarily, donating studio memberships and organizing food drives for community organizations such as Lydia’s House (a local program that supports women, children and pets escaping domestic violence), the Collective STL (a group bringing yoga, self care, and mindfulness to Black people), and Kirk Care (a local food bank).

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

There are many yoga studios and fitness centers in the St. Louis area. What sets Gateway Yoga apart is our community. Classes are our studio offer more than just a workout. Our members know that everytime they walk in the door, they will be greeted with friendly faces, great conversation and humans that accept and love each other, just as they are!

The type of yoga we teach is also accessible to just about every body. We welcome yogis and non-yogis of all levels and our experienced team is always ready to support our students in every way they can, on and off the mat.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

We have two sources that bring us the most new clients – Meta Ads and Member Referrals

We were resistant at first to advertising on social media, but realized it’s the most efficient way to connect strangers who are looking for the fun and powerful experiences that we offer!

The word about our awesome classes and community spreads fast and our members refer a lot of folks to our studio. We also offer friends free weeks, free community classes and our VIP members get to bring a free guest each month!

Contact Info:

• Website: gatewayyoga.com
• Instagram: @gatewayyogastl
• Facebook: @gatewayyogastl