End of a Decade Recap!

Dear Students,

What a decade! We started out with one studio, our original "Bikram Yoga PV" on the NE corner of Tatum & Thunderbird. We were sandwiched between Domino’s Pizza and Nee House Chinese Restaurant, coupled with the carpet in the studio, the smells were interesting to say the least!! We offered solely 90-minute Bikram Yoga, and about 30 classes per week. We laid our mats out on the concrete in the sun to let them dry after class. We had one shower and toilet in each locker room and no water fountain. It was OG and simple and we didn't know any different! But we knew we were on to something. People were leaving happier and healthier than when they came in.

We have had a lot of change these last ten years, but our mission remains the same! We are still committed to provide a multi-dimensional experience that empowers people to fearlessly pursue positive change in themselves and in the world around them. We have continued to transform and evolve and we have grown out of providing just Bikram Yoga, we have become a place where lives are transformed through multiple modalities while surrounded by a positive, like-minded community. We have become The Foundry! Moving forward, we’re committed to providing the best methodologies for yoga, exercise, and personal transformation. We believe that by inspiring people to grow and evolve themselves, they will spark joy and happiness. Our hope is that this ripple effect will spread and empower their relationships, their friends, their families, the community, and eventually the world.

Here is a look back on the last decade and our transformations and growth:

• We changed our name to The Foundry 

• We moved PV to its current location at the SE corner of Tatum & Thunderbird (more than doubling the studio square footage!) 

• We added two new studios: Old Town Scottsdale & Tempe-Mesa!!!

• We added new class offerings: Hot Pilates, Hot HIIT, Hot Barre, Power Yoga, Basic Yoga, Express Yoga, Handstands, and Meditation

• Across the 3 studios we now offer 164 classes per week!!!

• We have upgraded the flooring at all 3 of our studios to Zebra Yoga & Fitness Flooring (yay no more carpet!) 

• Our staff grew from 15 people in 2010 to an amazing 62 in 2020. 

• We started our own Teacher Training School and have now hosted 14 trainings and have had 120 people graduate!

• We have hosted 3 International Retreats in Bali with 2 more already scheduled and sold out for September 2020 in Costa Rica!

• We have hosted over 50 workshops at our studios, ranging from in-depth posture clinics to transformational self-development courses

• We have donated over $10,000 to local schools and charities

• We were completely INSPIRED and AMAZED by the 30,405 students who came to our studios, taking a total of 692,583 classes this past decade!!!!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for being a part of our Foundry Family. This decade has been amazing and we are beyond grateful for all of you. It is because of each and every one of you, that we get to continue on this journey of transformation. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and dedication to your Self. When you show up on your mat, you not only take care of you, but you take care of those around you - the ones who show up to practice beside you, the teacher who gets to teach that class, and the loved ones who get a more calm and focused you as a result of your practice.

We can't wait to see you and sweat with you in this new decade! Join us for the 2020 Start Strong Challenge. The goal is to complete 30 classes in 6 weeks. You can start anytime in between January 1st - January 6th! 

Love,

Your Foundry Family

Pricing Update in 2020

Dear Students,

In June of next year, we will be celebrating our 14th anniversary. What started as one small hot yoga studio in 2006 has transformed into three boutique fitness studios!

These have been an amazing 13+ years for Todd and me. We owe all of this to you, the incredible Foundry community. Words cannot express how grateful we are that you have spent your extremely valuable time and money to sweat, laugh, cry and celebrate with us.

We began with just a small team of 5, but have grown to a staff of 53 people, 140 classes per week, and three locations! Our focus continues to be to expand our community, helping more people improve their quality of life through yoga, fitness, meditation and transformational classes. The plan for next year’s upgrades are underway and include the following:

• More Yoga, Barre, HIIT, and Pilates classes at all 3 locations

• New Floors at Old Town (done!!) and Tempe-Mesa

• More Strength Elements in our HIIT, Barre, and Pilates classes

• Meditation Classes at all 3 studios

• Transformational Workshops

• YogiToes for towel rentals

• New Ipad Check-In Systems

• Going Green -- Less paper and plastic

• New water filtration system at Tempe-Mesa

• Opening a 4th studio in Flagstaff

Taking care of our students and staff has always been what motivates us and drives us forward. Looking ahead to the new year, we are excited to provide you with the new offerings listed above and continue to stay committed to investing in our teachers education and wages. Starting in January 2020 we will be updating our rates to the following:

• Drop-In Class (includes mat & 2 towels) - $25

• Single Studio Unlimited Monthly Autopay Membership - $119 (all existing single studio monthly member rates will increase ONLY $10 per month)

• All-Studios Unlimited Autopay Membership - $149 (all existing all-studio monthly member rates will increase ONLY $10 per month)

• Single Studio Unlimited Annual Membership - $1309 (one month free!)

• All-Studios Unlimited Annual Membership - $1639 (one month free!)

• NEW - 4 Class Monthly Auto-Pay Membership - $59

• Students (-22) & Seniors (65+) Unlimited Monthly Autopay Membership - $69

• 25 Class Card - $375 - good for one year

In December our existing members will have the option to prepay up to 12 months in advance at their current rate.

We strive to be a home away from home that offers a world class transformative experience and these increases will allow us to continue this service for many years to come. These rates are still below most of our competitors’ who specialize in only one modality such as Barre, Yoga, Pilates, HIIT etc.

We know you have many choices in yoga and fitness, we hope that you continue to choose The Foundry as we are 100% focused on continually improving our services, staff, and facilities for you.

Thank you again for your trust and time,

Nicole & Todd

Bikram Yoga: the 26&2 prescription for HEALTH!

There are many types of yoga available to us today, and it is no secret that Bikram method yoga is relatively rigid. The order of the sequence and duration of the class are not subject to the whims of the instructors. Instead, we adhere to the prescription we know to work: the same 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises in the same order every time.

This sequence is designed to build each posture upon the last, preparing your body for the asanas that come next. You start with pranayama breathing to invigorate yourself and set your intention, then gradually wake your body up to its maximum flexibility, circulation, endurance, and oxygenation over the course of the class. The more you come, the more you can see and feel how the poses work together—increasing your heart rate through balancing stick so that you receive even more circulatory benefits from the inversion of separate leg stretching; strengthening and warming up your spine in the belly-down series so that you can reach your fullest potential in camel and rabbit, the two deepest bends in class. Posture by posture you target each part of your body for a revitalizing, therapeutic practice.

Ninety minutes gives you time to be present with yourself, learn something new, give all of your effort, and rest fully within each class. In 90 minutes you get the chance not only to push yourself, but also to explore stillness, an integral part of the balance of a hatha yoga class.

And it works. Studies are just starting to be completed that prove with western science what yogis have known for a long time (and what you might already know in your body): Bikram yoga in particular improves lower body strength, lower and upper body range of motion, and balance. Other studies suggest that it also improve glucose tolerance, bone mineral density, blood lipid profile, arterial stiffness, mindfulness, and perceived stress.

But you don't need to take our word for it. Come to class and find out exactly what this yoga does for yourself.

Photo Credit: Evan Villavaso at The Foundry Paradise Valley

Sources: US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bikram Yoga of Corvallis,