Meet Katie Rapkoch | Founder/Yoga Teacher; Paws + Breathe

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

Hi Katie, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have been volunteering at the county animal shelter and with various rescues in the valley since 2017, and teaching yoga since 2018. I adopted my first dog, Champ, in 2013 and he was the inspiration to start volunteering to vulnerable animals in need. I have spent countless hours at the shelter, fostering, promoting adoptable dogs since 2017, and I started teaching yoga funraiders soon after becoming a yoga teacher to help raise money for local animal welfare organizations. In April 2024, just four months after I lost my beloved Champ, I launched Paws + Breathe and began teaching regular yoga class fundraisers as a way to honor his legacy. Since April 2024, I have helped raise over $15,000 for local animal welfare organizations.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Paws + Breathe is a yoga initiative designed to inspire change for both humans and animals. Paws + Breathe brings accessible and impactful yoga to help individuals enhance their well-belling while giving back to animals in need. Whether during signature classes, in private sessions, or at fundraising events, Paws + Breathe connects self-care with meaningful impact, fostering a community built on compassion and care.

I have over 12 years experience practicing yoga, and I am a Trauma-Informed 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher and Certified Yoga Nidra Instructor. With eight years working in physical therapy, seven years as a health and wellness coach, and a certification in Applied Neuroscience, I love helping people move their body and calm their mind, all while giving back.

Getting to this place in my business has been an interesting road- I have tried and quit many things, but my willingness to let go of the things that no longer serve my life’s vision have ultimately led me to a place where I truly feel aligned. Combining my love for sharing yoga with humans and helping dogs in need feels incredibly special. I am so glad for all of the things I let go of, and that I continued to pursue my purpose.

What sets Paws + Breathe apart is its unique mission to support animal welfare. I partner with animal welfare organizations and local small businesses, using yoga to raise awareness and funds for animals in need. This mission extends to uplifting vulnerable humans as well, creating a ripple effect of transformation in our community. You can find out more about Paws + Breathe at pawsandbreatheaz.com and following @pawsandbreatheaz on Instagram.

I am most excited to bring some unique offerings to the community in 2025. My yoga fundraisers are expanding to include more wellness practitioners, more local small businesses, and more impact. I also have a beautiful creative project that I’m working on and I cannot WAIT to launch it. 2025 is going to be an incredible year of impact!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh wow, what a question! I’d say we’d spend most of our time outside: strolling at Papago Park and visiting the Botanical Garden, driving out to Lost Dutchman State Park to take in the majesty of the Superstitions, and go paddle boarding on Canyon Lake. In terms of places to eat, I’d take them to the Farm at South Mountain for incredible outdoor vibes, we’d visit Lee’s Sandiwches for the best BBQ pork sandwich, head to Social Hall for carnitas nachos and ping pong, and grab my favorite chocolate chip cookies from Great Harvest Bakery for dessert. Four Peaks is an absolute can’t miss- LOVE their chicken fingers. We’d also stop by my favorite candle shop, Light + Bark Candle Co., to pour our own candles that give back to rescue dogs. I’d also take them to the shelter or a local rescue so we can cuddle adoptable dogs (obviously!) and hopefully they would be in town for one of my yoga classes at Cul de Sac Tempe in partnership with my favorite plant shop, Maricopa Botanicals.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am dedicating this interview to all of the incredible animal welfare organizations in Phoenix who fight tirelessly to make lives better for vulnerable animals and people in our community. This includes AZK9 Rescue, The Arizona Pet Project, Poverty’s Pets, Lost our Home Rescue, and so many others. <3 You all are the true heroes.

Website: https://pawsandbreatheaz.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pawsandbreatheaz