Kino MacGregor on Ashtanga Yoga, Leadership & Creating Meaningful Change

In this episode of Leadership and Yoga, I sit down with Kino MacGregor, one of the most thoughtful voices in the yoga world, for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about practice, leadership, creativity, and impact through yoga. 

We talk about high standards and self-compassion, ritual and discipline, discernment in creativity, and how to work with failure without letting it turn into self-denigration. We explore lineage and tradition in Ashtanga yoga, the power of storytelling, and what makes an impactful yoga teacher.

This conversation moves from a behind the scenes look at Kino’s daily rituals and decision-making to the deeply spiritual and big questions of, why are we here? 

If you’re a yoga teacher, leader, or lifelong student navigating devotion, creativity, and real human life, this one is for you.

If you enjoyed this episode with Kino, please subscribe. Thank you! :) 

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Kino’s website:

https://kinoyoga.com/ 

Practice with Kino on Omstars:

https://omstars.com/ 

Find Kino on instagram: 

@kinoyoga 

Find me on instagram: 

@shawnakru 

Opportunities to join my podcast LIVE for yoga teacher roundtable episodes:

https://www.shawnakru.com/fam  

My website & contact:

https://www.shawnakru.com/ 

Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

02:16 inspired by Kino’s story

03:32 how did you realize you wanted to dedicate your life to yoga?

07:25 when you were little, what did you dream of being when you grew up?

12:30 do you remember your first ashtanga class?

19:34 from a dream about Pattabhi Jois to traveling to India

23:08 what is the essence of ashtanga yoga for you?

24:12 the guru’s grace

28:01 what characteristics of your teachers helped you the most?

31:00 the ashtanga authorization process

36:39 future of the teacher-student relationship in yoga

38:29 staying rooted in service as a yoga teacher

41:41 how can yoga be a tool for good in the world?

44:07 different paths of change

49:27 how do you prepare yourself to show up in the world to teach?

51:47 what is your relationship with creativity?

55:47 book recommendations? 

01:00:00 tradition vs innovation 

01:03:00 experiencing the transcendent 

01:05:00 why do you think we’re here? 

01:07:00 “let everything you do be an act of love” 

01:12:00 the billboard question