Interviewing Kino MacGregor – Founder of Omstars
KINO SPEAKS ABOUT HER JOURNEY WITH YOGA, HER UPBRINGING AND FOUNDING OMSTARS.
“Yoga is a spiritual path that promises to heal the body, open the heart and calm the mind. I discovered yoga out of a sincere desire to live a more peaceful life.” – Kino Macgregor
YP: What has your yogic path been like? What practices did you start with and how did your practices evolve with time? How have you transformed as a person?
Kino: At the beginning I thought yoga was just the physical poses. I went through a period of asana-obsession where I lived, breathed and thought about asana all the time. I’m not there anymore. Lately my practice has evolved into more sitting meditation. I’m still getting on my mat and practicing asana—asana is an amazing tool to keep the body healthy and prepare the mind for deep states of consciousness. But I’m spending equal amounts of time in sitting meditation. I’ve noticed a shift towards the more subtle and spiritual, and less attachment to the results of practice.
YP: What would you do if you could go back in time and meet a younger version of yourself? What would you tell her?
Kino: I love you. I know how much you want to do everything right now, but there are some things that just can’t be rushed. You are here on this planet for a special reason. It’s not evident to you just yet, but one day it will all be crystal clear. Until then, my dear, keep practicing, keep the faith, believe in yourself, be strong, and never give up.
YP: Did you have a religious upbringing? How did you feel when you discovered Yoga and Indian culture? Can you describe why yoga can be universal, irrespective of faith and religious upbringing?
Kino: I was raised with no formal religious upbringing, while sitting at the intersection of two major world religions in terms of culture. On my mother’s side, my Japanese grandfather was Buddhist and my father was Protestant, however, none of my family was affiliated with any church, temple or other religious institution. My parents made a conscious choice not to raise me as being affiliated with any particular faith. This set me up perfectly to embark upon the personal spiritual quest that is the essence of yoga. When I began my spiritual journey I was searching for the answers to life’s most basic questions—who am I? Where do I come from? Why am I here? There was no formal organized religion that resonated with me or offered sufficient answers to the questions I was asking. But when I first stepped onto the yoga mat a visceral truth that I felt in my body opened a door to the practice that has now defined my life.
Yoga traces its roots to the great Rishis of India’s ancient past. Every yoga practitioner today owes a depth to the long line of yogis who maintained the practice in what was often solitude and obscurity. My studies in India are the foundation of my spiritual practice and yet I am not a Hindu. The practice of yoga has fulfilled its promise to open my heart and mind to the direct, personal and revelatory experience of God. It is this faith, born from experience, that now defines my practice and my life. The devotional heart-opening experience of meeting the Divine happened for me, I believe, due to my years of yoga and meditation practice and a good amount of pure grace. It was the practice that taught me how to surrender, how to let go of my ego and prepared me for the moment that I would meet what is called in yoga, my Istha-Devata, my Sadh Guru, who is the true light of my life. At some moment I hope to write about this and how a deeply personal relationship with God has changed my life.
YP: How has your journey with Omstars been?
Kino: I founded Omstars to be a beacon of life in the online yoga space. I am building a company where everything is made by yogis for yogis. Our bottom line is the student’s happiness and success in yoga. For us, the spiritual journey always comes first. We bring the world’s best yoga and meditation teachers directly to students all over the world. Our goal is to create yoga videos that speak to the whole lifestyle of being a yogi in the world today. We have a library of over 2,000 yoga classes, daily live classes as well as a full body of content to enrich the yogi’s diet and mind, including plant-based recipes, life coaching, Sanskrit studies, and more. We are body positive and strive to bring yoga to people of all faiths, sizes, shapes, ethnicities and financial means. We have a scholarship that provides yoga to students who demonstrate financial need. At Omstars we are committed to authenticity in yoga, awakening of the heart and mind, excellence in service and embracing the true spiritual heart of the practice with love and joy.
YP: What is the future of the yoga industry? What trends can we expect in practices in the near future?
Kino: What I’m interested in for the future of yoga is inspiring people to do the deep inner work of the practice, to use asana as a tool for total life transformation. I strive to create a space in class where students of all levels feel welcome, a space that calls up a feeling of the sacred and the eternal. Whether you’re a total beginner – of any age, size or shape – or an advanced practitioner looking to refine technique, I welcome everyone. My motto is that each student should find the way to work their bodies and minds safely. We show up on the mat to do the work and that work is defined by the inner experience. The physical is a powerful doorway that leads to the deeper realms of the spiritual within.
To Learn more about Kino’s upcoming workshops visit kinoyoga.com or follow her on instagram.
