Meet The Locals – Calum MacKinnon

Meet Calum MacKinnon retail worker and graphic designer turned yoga teacher. A key member of the blossoming yoga community in Edinburgh, Calum realised the power and influence yoga can have on a trip to Bali. Returning to Scotland he made it his aim to learn more about the practice and become a knowledgeable and inspiring teacher. We chat to him about the aspects of yoga you can take into your everyday life, his favourite yoga instructors in the city and of course, his top tips to his own Hidden Edinburgh.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Calum MacKinnon, I’m a twenty-seven year old yoga teacher based here in Edinburgh. My professional life has primarily been in the retail industry mixed with three years of further education studying Graphic Design and six months spent living in South East Asia.

The beginning of this year I decided to make some big changes and pursue my passion and desire to share the practice of yoga. It wouldn’t be unusual to catch me listening to an audio book with a coffee in various cafes across town. Lately, I’ve decided to treat myself to some of the finer things in life and try to work my way around the coffee shops in Edinburgh.  It’s the little things, right?!

Reading has never really been my thing, so now I listen to books.  Normally, they are in the nature of personal development. I like to self study, goal set and maintain a practice of improvement throughout all areas of my life. Movies are my gig, old and new, my favourite being True Romance. I never pass up the opportunity to eat handfuls of sweet popcorn whilst enjoying the intensity and emotions that come along with a good film. My closest friends and I meet every Sunday evening to catch up and grab a film together.

I have a keen interest in fashion, maintain a fortnightly appointment at Benjamin’s Barber Shop and I’m currently working a growing tattoo collection.

Although very partial to a cheeky burger from The Buffalo Truck, fitness has been a fundamental part of my life for around three years now. Regularly working to maintain a summer body at strength training circuits and lifting classes held at CaveFit. As well as being able to be proud of my body, I feel that fitness is absolutely key to my overall mental and physical well being!


How did you first become interested in yoga?

About three years ago now, I found myself living in Ubud, Bali, in a traditional home-stay. At the time, I didn’t know much about yoga, but as it turns out, Ubud is a bit of a worldwide hub for the yoga community. Staying in the room next to me, there was a girl called Erin who had flown across from Canada for four weeks to complete her advanced teacher training. After some questions and a little more chatting, I decided to find out what it was all about and put myself out there to give yoga a try.

At the time, I had no idea this would’ve had such a powerful influence on my life. Pushing through nerves and going to a series of open air beginners yoga classes was just the start. Since then, whenever possible I’ve connected with new teachers, experienced multiple different styles of yoga and maintained a consistent practice year round. All in all, introducing the practice to my life has since led to some of the greatest personal change and self development in a short period of time.

When was the moment you realised you wanted to become a yoga instructor? How did you make it happen?

The idea of being a yoga teacher is something that had always played around in the back of my mind since I returned home from travelling in Indonesia. I’d always admired my teachers and aspired to advance my own practice however never really considered taking the plunge to make anything happen.

Having worked in retail since I was sixteen years old, the challenge and opportunity for growth began to slow down and I set out to seek change and new excitement. Earlier this year, I decided to follow my intuition, take the leap and set off to L.A. to move my life in a totally new direction.

The moment I knew for sure I wanted to become a yoga teacher didn’t actually arrive until about half way through my teacher training. When I’d initially booked the training it was out of a desire to strengthen my personal practice. However, being removed from my home city and having the space to reflect on my next steps in life,I was able to realise that I wanted to move down a new path, create something for myself and be able to share the impact yoga had on my life with the community here in Edinburgh.

After spending a total of two-hundred hours across four weeks, learning and a lot of physical training, I graduated as a yoga teacher from Awakening Yoga Academy in Los Angeles.

What can people expect from your yoga classes? What levels do you cater for?

Awakening Yoga is a progressive practice style rooted in hatha vinyasa yoga with an emphasis on accessible and creative movement practices. My teachers, Patrick Beach and Carling Harps developed this practice style after seeing so many diverse bodies in the yoga practice all over the world. The goal with this style has always been to pay homage to the ritualistic, traditional nature of the practice while incorporating modern movement patterns for today’s bodies and minds.

This practice style is great for anyone looking to develop upper body and core strength, increase their range of motion and promote deeper flexibility. Through verbal cues and physical demonstrations, my teaching aims to create an environment where you feel a sense of freedom to explore your own body and find postures that fit your unique form, offering modifications and props where possible.

Where can people find you teaching yoga around the city?

I’m currently working on establishing myself in the community and working on growing my timetable in Edinburgh. Anyone is welcome to keep up to date with my teaching schedule as it grows through my social media channels below.

Instagram – @calumackinnon

Facebook – @calumackinnonyoga

I teach a few permanent slots for Projekt 42 (projekt42.com), a not-for-profit community gym based in Leith.

We love the sense of community amongst the Yogis in the city. Which are your favourite yoga studios and other yoga instructors in Edinburgh at the moment and why?

Helen Gillespie

Helen has the most beautifully genuine and warm presence that she carries with her in all of her classes. Her knowledge and love of the practice shine through in playful and unique sequences that not only challenge you to grow, but leave you feeling lighter with a newly positive perception of the world around you.

Evelyn Hurtado

Evelyn is a unique firecracker, born in New York, now a treasure not to be missed in Edinburgh. Her studio is radical and full of personality as is the lady herself. With roots in Jivamukti and Vinyasa yoga her classes are fun, challenging and set to unique, up beat playlists that make for a memorable practice every time.

What is your top tip for a new visitor coming to Edinburgh? Any hidden gems?

The Walnut, a cosy local restaurant based on Leith Walk. Paradise Palms, a dive bar bathed in pink neon lights that hosts an eclectic mix of people, funky beats and a delicious drinks menu. As mentioned previously, if you’re in to coffee then you should check out The Disloyal 7. If you love a good chicken burger, a must visit being The Buffalo Truck.

Do you have a life moto?

“Fortune favours the brave” When I notice myself shifting in to a place of fear and hesitation I give my intuition this advice to continue moving my life forward. It has never done me wrong.