Rising Stars: Meet Jonah Kest of National

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonah Kest.

Hi Jonah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born into yoga, quite literally. My father, Jonny Kest, was one of the pioneers of bringing modern vinyasa yoga to the West, so movement, breath, and mindfulness were a big part of my upbringing. But growing up around yoga and finding my own relationship with it were two very different things.

As I got older, I began traveling the world, studying different traditions, and exploring the connection between movement, music, breath, and human connection. What started as a personal practice eventually became my life’s work.

I began teaching at a young age, and over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to share yoga with people around the world, become a Nike trainer, and build a global community through social media, retreats, and teacher trainings.

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been creating Become a Yogi, an educational platform dedicated to helping people not only deepen their practice but also find their own voice as teachers. I also host the Embody podcast, where I get to explore conversations around wellness, philosophy, and what it means to live a meaningful life.

Today, my work continues to evolve, but the intention remains the same: to make yoga more accessible, experiential, and human.

I’ve come to realize that yoga isn’t really about how we move our bodies. It’s about how we move through life. And that’s what I hope to keep sharing.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a long road, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. I think a lot of my challenges have simply been the natural growing pains of being human. Growing up, trying to figure out who I am, finding my own voice, and learning how to navigate life while building a career around something I love.

Coming from a family with such deep roots in yoga has been an incredible gift, but it’s also been important for me to discover what the practice means to me personally, beyond what I grew up around.

There have been moments of uncertainty, self-doubt, burnout, and times when I’ve questioned the direction I was heading. Traveling constantly, building a business, and trying to balance personal relationships with professional responsibilities have all taught me a lot about myself.

But through it all, the practice has always been something I can return to. Not necessarily to fix everything, but to find a little more clarity, perspective, and acceptance.

One of the greatest lessons yoga has taught me is that growth isn’t linear. Sometimes we move forward, sometimes we fall back, and sometimes we need to begin again.

I think the beauty of the practice is that it meets us wherever we are. And the older I get, the more I realize that the challenges aren’t separate from the journey. They’re often the very things that shape us.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the heart of my work is a passion for movement, mindfulness, and human connection. I’m a yoga teacher, movement artist, Nike trainer, and founder of Become a Yogi, an educational platform dedicated to making yoga more accessible while empowering the next generation of teachers.

I specialize in an experiential approach to vinyasa yoga that blends movement, breath, music, and philosophy. Rather than focusing solely on the physical shapes we create, I’m much more interested in how the practice makes us feel and what we can take from it into our everyday lives. I’ve always believed that yoga is less about what we do on the mat and more about who we become off of it.

Through Become a Yogi, we host teacher trainings, retreats, and immersive experiences around the world. One of the things I’m most passionate about is helping teachers discover their own authentic voice rather than simply teaching them to replicate someone else’s style. Our approach emphasizes feeling over form, structure and surrender, and the understanding that there’s no single right way to experience yoga.

I’m also the host of the Embody podcast, where I explore conversations around wellness, personal growth, philosophy, and the human experience.

What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily the partnerships, the places I’ve traveled, or the number of people I’ve reached. It’s the community we’ve created and the relationships that have grown through this work. Seeing someone discover a deeper connection to themselves, find the confidence to teach, or make a meaningful change in their life is incredibly rewarding.

I think what sets my work apart is the balance between honoring the roots of yoga and being willing to evolve. I grew up immersed in this practice, but I’ve never wanted to simply preserve what was handed down to me. I’ve wanted to explore it, question it, and find new ways to make it relevant to the world we live in today.

Ultimately, I don’t want people to leave my classes thinking about how well they performed a posture. I want them to leave feeling a little more connected, a little more free, and a little more themselves.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the incredible people who have supported, challenged, and inspired me along the way.

First and foremost, my family. My father, Jonny Kest, has been one of my greatest teachers and influences. Growing up around his passion for yoga gave me a foundation that I’m incredibly grateful for. He taught me that yoga is so much more than a physical practice. It’s a way of living, connecting, and understanding ourselves. My family has always encouraged me to follow my own path while staying connected to those roots.

My wife, Renae, has also been an incredible source of love, support, and inspiration. Having someone beside you who believes in your vision, especially through the ups and downs of building a business and traveling the world, means everything.

I’m also deeply grateful for the teachers and mentors I’ve crossed paths with throughout my travels. Some of my greatest lessons have come from people with completely different backgrounds, philosophies, and perspectives. They’ve reminded me to remain a student, stay curious, and never assume I have it all figured out.

The team and teachers behind Become a Yogi deserve a tremendous amount of credit as well. What we’re building is so much bigger than any one person. It’s a collective effort made possible by people who genuinely care about the practice, the students, and the community.

And of course, I’m endlessly grateful for the students who have trusted me over the years. They’ve been some of my greatest teachers. Every class, conversation, retreat, and training has shaped the way I see the world and approach my work.

I think success is often presented as an individual achievement, but in my experience, it’s really a reflection of the people we surround ourselves with. The older I get, the more I realize that the relationships we build along the way are just as meaningful as anything we accomplish.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.becomeayogi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kestyoga