I’m Mel Mackintosh, a health-focused yoga and meditation teacher, as well as a Hypnobirthing Australia practitioner. I’m also proud to be co-owner of Australian Yoga Academy in Melbourne, where I have been teaching alongside my best friend and business partner, Adele Conti, since 2006.
My introduction to yoga came in the late 1990s while I was working in Human Resources and Change Management for companies including Telstra, NAB, and Medibank. It happened almost by chance. I was feeling stressed and aware that I wasn’t moving my body as much as I wanted to, so I joined a class with a friend. I never looked back.
What continues to inspire me is the holistic nature of yoga and meditation. These practices support the body, mind, and spirit, and they meet us wherever we are in life, regardless of health, energy, or physical ability. Yoga is something we can all do, and it keeps opening new opportunities for transformation every day.
While I valued my corporate career, I found myself consistently turning to yoga, meditation, and complementary medicine for answers about health and well-being. This led me to study Naturopathy and complete my 350-hour Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching in 2006. In 2010, I moved into the yoga industry full-time when I joined the Australian Yoga Academy ownership team.
As someone deeply committed to the yoga profession, I believe teacher training qualifications should be tertiary-level and delivered with the highest standards by exceptional teachers. Since 2008, I have managed all of our training programs, continually seeking ways to strengthen our already respected courses through both foundational training and advanced programs for qualified teachers.
After the birth of my first child in 2010, I developed a strong interest in prenatal and postnatal yoga. I have invested many hours in further study and personal development in this area so I can support mothers and their birth partners with evidence-based practices that help prepare them for a positive birth experience.
I’m grateful to be part of the Australian yoga community and delighted that our yoga teacher training programs now welcome many students from around the world. It means so much to be connected to a loving community of dedicated students, some of whom have been practising with us for more than 15 years. My vision is to continue creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to become part of the AYA family. I see AYA as a place for growth and healing, supported by a talented team of yoga teachers and health professionals who help bring that vision to life.
I would also like to thank all of my teachers across many disciplines for their guidance and support, as well as every student I have worked with, because without them, I would not be able to do what I love.