Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Freeman.
Megan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I first came to yoga by way of dance. As a modern dancer and dance instructor, yoga was often used in warm-ups and even in parts of dance choreography. Yoga became a form of physical therapy for me to recuperate from dance injuries, as well as healthy way to deal with stress and anxiety. I suffered from undiagnosed auto-immune disease for a number of years which created other complications such as depression, panic attacks, insomnia, fatigue, unexplained weight loss/gain and low self-esteem. After finding so much healing and progress in yoga, I decided to become certified in yoga. Though, I have been teaching yoga in the dance arena for a number of years, I officially obtained my 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher certification (RYT-200) in 2015 and my 500-advanced teacher certification (RYT-500) in 2017 from New Day Yoga in Kennesaw, GA. I am also currently enrolled at Kennesaw State University and will graduate in May of this year (2018) with a masters in Exercise Physiology. Along the way, I discovered I had a passion for helping women through pregnancy, birth and post-partum as well. I received my 90-hour prenatal teacher certification (RPYT) in 2016 from Etowah Valley Yoga in Cartersville, GA and I have been dabbling in apprenticing with a midwife and as doula for the last year.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s not always been a smooth road but every obstacle or challenge I’ve encountered has made me stronger and better equipped for the next stage in my journey. Nothing is ever wasted. I remember one particular time in my life, when I was so over the corporate America job I was working and was just ready to teach yoga and wellness full time. I was working long hours, underpaid and felt like I was loosing my part of my soul every time I sat down at my desk. At the time, I was reading a book called, “You are Blessed” by Sylvia Gunter and one particular entry said something like this: “You can look around at the decay and junk around you, sit down in it and add to the problem or you can stand up, dust yourself off and be a part of the solution…” I’m paraphrasing, but that was the kick I needed to shake off this negative “It’s never gonna happen” attitude and get to finding solutions. Not every solution I thought of worked out, but I learned something every time. Now, that I work as a manager of a yoga studio and teach far more than I sit behind a desk, I have realized everything has come full circle. That corporate job taught me the clerical skills I needed to help make the studio I work at successful operationally.
The rough people I worked with in customer service gave me the perspective I need to remember that EVERYone needs love, even if they are misdirecting anger at you, it’s not personal. It’s not about me. I am now so grateful for those jobs and frustrating years that have given me the qualifications I need to make yoga as a full time career feasible. If you find yourself stuck in one of those ruts now, instead of thinking about how awful everything is, what if you shifted your focus to “what am I learning through this? What skills can I maximize on now?” Easier said than done, I know, but you will never regret being part of the solution to what is ailing you now.
Please tell us about Yoga Instructor.
With my background in dance, I often couple principles of fluidity and the breath with an important understanding of anatomy and alignment as I teach. Yoga is disciplined and intentional, but it can also be creative and expressive. So many students come in saying “I’m not flexible enough” or “I’m not a pretzel.” What I love most is being able to assist that student in finding the safest, most empowering version of yoga for themselves. Not everyone is anatomically built for every single pose. I don’t practice headstand, example, because my humeri (upper arm bones) are shorter than most and it would result in unhealthy and even dangerous compression of my cervical spine, if I were to try to stand on my head. I also have a passion for empowering women to own their health and to speak truth, blessings and love over themselves and their loved ones, especially starting early when their baby is in utero.
Additionally, the mental health component to yoga is of equal, if not greater, importance to the physical. Yoga has taught me to speak positively and in a way that encourages and empowers. I’m not talking about just finding something nice to say just because or even finding the silver lining, I’m talking about deep-rooted, core truths about who I am as a human being. One of my favorite mantras is: “I am an instrument of peace,” from a prayer written by St. Francis of Assisi.
Who have you been inspired by?
There are too many to count! My mom, grandmothers, mentors, friends, sisters… they each have inspired me in unique ways at different points along my journey. It takes a village, not just to raise kids, but to continue to grow as a person, it takes community. True community – having people in your life who are willing to speak the truth in love, to encourage you when you’re in the weeds and to challenge you where you need it. I thank God daily for the community of women that I have because without them, I would not be anywhere remotely in the same ballpark as where I am today. My hope is that, I can be that place of love and support for others as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theearthyyogi.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/theearthyyogi/
- Facebook: www.instagram.com/megan.lubben.5
Image Credit:
Caron Colleen Photography, Kim Craig Ali Photography
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