We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Megan Zambell . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Megan below.

Megan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to help people tap into the strength and peace that is already inside of them, rather than seek it externally. To help people pause and know that they’re good enough and that we’re all connected, rather than in competition with one another. I am able to do this through yoga classes and wellness workshops, infused with energy work. Here is the story behind it.

As I write this in 2024, I most certainly do not have it all figured out, but I can say with confidence that I’ve found more inner peace than ever before in my adult life.

First things first, let’s define yoga. As I’ve learned, yoga is a yoking/uniting of the mind, body, and spirit. It’s about calming the mind and being in the present, rather than lost in the past or future. Asana (body movement) is just a piece of yoga. Don’t get me wrong, this human body is incredible, but being “really into yoga” is not about forward folds and downward facing dogs. It’s about the journey of self-discovery that helps free us from suffering. It’s uncovering that deep peace and potential that’s often buried inside of us.

Yoga became a part of my exercise routine many years ago and honestly, I did not love it. Being an athlete for most of my life, I’d often leave class wishing it were more of a physical workout. Little by little, however, I started to notice what felt like a magic spark during and after class. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was, but I knew that yoga was worthwhile. In retrospect, I just wasn’t ready to take in all that the practice had to offer. I had no idea how yang centered my life was and how disconnected I was from my self, the self before the outside world tells you what role you should play. As David Allen points out, “Information is always available, but we are not always available to the information.”

I spent most of my career as an elementary school teacher in New Jersey. As incredibly fulfilling as this work was, I got caught up in allowing too many expectations from the system and everyday life to drain me. I knew that if life continued the way it was, I’d most likely end up with ulcers or some other auto-immune disorder. (I had a history of auto-immune issues and was still grieving the loss of my father throughout my 20’s. I had some solid fun throughout all of this; I promise!)

Looking back at most of my 20’s and 30’s, I was also feeling an underlying stress from the timeline we’re placed on. There was this belief that there must be something wrong if we’re not on the same path as everyone around us. Even though life was generally good, I had that feeling of… I suppose I’ll be really happy once I get the partner, the goal weight, the home, the security…etc. I did have some lovely relationships that could’ve led to marriage and kids, but something in me would signal that it didn’t feel right at the time. To add, I knew I didn’t want to make any promises that I wasn’t sure I could keep.

All of this, combined with the fast-paced, competitive culture that I was immersed in, left me with a nagging feeling that I was never doing enough or never arriving at this place I was supposed to be at.

At age 37, I decided to take a big leap outside of the only fish bowl I knew and move to Madrid, Spain. I went solo and the intention in my heart was to give myself space and time to breathe. I mean really breathe, for the 2017-18 school year. I chose a country where the climate was warmer, the cost of living was lower, the pace was slower, and I could understand some of the language. I taught English as a way to make money and attended Spanish class as a way to get a visa, but neither was truly my top priority. Again, I genuinely wanted to give myself time to pause and experience a culture that was very different than the one I had spent 37 years in.

A year of incredible and difficult experiences flew by and I didn’t anticipate how much work and energy would go into just getting settled. My school district in NJ needed to know if I was returning and after many nights of tossing and turning, I decided to extend my Spanish visa another year. For the record, my Spanish stunk at the time. Despite what many think, when you’re an English teacher living in a major city, you don’t just learn a language through osmosis, or at least I don’t. Either way, it just felt too soon to head back to the states. This meant resigning from a wonderful school district, letting go of job security for life, which led to selling my car, giving up my fantastic Hoboken apartment, and opening up to a very uncertain future. With all that being said, it still felt right.

I could write a book on my time in Spain and all that I learned and unlearned, but here’s the brief version. In all, I found Spanish culture to be lighter and more present than anything I’d experienced at home. Coffee could easily last two hours. Work emails do not make their way into lunchtime. A meal with a Spanish family consisted of preparing, cooking, talking, and eating together, before cleaning up together. Napping isn’t frowned upon. What you do for work isn’t the first question asked. Physical touch and laughter are the norm. Nobody I met seemed overly stressed about a mortgage that they couldn’t afford and nobody felt stuck due to health insurance, but that’s a conversation for another day. They took their vacation days, without guilt, and celebrated their holidays for longer than I ever realized a holiday could last. The pace of the lifestyle made me really question my life back in the states. What is this rush all about?

Throughout this time, I continued to exercise regularly at local gyms or parks and my yoga practice consisted of weekly classes with a good friend. It wasn’t until the lockdown of 2020, when I found myself confined to a small apartment with zero outdoor space that I decided to dig even deeper into that lingering unease inside of me that would surface whenever I wasn’t distracting myself.

It was time to get honest about my fears, unhealthy habits, and the fact that I believed validation and happiness were found outside of me. The fears and habits, you ask? To name a few: Can I release this feeling that I’m late? Can I lessen these recurring thoughts that something tragic will happen to a family member? Do I rely on alcohol to relax? Whose opinions actually matter? What old stories are still playing a damaging role in my life? Am I at peace with not having a biological child? Why do I avoid asking for favors from even my best friends? Do I listen to others more than my own intuition?
This is where my personal practice took form.
From that point on, rather than begin my mornings with texts, news, scrolling, or the to-do list, I started every morning on the floor with the following:
-Guided meditation
-My own sequence of body movements
-Reading “How to do the Work” by Nicole Lepera and writing out the work
-Setting intentions for the day

I sat with the discomfort, without distraction, digging into the hard questions. Questioning my assumptions and beliefs and all the narratives that are so deeply ingrained they’re like cement that needs to be cracked open.
Only after this work was complete would I open up to the outside world.

This morning practice shifted everything and I’ve kept up a similar routine since then, especially getting the body moving and stretching even when I don’t feel like it. I practiced listening to my body more than the ramblings of the mind, and treating my body better than I had in a long time. More movement that was about feeling good over looking good. Being more mindful about what I was ingesting and what I was holding onto. I began to trust myself more and trust the process. Circling back to some of the work I did, I now feel a lot better with where I’m at, knowing we’re all on our own paths. I worry way less, especially about anything outside of my control. I’m happy to say I feel no need to reach for a drink to find relief or when socializing. I see it more as a piece of chocolate cake now. When used in moderation, it’s delightful and feels great temporarily, and you pay for it later on. I am at peace with not having a biological child, ask my friends for help more often, and try to tune into my intuition more than I ever have.

The rush I spoke about earlier- Perhaps we make ourselves extra busy to feel worthwhile, to avoid facing our feelings, or to move us along this imaginary timeline we’ve created. Perhaps our culture is just that competitive that life is a never-ending contest. Whatever it is, I’ll be forever grateful that Spanish culture allowed me to be outside of the race long enough to realize it’s not for me. And hey, if you’re reading this and think the rush suits you well, you do you. I fully believe we’re designed differently.

On the surface, the debate was between Spain or the states, but it hit me hard that where I needed to continue going was inward. You can read this in any self-help book, but I needed a smack in the face that finding happiness and peace was my own inside job. And the beauty of it (for my achievers out there) is that by pausing and diving into the self, you do make progress. It just looks and feels different.

Back to logistics – Maintaining your Spanish visa can be tricky and time consuming and the more in tune I got with myself, the more I knew I wanted to get out of a city and into nature, so it was either I head to the mountains of Spain and get serious about Spanish or head back to the states and get serious about yoga. I chose yoga. More self-discovery, less visa issues and verb conjugations. To add, I really wanted to spend more time with family members and friends who I love dearly.
(My Spanish did improve and I can communicate, but I still have a ton to learn and could use a lot of practice. Poco a poco.)
I was also going back to the states with a whole new perspective and attitude about this human experience. Plus, everything is temporary, right? I realized no decision has to be final and if I’m judged for that, who cares?

Within a few months after arriving in NJ, I landed a great job as a writing support teacher where I was not spread too thin and found a cozy apartment on the ocean. I decided to commit to my first Yoga Teacher Training a few months later. A lot has changed since then, but such is life.

Although I feel a bit out of place and misunderstood at times in the culture that I’m settling into, it’s okay. I still do my best to embody that presence and pace I learned in Europe.

I’d say what I gained most from this time was the absolute importance of slowing down, turning inward, and reconnecting with my true nature. I personally needed to experience a different culture to see my life with a whole new lens, but the reality is, you could do this work in your basement.

This brings me back to my mission – helping be the support others need to slow down and tune in deeply to themselves. As much as self-care and work may seem selfish, I believe that you can’t pour from an empty cup. We can best serve others once we recharge our own battery.

Megan , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

What problems do I help clients with? anxiety, stress, insecurities, lack of focus, impatience, fears, stiffness in joints, pain, disconnect from self and/or community, weakness. Yoga also helps build strength and balance.

What services do I provide? In-person and virtual classes/sessions
Yoga for Adults ~ vinyasa flow classes, mobility, and yin yoga
Benefits for adult classes can include one or more of the following:
flexibility, mobility, stability, strength, mental calm,
practice in patience, balance, perseverance, focus, and acceptance.

Yoga Workshops for Adults –
1) Crow Workshop – This is one of my favorites! I teach warm-up, mechanics, and mindset to help practitioners move forward in the crow pose.(pictured) The workshop is more about facing fears and shifting limiting beliefs than it is about the pose itself. It can be extremely empowering to nail a posture you once felt impossible. This translates into life.

2) Restorative Yoga & Reiki – I offer a workshop in which we work to restore the body’s natural balance through movement, breath, poses that are held longer, and meta meditation. The workshop is also infused with Reiki.

Yoga for Athletes ~ Sessions with athletes are designed to have the following benefits
-Enhance flexibility (physical and mental)
-Improve mobility
-Mental calm, clarity, and health
-Breathing techniques to calm or energize the body
-Mindset Work: Increase focus, patience, and perseverance
-Improve balance and stability
-Team Building / Community Connection
-Increase positive self-talk
-Decrease anxiety, stress, and limiting beliefs
-Body and spatial awareness

Yoga for Children (including in school) -The atmosphere is always positive, accessible, and safe for children.
I guide students (K-12) through a combination of the following:

breath awareness,
mindful movement,
stretching,
balancing,
community connection,
focus,
creative expression,
relaxation and grounding.

Classes can be designed for specific purposes, such as: Managing Test Anxiety, Managing Performance Anxiety, Connecting with Classmates

I create Meditations /Mindfulness recordings and sessions. I’ve created a meditation for new/aspiring yoga teachers who face self-doubt and imposter syndrome, which can be found in the “store” section of my site.

Energy Work – I study the subtle energy body and infuse tapping and acupressure into some of my classes. Movement and pressure to these areas can help clear out stagnant energy, calm the body, and/or energize you. I am also certified as a level 3 Reiki Practitioner, under Usui Reiki Ryoho of Japan, and offer Reiki healing.

What sets me apart? Having a background in education for almost 20 years, I come to yoga and meditation work with the nurturing heart of an elementary school teacher. I meet students where they’re at and guide them from there. There is no competition, no judgment, and I believe I’m tuned in to the needs of others. I love bringing yoga to people outside of yoga studios, since studios can be intimidating to some. My experience in Spain has also helped bring out my natural essence of being present, accepting, and intentional in a very busy, competitive, fast-paced culture. To add, on a personal note, I’ve overcome many fears, autoimmune disorders, and general anxiety by practicing yoga. In other words, rather than escape or rely on pharmaceuticals, I work to handle stress through breath work, movement, and mindset shifts. (Disclaimer: Pharmaceuticals may absolutely be needed in specific cases and we’re all on our own journey. For me, they were like a band-aid and created negative side-effects.)

I also come to the athletes with the background of being a three-season athlete throughout high school. I can empathize with the pressures student-athletes face, as well as the physical element of sport.

I want potential students to know that they need not be “good” at yoga or have any experience to try it. If you’re breathing, you can practice yoga.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

For me, personal references have been most effective. Someone comes to a class or series and then refers me to a friend, partner, or team.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yogawithmeg.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoga_with_meg_?igsh=MzJyaXVheWlsYmUz&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlhIUvBx5ZcoW2W0C5aO-w

Image Credits

Two photos taken by Marthe Eide. She has given me permission to share.
The main one was taken by her – first photo page with black tank top
The photo where I have on a floral cover-up and am laughing (in the hills of Italy)