Badass Women: Megan
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Photos in this post courtesy of Megan.
Meet Meg, the lovely yogini behind the Instagram page @yogini.meg and the blogger of Yogi in the City. Meg is a yoga teacher in the Portland area and she and I both love a lot of the same things (yoga, writing, wine) and so of course we became instant friends!
I'm so grateful for Meg's upbeat energy and the encouraging posts she shares. Maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to take her class! Thanks, Meg, for being a part of the Badass Women series.
What sorts of things do you do to connect in with your inner goddess / warrior woman badass energy?
Every day I remind myself that I am strong and that I've made it through every good and bad day to get to this day, and I will keep on making it. I wake up in the morning and tell myself, "I'm going to drink the coffee and no matter what happens today I'm going to get through it like the badass I am." I'm living on my own for the first time in my life and teaching toddlers, and those alone make me feel like a warrior on a daily basis.
I've recently decided to pamper by inner goddess by taking weekly bubble baths. It is so important to make time for yourself and do something that brings you peace and makes you feel beautiful. On that note, I've also started to wear burgundy/red lipstick often. I used to shy away from such bold colors because I felt like they made me stand out too much--well screw that. We are all made to stand out in some way and putting on dark burgundy lipstick helps me feel like a badass, so I'm sticking with it!
What has shaped your journey to this point in your life?
2015 was really a standout year in shaping who I am right now. I went through two completely different breakups--one that was a really good move on my part and the other which brought me pain and heartache took, and in a way is still taking, time to come back from. I accomplished a huge dream of mine and became a yoga teacher last summer. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was surrounded by these incredible, strong, wonderful women and I learned so much from them and about myself. Shortly after that I moved to a new city and started a new job..and that brings us to now.
I think one of the main themes of my life this past year is the idea of a fresh start. I feel like I am constantly starting fresh and I think it is so important. Sometimes "starting fresh" is in our control and sometimes it isn't, but I think continuously allowing myself that opportunity to begin again and learning from my experiences is really shaping me into the person I am now and the person I want to be.
What helps you stay grounded and how do you rejuvenate?
Right now I'm all about strong and creative flow classes. I love practices that are filled with standing poses like the Warriors and Goddess which help me feel grounded and strong. If a practice has interesting/different transitions or variations I get really excited because I love trying new things. Of course, a practice for me is not complete without some energizing backbends.
What would you tell a woman who needs help tapping in to her inner strength?
Inner strength is always there, even when at times we feel like we've lost it. For anyone who needs help accessing that strength I would say remember that you have made it this far. You have made it to today. Through every hardship, every triumph, you have persevered and arrived at this moment. That is so encouraging. At times we have days that are so hard and life seems so dark, but remember that you have your own light within and you can always light your own way through the darkness. Each one of us is strong. So hold your head high and tell yourself that you are strong and you are enough. That is important--believe and know that you are enough and never let anyone take that away from you.
Where will you go from here? Any badass plans for the new year?
I'm excited for this year and I have a lot of plans in the works. Since becoming a yoga instructor last summer, I haven't taught much, so that's a major goal--to just start teaching, gaining experience, and sharing my passion. I'm starting a new "giving back" project that I'm calling "Project Warm Heart." Throughout the year I'm going to be knitting and crocheting scarves and this fall (when the weather starts cooling down again) whatever I have made will be donated to local shelters/homes. My sister is already on board to help and I'm hoping to recruit more people to join in as well! I'm really excited about this and to be working on something that will hopefully benefit the community. I have my own blog that I will be getting started soon, and my incredibly talented artist friend, Sarah Richards, has agreed to illustrate it for me. I'm looking forward to that collaboration and many new experiences this year.
