Ep #142: Handling Praise, Criticism, and Empty Studios with Megan Cowley

Dive into Megan's captivating journey from discovering yoga in Bali to becoming an inspirational teacher. Originally from the UK, Megan fell in love with yoga during a shavasana in Byron's class, sparking a profound transformation and an obsessive passion for the practice. She booked a training session in Bali, which led to a deeper spiritual connection and a sense of rebirth and empowerment. Despite the initial anxiety and challenges, Megan found the training experience rewarding, leading to hands-on adjustment and advanced sequencing skills. Her journey wasn't without struggles. After intense yoga trainings, Megan faced a "dark night of the soul," dealing with self-doubt and feeling lost. A supportive conversation with her father provided solace and encouragement during this difficult period. Megan emphasizes the importance of finding a nurturing and supportive community in the yoga world, which she found at a friend's retreat. This environment helped her rediscover her love for teaching yoga and connect with her gifts. Megan's story highlights the significance of mentorship, networking, and community over competition in the yoga space. She shares how teaching to an empty studio initially felt disheartening but ultimately became a powerful experience of self-witnessing and personal growth. The discussion underscores the value of maintaining a neutral mindset, detaching from ego, and focusing on service rather than personal validation. Megan encourages resilience, authenticity, and continuing to show up for yoga regardless of external circumstances, offering inspiration and guidance to aspiring yoga teachers. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Grounding and Gratitude: A Meditation Exercise 05:54 - Megan's Return: Continuing the Yoga Journey 08:56 - From Yorkshire to Bali: Megan's Adventure 10:57 - Discovering Yoga: Falling in Love with the Practice 13:05 - The Empowerment Class: A Transformative Experience 17:12 - Returning to Bali: Starting the Teacher Training 20:59 - Finishing the Training: On Cloud Nine 22:39 - The Dark Night of the Soul: Struggling with Self-Doubt 24:54 - A Friend's Help: Getting Back on Track 28:23 - Teaching at Shanti: Finding Confidence Again 30:01 - Opportunities and Community: Finding Your Path 33:44 - Taking Steps: Trying Teaching Yoga 36:10 - Mentorship and Support: The Role of Friends and Teachers 42:15 - Serving the Community: The Ethos of Yoga 44:49 - The Challenge of Empty Classes: Learning to Show Up 47:15 - Neutrality in Feedback: Handling Praise and Criticism 50:28 - The Importance of Consistency: Teaching Yoga Regularly 54:28 - Serving Beyond the Studio: Being Present in Everyday Life 56:07 - Embracing Realism: Balancing Yoga with Life 57:08 - Connecting with Megan: How to Reach Out Megan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megcowley/ --- About Going Pro Yoga: At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone. **Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample: All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga. To Learn More, Visit Going Pro Yoga, and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Start your 7-Day Free Trial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! For more information about in-person trainings in Bali,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.elementsofpoweryoga.com/advancedtrainings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠