Meet Megan Cameron | Yoga Instructor & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Cameron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When I started Ego House Wellness and Recovery, I knew it had to be bigger than me. I also knew it had to be better than the white-washed boutique yoga studios you can find on every corner these days. The population we serve is what I affectionately refer to as “Misfits.” We are a home for black sheep, and fish-out-of-water. We invite those who need a place to be. Too often, people of color and people with disabilities, as well as people with low socioeconomic status, are systematically excluded from the very spaces that should welcome them most warmly.

Ego House places a special emphasis on serving those who seek to recover from any kind of addiction. Whether to substances, behaviors, devices, or relationships, addiction is something many of us can identify with. Yet, the stigma surrounding addiction and its co-occurring conditions is far behind many of our ever-improving social narratives.

Yoga and mindfulness offer such magnificent healing potential when given as a gift and practiced as an act of devotion. Meditation has been proven to increase focus and willpower, two important factors in any recovery journey. Asana, (physical practice,) directly impacts the health of body, mind and spirit. Community helps us heal by giving us a sense of purpose and belonging. By providing access to parts of ourselves we have not yet encountered, yoga creates the necessary environment for neuroplasticity and opens the door to new ways of approaching challenges.

We have a saying, common in the yoga world: “The way you do one thing is the way you do anything.” When people are given the chance, in a supported and loving environment, to meet themselves head-on, face discomfort, and push their own limits, there’s a real magic that takes place. Showing up for our practice and for our community shows us that we are capable of showing up for ourselves. The healing that happens here continues to change the world, in a ripple-effect, once people step off their mat and back into their lives.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have a unique mix of interests, but what sets me apart from others is that I am dedicated to finding the points at which my passions intersect, and further, how they can serve others. As someone with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) I burn out easily in standard employment roles, and have never been able to survive a 9-5 type job for very long. In order to be fulfilled, I require lots of time spent engaging with my interests, and it has become my mission to design and nurture the kind of lifestyle that will allow me to support myself while I do that.

I barely made it through school, and have struggled in employment and relationships my entire adult life. I was lucky to find my yoga practice as early as I did, as a young teen.
I had my son, Parker, just after high school, and spent most of my twenties as a stay-at-home parent. I was certified to teach yoga in 2019 and I’ve since been lucky to rely heavily on the support of others, especially my mother, while enrolling in college classes to study Social Work and Addictions. I’ve also had the privilege of being certified in Y12SR (Yoga for 12 Step Recovery,) which continues to inspire me to meld my passions for yoga and chemical dependency counseling into something brand new.

Almost exactly one year ago (from the time of this interview) I quit my job cleaning houses and have since dedicated all of my work-hours to creating Ego House, defining my own brand, and building my social-media management skills.
I also launched a podcast called The Science of Being, which features practical bite-sized applications to help people find their inspiration and live a more mindful and fulfilled life. I am immensely privileged to have the freedom in my 30s to build something meaningful from the ground up.

It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been a linear or well-defined path, and I will continue to meet roadblocks but I am most excited to continue this journey, wherever it leads and share it with the people I love. I have learned that life really can’t be simplified into the pursuit of one destination. It’s the journey and how we show up for it, that makes us who we are.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This friend would be in for a week-long adventure full of all my favorite things!

First, I’d suggest a yoga class of course.
I’d either lead them in a practice under a shady tree at one of my favorite parks, or take them to Danja Yoga in Olde Towne East, where we’d flow and admire all the gorgeous plants around the studio. I appreciate that Danja is gay-owned and that they have a recovery-focused class offering on their schedule.

As far as parks go, I frequent High Banks (the river bluff entrance, not the typical one!) It’s a short and sweet circular trail with magical views of the river, forest, and lots of wildflowers. I also love Shale Hollow, and Blendon Woods Metro Parks for longer excursions.

When we got hungry, I’d probably suggest Bridge Park, Dublin, as its a newer development and is consistently adding new food spots to choose from, many inside North Market. Cap City and Kitchen Social are good bets for comforting fill-you-up kind of meals. Kona Grill is another good one in that area, I love their specialty lattes.

For an exciting evening out, we’d reserve a front row seat and enjoy a mocktail with live music at Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge, or a go see a stand-up comedy show at The Attic. Alternatively, the burlesque show at Forty Deuce Burlesque and Speakeasy is a must-see!

On a more relaxed afternoon we might hit up Penn and Beech to make our own candles, then get some coffee at Stauf’s and stroll around Grandview. Next, we’d pop into a crystal shop like Accent On Nature (also in Grandview) to marvel at their selection of rocks and fossils.

Lastly, I’d have to take this friend to Griggs Reservoir off Hayden Run, or to our newest metro park, Quarry Trails to see one of the two most amazing waterfalls in the area, then … probably another yoga class!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person responsible for passing on to me the guts it takes to pave one’s own path is my mother, Dr. Judy Cameron, owner of Owl and Ivy Coaching and Advocacy. My mom is a talented and highly-respected Nurse Practitioner, but she always had a spark that led her to seek more enjoyment, more time for herself and her 4 daughters, and more service to those who needed it.

I grew up posing for pictures that she would use in the brochure’s she made for her own businesses. I remember helping her design business cards, and happily playing guinea-pig for the assessment tools she’d use in sessions with her behavioral clients. I admire her ability to identify a need and her willingness to meet it, 9 times out of 10 with no benefit to herself. I’m endlessly grateful for the resources and inspiration that I find in her.

Instagram: @meganecameron_ https://www.instagram.com/meganecameron_/ and @egohousewellness https://www.instagram.com/egohousewellness/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Meganecameron

Other: My Podcast, The Science of Being on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0c3PlrlJVA7JZNJkAyC5sC?si=9abc3bb5cb39435f and @thescienceofbeing.podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thescienceofbeing.podcast/