Your Name: Laura McEgan
Job Title: Founder & Lead Teacher Trainer of Divine Light Yoga, a Yoga Alliance Registered Training School
What is your nationality and background?
I’m originally from the UK but have spent the last 12 years as a Global Adventurer, travelling and living in Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East, whilst sharing yoga and education with children and families. I spend most of my time between Thailand and Hong Kong and consider both to be home.
What is your profession?
Over the last three years, I have been dedicated to combining my three passions of travel, yoga and education to evolve my Children’s Yoga Teacher Trainings. I lead certified courses and workshops in Children’s Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness, worldwide and online – all aimed at educators, therapists and parents. Prior to this, I worked as an international primary school teacher and family support in Hong Kong, Dubai and the UK for over 15 years.
What are the key skills and responsibilities of this role?
My main responsibility is to share all of my knowledge, experience and inspiration in children’s yoga and mindfulness with parents, caregivers, educators, social workers, yoga teachers and therapists, most of whom become certified Children’s Yoga Teachers by completing our courses. A huge part of my role is to provide a therapeutic, supportive, open learning space for children and adults to feel empowered, inspired and creative.
How did you get involved in your profession?
I started my yoga journey 18 years ago as a teenager, when my grandmother introduced me to her yoga community (she still practices every day at the age of 79!) After delving deeper into the powerful healing effects of yoga and meditation, I felt a deep need to share this with the children and families that I worked with in education and home settings. Five years ago I eventually moved into the world of full-time yoga teaching, which transformed my life in many ways. It was an easy and obvious transition into become a Children’s Yoga Teacher Trainer. Now I can combine yoga, education and travel – my three biggest passions in life.
How does your role enhance the well-being or experience of children?
Through my work, I ensure that children and teens across the globe are receiving daily yoga, meditation and mindfulness at home and school. This teaches them life skills and essential techniques to support themselves through difficult experiences and emotions in their every day life. It enhances their ability to become emotionally-balanced, mentally-strong, compassionate, kind, creative individuals.
What challenges do you face in this role?
My biggest challenge is reaching families and communities that really need or want to implement yoga and mindfulness into children’s lives. As the trainings evolve, so does my ability to reach more communities, but there is still a long way to go. That is why i have spent the last year focusing on developing online courses and free online workshops to ensure that these much-needed tools and techniques are accessible to all.
What do you hope to achieve within your industry?
My grand vision is to see children, teens and families from all backgrounds, cultures, classes and countries having daily access to yoga and mindfulness, so that these life-changing, essential skills and techniques become ingrained into children’s behaviour, mindsets and daily life. Imagine what our community and our world would look like if children and families across the globe had life-long tools in self-regulation, compassionate communication, positive mindset, self-love and empathy!
Who or what inspires you?
I am so inspired by many people but I think my biggest inspirations are the children I work with (they are where I get ALL of my best ideas) and the natural world – being immersed in nature immediately sparks my creativity.
Only a Bangkok local would know…
The best yoga community and boutique yoga studio in Bangkok is Yogatique (they also have the best yoga clothing on sale).
Register your email address here and we’ll notify you when new articles get uploaded.
