Thrive Guide

Megan MacCarthy

About

Megan has sought self-healing through wisdom traditions and embodiment modalities her whole life. After owning a yoga studio for 10 years and teaching everything from vinyasa flow to restorative yoga, she now leads retreats and on site teacher trainings full time with her husban...
Megan has sought self-healing through wisdom traditions and embodiment modalities her whole life. After owning a yoga studio for 10 years and teaching everything from vinyasa flow to restorative yoga, she now leads retreats and on site teacher trainings full time with her husband Michael at their custom built home studio in Ireland. Her specialty is Somatic Yoga which is a gentle, playful practice where the natural spaces of contraction, expansion and relaxation are entwined with the breath. She is also a believer in the blog and believes you can learn to write to embody.

Her greatest joy is making you a place. Retreats are small and intimate, offering a sacred sanctuary for stories, tears, laughter and love. Accompanied by like-minded students, you can courageously re-invigorate your inner realm.

On retreat, you leave behind your human “doing-ness” and explore your human “being-ness”. As cliche as it sounds, when your basic needs are being cared for, the fluid response is to follow your heart; without external expectations, pride, or fear of failure or change. We often unconsciously live in the results of other people’s thinking, particularly now with social media and the constant barrage of information. Retreats are pattern disruptors. You are afforded still and quiet to find your unique voice, beliefs and purpose. The focus is not on “doing” or “having”; it is on “being” and “feeling”, and the subsequent expression of such.

Embodiment is not something we do, it is a way we live our lives. A retreat is a physical and spiritual place to remember and return - “remember your authentic self” and “return to joy”. Don’t think of it as a path to anything or anyone. A retreat is where we learn to wake up to what is with acceptance and kindness. As our world changes, we are asked to continually redefine, respond and adapt to external changes. A retreat can serve as the anchor for when the storm hits. And you are gratefully tethered to the support of the new friends you made!

Megan has been blessed to live on lakes and in mountains. She befriends nature and knows the importance of environment. Retreats positively influence the heart and are most nourishing in a place of natural beauty, where you feel held. The amazement of a landscape can connect us to an energy greater than ourselves. This is what you will experience on their rural yet conveniently placed 7 acre property. Megan and Michael will fill you with conscious cooking from the heart and feed the body with locally sourced (from their polytunnel when possible!) magic and love.

Megan believes the way to joy is inward. Curiously exploring the heart as the spiritual feminine serves as the frame for her ongoing awakening.
Megan has over 300 videos practices on YouTube that include Somatic Yoga, Slow Flow, Yin Yoga, meditations and Yoga Therapy. You can get to know her, try her teaching style and see the studio in her most recent videos filmed on location in Ireland!
Megan has over 300 videos practices on YouTube that include Somatic Yoga, Slow Flow, Yin Yoga, meditations and Yoga Therapy. You can get to know her, try her teaching style and see the studio in her most recent videos filmed on location in Ireland!
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Wake with curiosity. Choose Love. Go to bed with amazement.
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Retreat Specialties

accessible, healing practices for extraordinary people with ordinary bodies on our beautiful property. We offer small (3-8 people), custom retreats year round at our 7 acre home in Ireland where we just built a yoga chalet, yoga wall and all! And we love to take you hiking to enjoy the mountains and the sea.

Teaching Specialties

I take a light hearted approach in teaching functional practices including somatic yoga, meditation, pranayama, tantra, yoga therapy and writing. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned spiritual soul, my gift is the ability to meet you on your terms and encourage you to find daily rituals you are passionate about. I will remind you that you are a gorgeous human being so you can let that energy spill over to others in your life.

What are your favorite Retreat Venues around the world

Sheep's Head Peninsula, West Cork Ireland. I have lead several retreats combining two of my favorite activities - yoga and hiking! I rented a private home and only took 12-14 people.. We begin and end the day with different yoga and meditation practices, sprinkle in live sound healing and take to the trails through ancient livestock paths and rugged coastal cliffs. The setting is simple but nourishing and brilliantly beautiful. It brings me great joy to see how the participants still maintain their friendships. I consider Ireland my spiritual home, and am blessed to live here full time now, which also opens up possibilities for retreats in other European destinations as well. My favorite venue and experience as a retreat participant was at Yogaville in Virginia, USA with my teacher Nischala Devi in 2013. She lead a women's retreat for about 20 lovely goddesses. We stayed in a private home on the mountain at the ashram and I practiced intentional spiritual silence (mauna), which was difficult at the time, but a practice I now cherish.

What's your personal definition of what it means to thrive?

To thrive is to have the tools to bring the truest version of you to the planet every day.

Who do you look up to ? Who has helped you the most along your teacher / retreat leader journey?

Nischala Joy Devi, my spiritual teacher that I have been blessed to train and retreat with for the past decade. She encouraged me to explore the power of the Divine Feminine and bring the emotional heart into my meditation. Michael Mattioli, my husband/co-facilitator/brilliant sound healer on retreats, audio and video guru; he holds a mirror for me to see myself more clearly and embody love. My yoga therapy soul sisters from Inner Peace's 31 day Austin immersion; you are inspiring, beautiful healers. The Healing Touch Program, for providing safe mountain space in a retreat setting during my dark days; I learned the value of subtle body energy healing on myself. Sister Mary Wolff, my Trinity High School religion teacher; you let us sing spiritual songs in class instead of study and encouraged me to take my first retreat when it was totally "uncool".

Megan MacCarthy's Videos

Take a virtual visit to our retreat space 🙂
Take a virtual visit to our retreat space 🙂
Every day Somatic Yoga practice with a view of our property
Every day Somatic Yoga practice with a view of our property
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