Megan Buncher

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Megan! I’m 19, I’m a senior at UCLA, and I’m a teen teacher at UPLIFT Yoga Foundation. At UCLA, I study psychology and run the UPLIFT at UCLA club - a club where we foster deep, meaningful connection on the basis of yoga, meditation, journaling, and all things mental health. It’s also a small part of UPLIFT, which is a nonprofit focused on bringing yoga and mindfulness to teens. But, it’s actually so much more than that. We’re showing teens how to love and understand themselves, and how to step into their authentic selves.

 

What's your connection to Orange County?

I grew up in Orange County! It saddens me that I’m in LA for college because Orange County has a special place in my heart. I love its beaches, its communities, and its traditions! For example, my family and I always go to Ladera Ranch for Fourth of July to watch the fireworks. And there’ll always be a certain nostalgia about Dana Point Harbor from all of the family walks we went on there while I was growing up.  

 

Share a little about your outlook on life…

I am all about authenticity. My life’s mission is to help others recognize beliefs and standards that aren’t theirs, all so that they can live out their truest, most beautiful life! Without even being aware of it, we pick up so many expectations that don’t align with who we are at our core. I know, for me, I thought I had to get multiple degrees, choose a career that makes lots of money, and pretend I wasn’t struggling with my mental health while I was at it. But, if I’ve learned anything from studying psychology and my many years in therapy, it’s that being inauthentic is a direct road to depression. To me, a beautiful world is a world where everyone can be themselves!

 

What's your favorite book?

Am I allowed to say a few? Untamed, You Are a Badass, and The Gifts of Imperfection. But, if there’s one that you need to read right this moment, it’s The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. It encompasses everything this world needs - compassion, resilience, play and rest. And, of course, I love that one of the first chapters is about authenticity.

 

What's your favorite self-care activity?

I love to meditate because it’s like a justifiable nap. Particularly, I love UPLIFT’s original meditation “OWN IT” because it simply works. OWN IT is an acronym, so every letter is a step in the meditation. O is for observe how you feel with compassion. W is for witness sounds and sensations. N is for now go to your happy place. I is for I am grateful for… And, finally, T is for tune into possibility: manifest a life you love. Try it out for yourself! Just get comfy, close your eyes, and follow the steps. Personally, I like to OWN IT every morning in bed because it’s a great way to start my day off on the right foot. 

 

How did you discover the practice of yoga?

Since I teach yoga now, I love telling people how much I hated my first yoga class. I was 16, and my friend invited me to an advanced hot yoga class. And an advanced class can be at least 100 degrees! I still remember hiding on my mat in Child’s Pose plotting my escape. Fortunately, it didn’t scare me enough that I didn’t want to try yoga again when I heard about UPLIFT Yoga Foundation. It was at UPLIFT that I fell in love with yoga. Not as an exercise, but as a way of life - as cliché as it sounds. Fun fact! The Sanskrit root of “yoga” is “yuj,” which means “to unite.” So, essentially, yoga is about connection. It’s about connecting people, connecting to nature, and connecting the mind and the body. 

 

How have yoga and meditation impacted your mental health?

It is tempting for me to give a lengthy answer here because the impact is immense. Yoga is so much more than a practice for your body. It’s also for your mind. Yoga taught me patience, non-judgement, and compassion - to list a few. These were all qualities I needed to help me in approaching my mental health. Meditation, on the other hand, does more for my body than it does for my mind. It showed me how to be still, and how to notice how different emotions felt within my body. With meditation and yoga combined, I was able to pull myself out of my depression. And I continue to rely on these practices to keep me grounded and true to myself.

 

What encouragement do you have for fellow young adults?

As blunt as it may come across, I say this with so much love… Do the inner work. Stop figuring out how to look good on the outside, and start figuring out how to feel good on the inside. Detangle all of your fears and limiting beliefs, and investigate where they stem from. Once you’ve done that, you get to explore who you are. Then, everything falls into place. Your passions and your purpose become crystal clear.

 

Why attend community mental health events, like those hosted by UPLIFT Yoga Foundation and Connect-OC?

Attend them because then you realize it wasn’t just you! You are not alone. As unique or isolated as your situation may feel, there’s someone out there that’s also going through it; that gets it! It is so important that we talk about mental health because all of these collective experiences rise to the surface. The more we can demystify such experiences, the more we can refine our resources and share them with the world!