Creating inner peace: Yoga studio passion project for Jackson instructor

Megan McCall, owner of Divine Light Yoga with Megan at 1335 Old Cape Road in Jackson, has been fascinated with yoga since she was little, watching VHS tapes in her family’s living room.

“I’ve always been attracted to yoga and how it makes you feel afterwards,” McCall said. “… I just love it. It’s truly my passion.”

When her children’s taekwondo instructor was looking for someone to teach yoga at his ATA Legends martial arts school, she agreed, becoming certified in yoga instruction in 2023. She taught classes there and at Prep Athletics gym in Cape Girardeau. In June 2024, McCall moved into her own studio, which she named Divine Light.

“One of my favorite yoga instructor friends, she always talks about this divine light and how we all have this light within us, and yoga and meditation and certain things can really strengthen, can really illuminate that light. That always resonated with me, so I was like, I’m going to run with that,” she said.

She moved into a former boutique a friend had run that just happened to be available; McCall called it divine timing. Her niece designed a logo featuring half the moon, half the sun and a near-complete infinity symbol.

“And then there’s a little piece missing, and that’s where we come in,” McCall said.

Focus and relaxation

McCall teaches Vinyasa Flow yoga, in which participants seamlessly transition from one pose to the next. Each of her classes, which are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, feature new routines to stretch different muscles and to prevent the yoga from becoming too repetitive.

“A lot of yoga is the same poses over and over again. Mine will always be different, always be changing. It’s my favorite kind of yoga,” she said.

Some Saturday classes even feature heated yoga, designed for additional relaxation and cleansing, she said. These lessons are identical to her regular ones, with the temperature cranked up. Drop-in classes are $15 apiece. Practitioners can also buy 10-class punch card for $100.

McCall said it is important for yoga practitioners to attend in-person classes so their instructors can teach them correct alignment on any poses they do. If the alignment is off, students risk injury. While some aches might be natural because of the strength required for various poses, McCall said yoga should never seriously hurt. In that respect, she focuses on teaching proper techniques to students of all skill and experience levels.

“I really focus on my students. I want to meet them where they are emotionally,” McCall said. “… I say all my classes are open to everybody because every single thing I do there’s a modification if need be.”

Most classes at Divine Light have between one and 10 participants. Though the studio can hold up to 15 students, McCall said she enjoys teaching the smaller classes so she can help each student individually if need be. Lights are dimmed, candles are lit, and McCall leads her class in a judgment-free environment. Each session begins and ends with gentle breathing techniques.

“I like to make sure that everybody is doing things appropriately so they can get the most out of my classes,” she said. “… When people come to me, they should expect to be somewhat physically challenged … and you’re going to be relaxed.”

Achieving transcendence

Yoga is not the only exercise McCall plans to teach at Divine Light, nor is it the only relaxation method. She is close to receiving a certification to teach Pilates. She also holds private reiki sessions.

“I want to start to be a whole wellness studio. I’m going to meet you where you are is my big thing … physically, mentally, spiritually,” she said.

For her yoga classes, McCall took an online program called Drishti Beats and complemented it by taking classes locally and on vacation. She said she enjoys visiting different studios and getting a feel of what other instructors are doing.

“I feel like the best way to learn is through other peoples’ experiences and your own,” she said.

In the process of helping others’ minds, bodies and souls, McCall said she has grown closer to her faith. Religion and spirituality intertwine in the practice, and she said yoga has helped her connect more with Christianity. A small figurine of Jesus Christ fit perfectly into a notch in the studio wall, supporting the students as they practice their poses.

Above all, McCall said she wants her students to experience inner peace through her lessons. That, above all else, is what she works toward.

“I’ve never not had people have it at the end of class,” she said.

Do you want more business news? Check out B Magazine, and the B Magazine email newsletter. Go to www.semissourian.com/newsletters to find out more.