AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT - MEGAN LERA
First things first tell us a bit about yourself + where you grew up!
I grew up in Orlando, FL and moved to Los Angeles, CA when I turned 22! As a young girl, I always knew I wanted to be in a creative city and LA was always it for me. I grew up in an amazing home with the most loving parents who always supported my goals and dreams. Being in the entertainment industry was always my passion and making the move here made it possible to get my career started as an actress. Now, everybody knows, it’s the toughest industry and only the strong survive the journey. I’m lucky because fitness was always so complimentary to my entertainment career due to having to look/feel my best at all times. I hired my first personal trainer when I was 19 years old and that’s when my health journey officially started.
How did you get started in the fitness industry?
I love this question. I first started as a personal training client which got me excited about fitness and opened up a curiosity to learn. From there, I had more trainers when I moved to LA and was constantly asking them questions about workouts. At one point, when money became tight for me, I had to transition into doing my own workouts at the gym, without a trainer, and found home workouts through the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide. I thought they were the perfect way to have guidance on a budget, because, let’s be honest - gyms can be overwhelming, so I would take my guidebook, play my music and do my workout. One day, a trainer at the gym came over to me, asking questions about my program since he saw me there regularly. We ended up becoming training partners when he had his lunch break and worked out together. We had the most fun! He taught me so much about fitness and I’m so grateful for his knowledge. I still think of him to this day and hope he’s well.
One day when I was supposed to be having a rest day, I felt the need to move my body and walked to a pilates studio down the street from my house. I instantly fell in love! It was my first group fitness class and I was so challenged and moved by the energy in the room - it was unlike what I had experienced before. I worked reception for the studio in exchange for a membership and eventually got certified to teach the Lagree Method. After 2 years of teaching, I became a studio manager and social media director which fit beautifully with my love for client relations - I truly love and enjoy humans so getting to interact with people daily was a highlight for me.
We all know how 2020 went but amidst all of the craziness, I’m so grateful for the time that it gave me to start my own business. It was time - my time. My time to step into a role that I didn’t know I was learning to step into for years and years prior. I’m all about making moves so I used the opportunity to start my own online business. I started on Instagram Live and officially launched my own platform last July: Movement by Megan AKA MxM Fitness. I’m a certified group-fitness instructor and soon-to-be NASM CPT! So exciting.
Why did you choose to be an E&R ambassador?
Aside from falling IN LOVE with the tie-dye sets, I love everything E&R stands for. I love that you’re a local, small business and as a new business owner who knows the hustle that goes into starting a company, I admired you all so much. The attention to detail, customer connections and overall vibe of the company is built on such a strong foundation that I absolutely wanted to be a part of.
Why did you choose to be an E&R ambassador?
What advice would you give to other people in pursuit of their passions?
Aside from falling IN LOVE with the tie-dye sets, I love everything E&R stands for. I love that you’re a local, small business and as a new business owner who knows the hustle that goes into starting a company, I admired you all so much. The attention to detail, customer connections and overall vibe of the company is built on such a strong foundation that I absolutely wanted to be a part of.
Work hard. Really hard. Always ask questions. Always be willing to learn. I’ve never stopped learning and having an openness to know more. Whether it’s with acting or my job as a personal trainer, I’ve always found that putting in the work gives the most rewarding results. There are so many ups and downs but having the downs, as challenging as they can be, truly prepare us for all that is ahead. There’s a beauty in pursuing your passions; you’re also pursuing a better understanding of yourself.
What’s the method to the madness of virtual fitness?
Be prepared for technical glitches! Haha. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with technology but ultimately I’m so grateful for it being a connecting tool to many, incredible individuals.
The method: Be yourself, be genuine, engage with your community and have strong energy that can move people emotionally through the screen. Fitness isn’t just physical - it’s mental and having a coach who is truly in it with you makes such a huge difference/impact.
Favorite type of workout?
Gosh, this is so tough! I love them all for different reasons.I believe our bodies can benefit from different types of workouts which is why my program offers strength + endurance training, core sculpting, balance and flexibility all in one. Simply put: I love pilates-style workouts for getting a deep core engagement while focusing on my balance and I love strength training for feeling strong and powerful.
Guilty pleasure?
SWEETS. All of them. Cake, cookies, sour candy - I love it all and have no limits with them.
What advice would you give to other people in pursuit of their passions?
Work hard. Really hard. Always ask questions. Always be willing to learn. I’ve never stopped learning and having an openness to know more. Whether it’s with acting or my job as a personal trainer, I’ve always found that putting in the work gives the most rewarding results. There are so many ups and downs but having the downs, as challenging as they can be, truly prepare us for all that is ahead. There’s a beauty in pursuing your passions; you’re also pursuing a better understanding of yourself.
Guilty pleasure?
SWEETS. All of them. Cake, cookies, sour candy - I love it all and have no limits.
Where can we find your workouts and how can we sign up?
You can follow me on Instagram at @movementbymegan and start your 7-day free trial by visiting movementbymegan.com | I offer LIVE weekly classes + 100’s of On-Demand workouts for a low-monthly subscription. There’s also a single class rental option as well! …Let’s make moves.
How did you get started in the fitness industry?
I love this question. I first started as a personal training client which got me excited about fitness and opened up a curiosity to learn. From there, I had more trainers when I moved to LA and was constantly asking them questions about workouts. At one point, when money became tight for me, I had to transition into doing my own workouts at the gym, without a trainer, and found home workouts through the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide. I thought they were the perfect way to have guidance on a budget, because, let’s be honest - gyms can be overwhelming, so I would take my guidebook, play my music and do my workout. One day, a trainer at the gym came over to me, asking questions about my program since he saw me there regularly. We ended up becoming training partners when he had his lunch break and worked out together. We had the most fun! He taught me so much about fitness and I’m so grateful for his knowledge. I still think of him to this day and hope he’s well.
One day when I was supposed to be having a rest day, I felt the need to move my body and walked to a pilates studio down the street from my house. I instantly fell in love! It was my first group fitness class and I was so challenged and moved by the energy in the room - it was unlike what I had experienced before. I worked reception for the studio in exchange for a membership and eventually got certified to teach the Lagree Method. After 2 years of teaching, I became a studio manager and social media director which fit beautifully with my love for client relations - I truly love and enjoy humans so getting to interact with people daily was a highlight for me.
We all know how 2020 went but amidst all of the craziness, I’m so grateful for the time that it gave me to start my own business. It was time - my time. My time to step into a role that I didn’t know I was learning to step into for years and years prior. I’m all about making moves so I used the opportunity to start my own online business. I started on Instagram Live and officially launched my own platform last July: Movement by Megan AKA MxM Fitness. I’m a certified group-fitness instructor and soon-to-be NASM CPT! So exciting.
What’s the method to the madness of virtual fitness?
Be prepared for technical glitches! Haha. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with technology but ultimately I’m so grateful for it being a connecting tool to many, incredible individuals.
The method: Be yourself, be genuine, engage with your community and have strong energy that can move people emotionally through the screen. Fitness isn’t just physical - it’s mental and having a coach who is truly in it with you makes such a huge difference/impact.
Yoga is sacred to me. I’m always trying to make enough space for my own daily yoga practice which I don’t show on social media, so that I can fully be present and surrender my ego. I feel like in this time and age we often forget the true principles of yoga and only see these mesmerizing poses, and the ego keeps feeding off of that. So right now, what I’m trying to do is coming back to reason why I started yoga in the first place, because it made me feel good and helped me to relax, and not to get into any advanced poses at all.
Where can we find your workouts and how can we sign up?
You can follow me on Instagram at @movementbymegan and start your 7-day free trial by visiting movementbymegan.com | I offer LIVE weekly classes + 100’s of On-Demand workouts for a low-monthly subscription. There’s also a single class rental option as well! …Let’s make moves.