Nature Coast Yoga Teachers' Association: NCYTA (formerly Spirit Springs Yoga Teachers' Association: SSYTA) was formed by graduate students of the NCYTA teacher training course taught by Jane Shaw, founder of Spirit Springs Yoga Center, and Laxmikant Sukhatankar, PhD, senior teacher at the Yoga Institute at Bombay, India.
The organization filled the need to be spiritually connected to like-minded teachers for sharing their aspirations, experiences, information and to promote community participation in yoga classes. As the popularity of yoga grew and new yoga teachers who were not graduates of the Spirit Springs course but who graduated from credentialed teacher training courses were teaching in the area they were welcomed to membership and became active participants in the Mission Statement of NCYTA.
SSYTA Mission Statement is based on the word SACRED
Share the Sacred and Timeless Teachings of Yoga
Advance our Personal Knowledge and Teaching Skills
Create a Community Where All May Express the Wisdom of Different Paths for Spiritual Growth
Reach Out to Each Other with Compassion, Acceptance, and Love
Explore Ways to Expand Local Awareness and Participation in Yoga Classes
Demonstrate by Our Lives Rightful Living, Rightful Livelihood, Rightful Action.
HISTORY OF FOUNDER JANE SHAW
The organization filled the need to be spiritually connected to like-minded teachers for sharing their aspirations, experiences, information and to promote community participation in yoga classes. As the popularity of yoga grew and new yoga teachers who were not graduates of the Spirit Springs course but who graduated from credentialed teacher training courses were teaching in the area they were welcomed to membership and became active participants in the Mission Statement of NCYTA.
SSYTA Mission Statement is based on the word SACRED
Share the Sacred and Timeless Teachings of Yoga
Advance our Personal Knowledge and Teaching Skills
Create a Community Where All May Express the Wisdom of Different Paths for Spiritual Growth
Reach Out to Each Other with Compassion, Acceptance, and Love
Explore Ways to Expand Local Awareness and Participation in Yoga Classes
Demonstrate by Our Lives Rightful Living, Rightful Livelihood, Rightful Action.
HISTORY OF FOUNDER JANE SHAW
- 1989 I taught my first yoga class in Crystal River at Body Works aerobic studio. My first yoga teacher training class was with Sam Dworkis an Iyengar trained instructor. I hauled mats and rolls of carpet in my car.
Some students that had been to my house suggested we hold classes there so Bill gave up his three car carport and workshop, installed screens and sliding vinyl panels. I held classes on the concrete floor cushioned with the same carpet rolls I hauled to Body Works. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter but the classes popular and kept increasing. - In 1994 the No Name Storm hit and the building was flooded. Bill decided that as long as the building had to be repaired we might as well convert it to a real studio. Floor to ceiling glass windows, a bathroom (before we had to leave class and walk to the house to use the bathroom), carpeting, an office, storage room and central air conditioning transformed the place into a beautiful yoga studio.
- In 1997 Laxmikant Sukhatankar,PhD and I held our first yoga teacher training class.
- In 2000 deep in the hammock, we built four duplex cabins and a bathhouse to accommodate the many students and groups who came for weekend workshops and retreats.
- By 2003 Bill and I were overwhelmed with the work it took to manage all the events and yoga classes. We put the property up for sale and in 2005 it sold to three individuals who, unfortunately, used it for their personal use and Spirit Springs Yoga Center was no longer available for public enjoyment.