SHANTI YOGA STUDIO
LEADERSHIP
Natasha Blevins, owner of Shanti Yoga Studio, has practiced yoga for over 10 years. She originally approached yoga as another type of workout but quickly discovered there was more to the practice. Natasha knew from early on that she wanted to teach yoga one day but had to wait until the timing was right. She continued practicing, often on her own, and growing her practice, working through injuries obtained from her weightlifting and always wanting to get back to the mat.
Through a series of unfortunate circumstances and the COVID pandemic, Natasha was afforded the opportunity to pursue her dreams of teaching yoga. In 2021, after graduating teacher training, she joined the team at Shanti Yoga and has continued to pour her passion into the practice and into her teaching. The yoga practice has helped to guide Natasha through multiple hardships in the years since she graduated teacher training, and have provided her with tools to help her navigate those situations in a healthy manner. Having a dream to one day own her own studio, taking over as owner of Shanti Yoga felt like the natural next step when the opportunity arose.
Natasha is known for her strong classes that challenge her students while also holding space for compassionate movement. She believes in guiding her students safely to meet their goals and discover their limitless abilities. Having experienced injuries throughout her yoga life, Natasha is especially attuned to ensuring students use correct alignment and also honor their bodies and where they are at the time of practicing. One of her favorite phrases often used in a yoga class is, “Listen to your body and provide it with what it needs, whether that’s strength or compassion.”
Yoga has been a place of grounding and growth for Natasha and her mission is to provide the same for her students. She recognizes how much yoga has helped her to grow spiritually, physically, and mentally over the years and desires to bring that same gift to others..
MENTOR
Sissy Castillo was introduced to yoga in 2014 at a pivotal moment in her life, helping her transform from a path of self-destruction to one of growth. Under the guidance of her teacher, Sissy discovered yoga’s healing power, which helped her build healthy habits to cope with personal struggles regarding mental, emotional and physical health.
In 2020, during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, Sissy accepted ownership of Shanti Yoga, feeling a strong calling to make a positive impact and support others through challenging times. She's committed over 10 years to her own practice and studies, and the last 8 years to sharing yoga in Myrtle Beach and inspiring positive change in her hometown community.
During her tenure as owner, Sissy served as a mentor to Natasha; having brought her on as a teacher not long after she took ownership of the studio. Helping to guid her in her growth as a practitioner but also as an individual. She helped to prepare Natasha for her eventual transition into ownership of Shanti while also helping her to move through both physical and mental limitations in her personal practice. Sissy played an integral role in making Shanti what it is today and helping to build the community. Her dedication to the practice of yoga has touched many lives over the years and will continue to do so through the teachers she's trained.
