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WHO WE ARE
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
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​ ​ My name is Samantha Fortunas and I am the founder of Island Fit Stand Up Paddleboard and Yoga. I have deep roots in the St. George Island area. My grandfather was born in the quaint city of Apalachicola. His parents, Greek immigrants, came to the area to pursue the family legacy of sponge diving. Our family, The Fortunas Family, also once owned Little St. George Island, the island directly west of main St. George. Therefore it is no surprise that I have salt water pulsing through my veins. I was introduced to Stand Up Paddleboarding eight years ago and fell in love with it ever since. There is nothing like the sensation of being able to stand on water and SUP’ing fit right into my goals of living a healthy lifestyle. After graduating from Florida State University I became a Certified Paddle Fit Instructor in order to spread my love for Stand Up Paddleboarding and to share the spirit of adventure that I find when out on a Stand Up Paddleboard. Stand Up Paddleboarding is a great way to get that all over body workout, while also enjoying nature. I created Island Fit Stand Up Paddleboard and Yoga as a unique way to promote health, fitness, spirituality and environmental consciousness in the St. George Sound area. Island Fit SUP & Yoga offers a variety of classes and lessons to allow clients, from beginners to avid paddlers to gain the benefits of SUP’ing and have fun too! Join me in one of my lessons or classes and you will be hooked on Stand Up Paddleboarding!
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CAPTAIN DAN
This is my father Dan Fortunas. He is surely my main influence and and an amazing role model. He helps me with Island Fit SUP and Yoga and I book all of his charters for Fortunas Family Charters. Dan has always lived an active lifestyle. He has raced both mountain bikes and road bikes and is a USCF certified cycling coach. He is a black belt in Karate and also practices varying types of martial arts. He is a grand prix winner in Gulf Winds Track club in Tallahassee. He is also a finisher of the Leadville 100 mile ultra marathon and many other ultra's. Dan is also one of the best Charter Captain's on the Forgotten Coast! Dan enjoys hunting, fishing, stand up paddleboarding and personal training. As his daughter, I can tell you that he is the most motivating person I have ever met and an excellent coach. Together we run both Island Fit Stand Up Paddleboard & Yoga and Fortunas Family Charters. The Fortunas Family, father daughter duo, is looking forward to being out on the water with you!
MY YOGA JOURNEY
A couple years into running my dream business teaching paddleboard lessons, I decided to expand. I wanted to add Yoga to the mix because I thought it would mesh well with paddleborading and I ultimately wanted to add paddleboard yoga to my offerings. I told myself "Hey, I'm into fitness and health. Yoga is right up my ally." and boy was I right! But what I didn't expect was the spiritual and emotional transformation I gained by becoming a Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher.
My Journey began in the winter of 2013 when I traveled to Maui to do an extensive Yoga Certification at the Maui Yoga Shala. I became a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in Hatha Yoga. I learned asana, alignment and opened my body, mind, and spirit to the teachings of Yoga. I gained the realization that overall wellness is a "union" of not only physical well being, but mental and emotional wellness too. During my stay on Maui I became more aligned and in tune with how important it is to create this balance between our inner self and outer self. Thus my Beach Yoga class was born. I came back wanting to cultivate an offering that could benefit anyone regardless of fitness level. Now, I describe my weekly Beach Yoga class as a " vacation" based course because it apply's to everyone from beginners to advance yoga practitioners who is ready to RELAX. In my class we breath, watch and listen to the waves. We gain all the physical and mental benefits from relaxing and stretching too. I invite you to bring your beach towel, take a deep breath and join me at my next Beach Yoga class on beautiful St. George Island!