iGnite's Beginnings

Founder Neissa Brown Springmann relates the personal journey that led to the creation of iGnite.

In the summer of 2006 I realized I desperately needed to make life and career changes. I had a successful gymnastics business, a growing personal training business, and a wonderful marriage, but it became clear I was living a very hectic yet robotic life. I had become spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally stagnant—a hamster running in a wheel, always moving, but going nowhere. I hated the way I felt, but didn’t know how to change it. And while I knew this wasn’t God’s intention for my life, I lacked even the energy to pray for His guidance.

Inspiration would come in July of 2006 when I visited Lake Placid, New York to witness my first Iron Man Triathlon. The beauty and simplicity of the area stirred emotions that had been suppressed. I felt I was finally able breathe again. The triathletes—raw and imperfect, yet precise in their form—spoke to me. Their spirit and courage inspired me. I saw ordinary people doing extraordinary things and thought: why not me?

The answer was immediate. Not only did I lack time for the most important parts of my life—God, husband, family, friends—I most certainly did not have time to train for a triathlon. But I realized that competing wasn’t what was calling to me. What inspired me were the feelings of freedom that came when I thought about training.

Shortly after I returned home and on my way to work, I saw a spectacular sunrise, and for the first time in three months, I had the energy to pray. In my prayer I explained to God I had no idea what He wanted me to do, but that I knew what I currently was doing was not part of His plan for me anymore. I explained that I was ready to listen and I would do whatever it was that He wanted me to do. It seemed as though the sunrise turned even more vibrant, and in seconds everything became crystal clear—I had the answer! With the support of my business partner and my husband, I sold my interest in the gymnastics business and relocated to Austin from Round Rock. These otherwise complicated changes went so smoothly that I knew I was doing the right thing.

When August arrived, my husband and I traveled to Santa Monica, California to vacation. The organic beauty of the ocean, sunrises and sunsets inspired me further. I could feel the concept of what would become iGnite brewing, though I couldn’t completely wrap my arms around it. But faith told me everything would somehow fit together in time. And after just one short month of deep exploration with a very good friend, iGnite was created.

My hope is that you will find each iGnite journey to be as profoundly inspiring in your own life as its creation was in mine.