Get Healthy Today! (877) 683-0448
Ultimate Chek Professional Award
The ULTIMATE CHEK PROFESSIONAL AWARD is given by Paul Chek of The C.H.E.K Institute based in Vista, CA. CHEK stands for Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology and is a philosophy of lifestyle coaching that has a exceptionally positive impact on client achievements of their personal goals. It awards a CHEK Certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Lifestyle Coach for exceptional successes with clients at a level beyond just physical training but emotional and spiritual coaching as well. Working with cases of brain injury and chronic disease management prove that a holistic approach provides long term success to even the most challenging lives and situations. Angie Lustrick has made it to the final round and is one out of three finalists for this award. On September 2nd, Angie will be giving a presentation about her journey from pre-diabetic to Holistic Lifestyle Practitioner and how that has impacted her clients, her business and her community. The attendees at this 3-day conference in San Diego, CA will ultimately decide the winner but in our book she is already the winner because she has helped so many people move forward to a happier, healthy life. Please send Angie good wishes and look for updates on this positive and wonderful opportunity for her and our Riverside community. This international exposure benefits us all.
A Spiritual Walking Journey
The labyrinth is a sacred symbol used by many cultures and religions found in ancient sites around the world, according to Cajalcolabyrinth. Com.
Cajalco Labyrinth also states that “In a maze, you can get lost, in a labyrinth, you can find yourself. Its purpose is to enhance your own spiritual journey to the center, allowing yourself to open up to the spirit and divinity of life.”
Like most people in January, with a new year before me, I have been contemplating my life and what changes I would like to see. Each year is like another chapter in a book, with new life lessons to learn and new opportunities to discover. With life appearing to “go faster” with each passing year, I feel it is important to stop and ponder where I have been and where I would like to go. Without a plan – an inner map- it is easy to go with the tide and get whisked off to some place that later you wished you didn’t go to. The best way to prevent this unconscious, un-voluntary travel through life is to stop, meditate, and reflect.
So, I set off to Cajalco labyrinth in Corona, Ca. This beautiful sacred land is a hidden gem that I feel everyone should see at least once. Labyrinths aren’t just for introspection but they also have amazing healing properties – there energy can be felt all around you, often becoming more intense as you reach the center.
Jenny and Harry Gotts own the Cajalco Labyrinths. They have two labyrinths on their property. Jenny gave me a tour of her property. She has many paths around her house and the labyrinths; thus, she was given the nickname, “Path”. Jenny is a highly skilled glass worker. Her work is found everywhere on the property – the benches, the stepping stones, and the yard art all have intricate glass work on them.
Jenny also does stain glass windows and has some amazing pieces in her home.
Each labyrinth has its own vibrational feel, which I believe is very personal and unique to each person. The labyrinth with the four directional tree in the center felt more contemplative and emotional to me. It pulled out deep reflections from me. I sat on the center bench just allowing emotions to bubble out of me – not trying to understand what I was feeling – just being. I sat a few moments in this introspection and then I felt a great emotional release that life’s challenges are there for a reason and I will get through these obstacles to find a much richer, happier future.
Labyrinth at Cajalco
Waypoint on Cajalco property
The other labyrinth felt much more grounding to me. I felt a deeper draw into the earth. At the center, I felt my whole body tingle, especially my hands, arms, and chest. The energy felt very soothing – healing – like my body was being cleansed from negative energies and emotional blocks.
I left Jenny’s property feeling rejuvenated, much like a really good night’s sleep.
I shall return.
Jenny’s property is very close to Glen Ivy Hot Springs (one exit away on the freeway). I decided to conclude my spiritual day with a bit more rest and rejuvenation at the spa – sulfur and mud paths, to detoxify and replenish.
Interestingly, I discovered two labyrinths on Glen Ivy’s property! I had never seen these before – they must be fairly new. Or, perhaps, I just wasn’t looking for them.
One labyrinth is outside the spa, as you walk up to the entrance. It has a very powerful feel in its center. For me, its energy was more powerful than the other three labyrinths I experienced today.
The other labyrinth is inside the park, at the very back – the most south end of the property. There is a salt pool right next to it and you can feel the energy from the labyrinth in your heart while lying by the pool. This labyrinth is tiny in comparison to the others yet its energy is very prominent –don’t let the size fool you.
At the end of my spiritual journey day, I may not have had any life changing epiphanies, yet I feel a deeper peace within myself that everything is happening the way it is supposed to. There are no accidents in life and everything is unfolding the way it is intended to.
Check out the write-up on Angie and her business, Angie’s World: http://www.inlandspiritawards.com/resources/images/BizPress_13_2010-10-18_Spirit.pdf
Check out this write-up on Angie: http://www.inlandspiritawards.com/resources/images/BizPress_13_2010-11-01_Spirit.pdf
Spirit Awards’ 21 finalists have compelling stories to tell and Angie’s story being one of them!
Check out the link to a great Press Enterprise article on the finalists for the Spirit of the Entrepreneur awards.http://www.inlandsocal.com/business/content/events/stories/PE_News_Local_D_bp_spirit18.a1307c.html
Those of you who know me know that I am a big advocate for meditation. In fact, I devote a complete chapter in my book: Body by Angie to the benefits of affirmations and meditation. I started this internal journey of the mind two years ago when I noticed very successful people were meditating. I was curious enough to buy Centerpointe’s meditation CDs and give it a try. Like anything in life, it takes time to see results. In fact, I was lousy at meditation for the first three months. I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right, I couldn’t stay awake, my mind would wander, and I almost gave up. But something inside me convinced me to stick with it and so I did.
After 3 months of “trying” to meditate, I realized that “trying” was part of the problem – meditation is that act of non-doing. And once I released all expectations, all desires, all ideas of what I was supposed to be doing -that’s when I started to fully meditate.
Meditation has changed my life in many ways. I am more clear on what I want in life, more focused in my daily activities, happier, and I have developed a sense of well being.
For this first year of meditation, I concentrated solely on Centerpointe’s Holosync meditations. After that, I started checking into other forms of meditation, including brain entrainment and affirmations. I even began taking classes locally to learn how others taught meditation.
Just last weekend I enrolled in a class offered at FUN yoga studios. The instructor’s name was Jyoti. After her class she passed out flyers to let us know that her yogi teacher was going to be in LA the following day. Interested, I called up my mom to join me.
On a whim, we jumped in the car the next morning at headed to LA to discover what a real life yogi master was like. Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath looked much like what you would expect Moses to look like – with his long, golden curly hair and white robes, despite his Indian accent. My mom and I listened as he talked about inner peace creating world peace. This inner peace comes from meditation, of course. 
We were so inspired by Yogirag’s positive energy that we ended up staying for the evening immersion to learn his particular meditation technique. So inspired that I ended up staying out till midnight on a work night! And let me tell you, it was so worth it! He taught me the most powerful meditation technique I have ever learned – I left charged and full of life from his immersion.
The next day, my staff was certain I would be super tired and sluggish. However, I came in to work that morning at 5:30 am feeling like I had slept 9 hours – charged and ready to take on the world! My positive energy was noticed by many that Monday morning and I couldn’t help but share my experience with everyone.
What this experience taught me was that life is a journey (duh!) but to be ready for the curves in the road. Don’t be afraid, follow your curiosities and interests, and marvel at where you end up. I ended up in LA on a work night, way past my bedtime, with a giant smile on my face.
El Rey Theater, Los Angeles
Yogiraj
To continue my experience with Gaiam, I was invited to eat at the cafeteria they have on site. I was really surprise when I saw the menu. They had really clean foods! In fact, they served many different vegetables (some from their own garden!) as well as natural meats. I tried their natural chicken, babaganoush (eggplant dish) as well as their broccoli. What an incredible meal! I remember sitting there eating it and realizing that it would be the best meal of my day. I was traveling back that day and we all know what airline/airport food is like. :(
At the cafeteria, I met the president of Gaiam. She was very warm and friendly. She immediately smiled at me and told me that I had an amazing spirit. :) That made me feel great.
After eating, I was very impressed
to see that Gaiam not only recycles, but they compost too! All the compost goes right into their garden.
Finally, we went out to the their garden. The garden was shaped in the Gaiam symbol and had herbs and vegetables inside it. On the outside where fruit trees and benches to sit.
All the employees work in the garden, each having a particular section they work on. As mentioned before, the veggies get used in the cafeteria or are
taken home by the employees.
I applaud Gaiam for the earth friendly
and creative environment that they provide
for their employees. My goal in sharing
my adventure with you is to inspire and
motivate all of us to take action, even in the
smallest of ways, to make a difference in
this world.
After the filming, I was invited to tour Gaiam since I had a late flight. Andrea and Suzanna were my official tour guides. (I apologize now for the different fonts and weird picture posting. I have never posted so many pics on a blog before and my computer started to do crazy things!)
First I got to check out their amazing gym. I was really impressed with how big their gym was.
This company really was investing in their employees’ health.
The equipment was state of the art and the gym was extremely clean.
It made me want to work out! This gym was located in the Spiritual Cinema Circle Filming building.
We then went to the main building of Gaiam.
Here is Suzanna checking me in at the front desk with Kate.
These awards were on the left side when you enter.
When you walked into the building, you could feel the good energy all around you.
These collages were on the right wall of entrance
As we ascended the stairs, I was shown a room with all their products on display.
Gaiam is associated with The Firm workout DVDs, Reebok products, Spri exercise foam rollers
and other equipment, many organic products like clothing, towels, and other linens, as well as fair trade products.
Throughout the tour, Gaiam has beautiful crystals and geodes in every corner and
in their hallways. They were so striking, I took pictures of every single one!
I must admit, I had to touch them and feel their energy. Andrea told me that they cleaned them often so it was ok.
(I hope I don’t get you into trouble Andrea!)
I loved how they incorporated the crystals, with live green plants, and statues.
I loved all their attention to detail and how they incorporated earthly elements into the work space.
There sitting areas, meditation areas, and relaxation areas were all
comfortable and artistic. 
I was introduced to the entire staff at Gaiam. Everyone there was extremely friendly and appeared very happy to work there.
Plants hung off of every cubicle area to bring nature in to the work place. You could also see metal hexagon structures hanging from the ceilings. I asked Suzanna about them and she said they were there to capture creative ideas.
And finally, it was no surprise that I really enjoyed seeing the dogs in the Natural Habitat office (their partner company).
Many of the employees bring their dogs to work with them. At my own company, Angie’s World, I also bring
my dog, Maggie, to work!
Maggie at Angie's World
Stepping into the studio to film for volume 11 was an extraordinary experience. Everyone was busy doing their job – camera crew setting up their equipment, the editor and coordinators discussing what needed to be filmed, Stephen Simon getting ready to shoot, and a welcoming staff to make me comfortable through the process. So much detail and organization goes on behind the scenes. Let me share with you some of my photos:
Setting up for a full day of filming
Before I got on the set, I had my hair and make-up done:
Getting my make-up done back stage
And then being micro-phoned:
Finally, it was show time!
Stephen, me, and Gail
A pic of Amina (October’s Issue Featured Guest), Gail (Director/Producer of “The Right Friend”), and me:
Some pics of the crew after filming:
