Crystal began her wellness journey in college. She took a yoga course just to fill units and fell in love. There she met her yogi mentor for life, Erika Faith Calig. At the time, Erika was teaching at California, State University, Fullerton and opened Crystal’s mind and heart to a new philosophy of life. After graduation, Crystal studied with Erika at her Cloud Nine Yoga School and completed a 200hr YTT and a 300hr YTT.
Over the next decade, Crystal explored many paths as a model, actress, artist, volunteer, and hospitality extraordinaire. Health and wellness became the foundation of all her success because her body was her temple and taking care of herself was her top priority. She became a sober queen on 11/11/2012. She learned to meditate in the Vedic way. She learned about personal training and became obsessed with resistance training and long-distance running. She has completed 3 marathons thus far. Cold-pressed juicing, plant-based eating, and practicing Ahimsa in all aspects of life were imperative to Crystal.
In 2015, Crystal moved to New York to experience a new culture and lifestyle in the big city. She found local yoga studios to practice, a new group of Vedic meditators to sit with, and received her certification in Personal Training with PTA Global. Note: Restaurant and Hospitality gigs followed her wherever she went.
Five years later, it was time to move home. Crystal and her fiance drove across the country, taking the long way through the south, with Snoopy dog in tow. Along the way, she manifested that once in LA again, she would manage a vegan restaurant and get back into her yoga teaching. It wasn’t more than a few months in her position as Service Manager at Fresh on Sunset that COVID-19 hit the world. Restaurants were shut down to the public, with the exception of delivery and takeout.
Crystal was so blessed to maintain her full-time schedule working 4 long shifts and having three days off per week. This allowed her time to do some serious self-study and evolve in a new way. She learned that her beloved teacher, Erika, had moved to Kauai and was teaching for the first time ever over Zoom. It was a dream come true! Crystal could finally practice with Cloud Nine Yoga Schools again. In an intimate cohort of 12 fellow yogis, she went completed two back-to-back 300-hour yoga teacher trainings online. It was a most pivotal experience of her life.
Practicing yoga, eating right, meditating, participating in her recovery, and insisting on a work-life balance, she made the best of 2020, and was of service to all with love. This year, Crystal wants to share her knowledge, passion and experience with the world. Especially those in recovery. These daily rituals are indispensable and will aid in the happiness and love of all beings everywhere.
Loka Samasta Sukino Bavantu
May all beings be happy. May all beings everywhere be free. May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature. May all beings everywhere be at peace.
