In a world bustling with the chaos of modern living, finding solace and rejuvenation is a pursuit many embark upon. Meet Andrea Gagas, a beacon of serenity and the visionary owner of The Energy Lounge – a sanctuary where holistic healing and guidance converge to illuminate the path to your best life. Andrea’s holistic school is not just a space; it’s a transformative experience that empowers individuals to harmonize mind, body, and spirit in their journey towards well-being. Step into The Energy Lounge, and you’ll quickly realize that it’s not your typical wellness center. Andrea’s approach goes beyond conventional practices, offering a unique blend of ancient wisdom and contemporary techniques to foster holistic healing. Join Mystic Mag as we delve into the fascinating world of Andrea Gagas, exploring the philosophy behind The Energy Lounge and discovering the keys to unlocking your full potential for a balanced and fulfilling life.
How did your personal journey lead you to establish The Energy Lounge, and what inspired the focus on Spiritual, Holistic Universal Healing?
This is a story where emotions come into play. I come from a full-blooded Greek family, and while my family is amazing and beautiful, and I have deep love for my culture and heritage, my aspirations were shaped by a vision of family life. I envisioned getting married, having children, and following the example set by my grandparents, who had been married for over 60 years, as well as my parents, aunts and uncles leading extraordinary lives.
However, at the age of 7, I encountered a situation that altered the course of my life. A woman, known to my parents, was pregnant, and I saw the light of the baby in her belly. I asked her about her belly, as any 7-year-old might, and she shared her version of love with me. Unfortunately, it was not the kind of lesson you would want a child to learn. This knowledge affected me throughout my life into adulthood, and my behaviors began reflecting what I had learned at a very young age. Despite my best efforts to be the perfect child for my family, my actions and behaviors were in stark contrast to my intentions.
Over the years, I questioned what had happened to me and why I turned out the way I did. As I grew up, my relationships suffered, and issues escalated, leading to an emotional separation from my family. Although I love my parents, my father passed away 30 yrs ago, and the estrangement isn’t a reflection of their love for me, the damage between us was irreparable until I began this healing journey and had the answers to my whys.
When I lost all hope, I didn’t know where to go. I looked up to the sky, asking for guidance to live a better life and the universe answered in many ways. Soon after, my mom gifted me “The Secret” when it was first released. One night, I skeptically picked up the book and started reading. To my surprise, tears started flowing, and the words resonated with me. Following this, I attended a seminar by Jack Canfield on the law of attraction, leading me to explore his books. Eventually, I became part of their coaching program.
Through the coaching program, I began learning how to love myself, overcoming my fear of public speaking and gaining confidence. I joined Toastmasters for public speaking and took up golf as a way to challenge myself in situations where people would closely watch me.
Things took a positive turn when I went on a trip with my mom, and I had my first healing session. It was a series of experiences and blessings that led me to where I am now. I discovered Reiki and started learning it from amazing teachers, leading to many pivotal moments in my life.
This journey has saved me from the internal struggles I was facing. It allowed me to connect the dots and understand the impact of early experiences on my life choices. I recognized the profound effect that a single incident at the age of 7 had on me and how it influenced my perceptions and behaviors. It wasn’t until about eight years ago that I was able to put all the pieces together and understand the depth of its impact on my life. I felt validated and vindicated and started to be free from the thoughts and feelings I held about myself. The combination of trust, innocence, and skewed perceptions affected me deeply, but the healing journey has been transformative and lifesaving.
Can you share a defining moment or experience that reaffirmed your belief in the power of Energy Work and Universal Laws, shaping the direction of your school and studio?
When all this happened, I was selling real estate. Within two years of seeing the impact of the energy work and healing I experienced, I made a promise to share my learnings with anyone who crossed my path and needed guidance when it was time. I stated to Universe my need for a special healing place with three rooms, and a place to heal within a specified budget for rent, including a bathroom to wash my hands and cleansing after sessions.
Several months later, in 2012, I moved to Florida and obtained my Florida broker’s license. However, a strong urge led me to return to New York with the goal of balancing real estate sales between Florida and New York. While at a friend’s gathering in New York, a conversation with a friend turned to the topic of my Reiki practice. She inquired if I had any plans for a Reiki business.
I expressed uncertainty about the future of my Reiki practice, considering I had just moved to Florida. However, she shared that she was looking for a business space for herself but decided it wouldn’t suit her needs. Instead, she thought of me. I was initially hesitant, considering I had just moved to Florida, but I agreed to look at the space despite not knowing the rent or details.
Upon meeting the landlord, I discovered that the space consisted of three rooms, aligned with the specified budget I had envisioned. It was also located by the water, fulfilling my vision of being on the water, even though I had initially pictured ocean and sand, not the river and snow. The space matched my requirements perfectly.
However, lacking the funds due to investing in my move to Florida, Real Estate School and licensing , I reached out to a family member, asking to borrow $5000 to cover rent, security, and additional expenses. They didn’t offer the full amount, however they loaned me $2500, which allowed me to sign the lease, get paint and build the foundation of my new business. Feb 1, 2013, I opened my business, and this location served as my first commercial space.
What type of services do you offer?
We teach and offer certifications in Usui and Karuna Reiki. Our teachings encompass various aspects of energy work, including universal energy, light work, crystals, manifestation, writing, and affirmations. Instead of vision boards, we focus on creating manifestation boards because we believe the term “manifestation” implies a more proactive approach in bringing ideas into reality. We emphasize the power of language, as what we speak potentially shapes our reality and how we perceive life around us. Therefore, we encourage positive word usage, avoiding terms like “right” or “wrong” and “mistakes,” opting instead to view experiences as lessons that are best for each individual.
In our teachings, we strive to remain positive, acknowledging that what others would label challenges and negative experiences, we see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Even in less-than-ideal situations, we emphasize finding the good within and believe that things can improve over time shows us how much we have grown, accomplished and the power we have to grow.
Our offerings include guided readings, energy/healing sessions, workshops for manifesting, writing affirmations, self love and care, healing and participation in accountability groups. We tailor our services to meet the specific needs of individuals, recognizing that everyone needs different forms of support as we are all unique. While I may not hold degrees in philosophy and physics, I know that we all possess natural healing abilities and gifts within to be discovered.
My lessons in Reiki serve as the foundation for my introduction to energy work, providing a framework for connecting the mind, heart and soul and opening up to greater possibilities. My guiding principles include self love, care, compassion, understanding, patience, doing, following universal and karmic law, and my overarching focus is on spreading love through the work we do.
Spirituality often intersects with various cultural and belief systems. How do you foster inclusivity and respect for diverse perspectives within The Energy Lounge community?
My perspective on this is that, as I mentioned earlier, I come from a full-blooded Greek Orthodox background. I believe that our religion, heritage, culture, and family are integral parts of our story and contribute to our uniqueness as individuals. I view and respect the different religions, cultures, and beliefs as the makeup of a person’s story, reflecting where they come from, how they were raised, and the foundational aspects of their culture.
Regarding external attributes, I see them as a person’s descriptive traits, such as skin color, eye color, hair, height, and weight. These are simply beautiful characteristics that describe a person on the outside. I don’t use labels and wish we could eliminate them altogether in certain aspects. Even terms like husband, wife, and girlfriend, while meaningful, can sometimes attach hidden and taught expectations to relationships. For example, a strong friendship might change when labeled as a romantic relationship, introducing new rules and expectations that may alter the dynamic.
In summary, I see religion, culture, and other aspects as components of a person’s story, shaping who they are and how they got to where they are today. I appreciate and understand individuals based on their unique experiences rather than categorizing them with labels.
Self-love is a central theme at The Energy Lounge. How do you guide individuals to cultivate a genuine sense of self-love, and what role does it play in the overall healing process?
One of my significant focuses, and beliefs is that “It Starts with You,” which is the foundation for my teachings which revolves around the idea that we cannot effectively engage with the external world until we address our internal selves. Receiving love becomes challenging when we doubt our worth and lack self-love. Recognizing the love others have for us becomes difficult unless we acknowledge our inherent value.
My role is to assist and guide individuals in recognizing their value, emphasizing that their past, actions, opinions of others, or any external influences are ultimately inconsequential. What matters most is our internal perception and actions. The key is helping people appreciate their beauty. I express that I can affirm their amazing qualities, intelligence, and beauty repeatedly, but the crucial step is for them to genuinely believe it themselves.
Until individuals internalize and embrace these positive affirmations, external validation remains insufficient. The process isn’t about being egotistical or selfish; it’s about cultivating necessary self-love. Taking care of oneself first is not selfish; it’s the foundational step for building everything else in life. Without being true to oneself, and proud of who we are, we really can’t be anything more for others.
The Energy Lounge is not just a physical space but also a community. How do you foster a sense of connection and support among your students, and what role does community play in the spiritual and healing journey?
When individuals cross our threshold they automatically become part of our Energy Lounge family, whether it’s through the door, internet or over the phone. We make it a point to convey a warm welcome to our family. Finding us implies a connection meant to be, and within this community, we consider ourselves one large family offering support, love, and encouragement to each other. This is a safe space where external concerns fade away, and judgment is an unwelcome concept. In our collective, competition has no place; instead, we thrive on cooperation and unity. Together, we strive to be the best versions of ourselves, recognizing that there’s always room for improvement every moment of every day.
We emphasize the importance of embracing our emotions while approaching situations with logic, consideration, compassion, and understanding. Rather than viewing others’ actions as directed at us, we encourage looking inward to understand what they might be carrying inside and projecting outward. This shift in perspective fosters a more empathetic and compassionate community.
In terms of community engagement, we actively participate in promoting others, whether it be independent businesses, through fundraisers and are happy to extend our services to those who may not be able to afford them. Understanding the financial constraints some may face, we’ve adjusted our pricing, making sessions more accessible. Our commitment is to share the knowledge and experiences that have enriched our lives, aiming for a broader impact with those who may benefit.
My philosophy revolves around the impact this way of life has changed mine for the better, and helps foster the belief that achieving World Peace is a collective effort. By prioritizing self-care and inner peace individually, together it will contribute to a more harmonious world. It’s not about one person creating World Peace for all; rather, it’s a ripple effect of individuals finding inner peace and spreading it worldwide, creating a collective environment of serenity and understanding.
Read more at https://theenergylounge.com/
