Laura personally experienced a C5 C6 Spinal Cord Injury from an auto accident, leaving her paralyzed from her neck down. Instinctively, Laura's family assembled an intensive daily integrative therapy routine for her rehabilitation, which included the physical, mental, emotional, recreational and social facets to life, a wholistic approach.

At the time of the accident, her dream was to compete in women's tennis, then open a unique facility catering to the healthy lifestyles for athletes. Although her injury ended much of that dream, she never really lost the ambition to open a distinctive facility catering to well-motivated, highly specialized people. Her motivation was re-directed toward using her particular tragedy to help others in similar situations.

After graduating with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology, with a minor in biomechanics, from the University of Delaware, Laura gained experience at the gait training facility at Nemour's Childrens' Hospital in Wilmington, Del. She gained tremendous knowledge about improving her own gait, which was severely compromised due to her injury. Laura then became interested in the destination spa industry where her dream of opening a healthy retreat campus-like setting became her object of focus. Laura also earned the "Hall of Fame Award for Determination" from Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the facility where she did most of her rehabilitation.

In 2001, she moved across the country to San Diego, to gain experience in massage therapy as well as a more specialized personal training in the spinal cord injury field. This was the first time, since her injury, she reintegrated herself into this community. This is also when she became blatantly aware of the multiple needs within this population. She interacted extensively with people facing physical, mental, emotional and social limitations similar to those she endured. Bonding to and learning from these exceptional people, she realized her dream by opening Awakenings Health Institute founded in 2004.

Laura's unique approach to engaging clients is derived from her personal and unfettered drive for a specific purpose, no matter what odds she has to work against. Laura believes in living her life to LEARN how to heal herself so she can go on TEACHING others how to heal themselves….

She knows firsthand, that the AHI program participants and their families are undertaking the greatest challenge they will ever face. Laura and her small, but passionate team, help the participants and families maintain the drive, determination, and persistence it takes to help themselves transition through these drastic changes. She understands if they can endure this path to aid in their own restoration on a wholistic level, they will help themselves reintegrate into society which will result in giving back, and ultimately, providing inspiration to all humans on a social level.

Laura finds herself in a unique and extremely fortunate situation in which 8 other extraordinary individuals have come together to share her passion and purpose in life, which has now become the mission of the institute: Restoring The Lives Of People With Disabilities Through Physical, Emotional, Mental and Social Integrative Rehabilitation.

"When you find the power of love instead of the love of power you will be at peace

-Laura Rose Karch

Adam has been working with Awakenings since we opened our doors to the public in 2004. He has built the Chinese Medicine department to be fully integrated into all aspects of Awakening's diverse program. He has been in professional practice since 2002 after graduating with his Masters from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, in San Diego. Since then, Adam has been brought in by hospitals to educate M.D.'s on the theory and practice of Chinese Medicine. He is a strong advocate for the integration between Eastern and Western Medicine. Adam adheres to the philosophy that if we maintain some balance in ourselves while we live our life, we will stave off the serious diseases that develop in our bodies over years of living an unhealthy life.

Adam has spent time around the world apprenticing with senior practitioners in an effort to continue building the scope of his practice. This extra training has provided Adam the necessary skills to address clients at any point of dysfunction.

His training in Australia endowed him with the techniques and knowledge to effectively use Japanese style acupuncture, which addresses the root causes of imbalances within the body using the most gentle and painless techniques known throughout the Medicine.

On a physical level, Adam has done extensive training learning the internal map of the musculoskeletal system and how it integrates with the nervous system, and thus the brain. As a result, he is able to effectively target specific muscles that are injured or not working to their potential and reset the physical system to begin working as a cohesive unit once again.

On a mental level, Adam is a certified Professional Life Coach, and works with clients on creating goals and learning how to achieve them, one by one, until the client's ultimate vision for their life manifests. He engages clients' thought processes and works with them to establish healthy thought patterns that encourage their full expression and ability to move forward in life.

Adam is aware changing thought patterns can allow emotions to come to the surface. As a result, he works with his clients to navigate through the upsetting emotions until they have passed, and helps them instill a new relationship with those situations/relationships that were tied to the emotions. This not only helps individuals attain a greater sense of peace and happiness in their daily lives, but it also opens up more energy to be poured into physical endeavors, leading to greater physical gains.

Adam's extensive training with 5-Element acupuncture has provided him the resources to treat individuals at the level of spiritual imbalances. His own spiritual practice revolves around staying present in each moment and learning to trust his intuition rather than his mind. He trusts the belief that our hearts should lead us through life. In addition, our mind has an equally important job; it should act as a servant to find an appropriate outlet for the true desires that emanate from our heart. When the heart and mind work together in this manner, the mind is happy and focused, while our spirit is nourished and happy to be expressing our true nature.

Adam is a General Practitioner who sees anyone from the general public for any problem they may have. He has dedicated his career to helping the disabled population, and is fortunate to be a part of AHI and a team, which shares his passion. Together, they have created a beautiful non-profit whose mission is to Restore The Lives Of People With Disabilities Through Physical, Emotional, Mental and Social Integrative Rehabilitation. Adam believes the disabled population holds the key to the question that is on most everybody's mind: How do I find my peace and happiness? When the disabled population is properly cared for, they will be given the chance to show us all that:

"Our worth and happiness do not come from what we have, what we can do or how we do it. They come from continuing to find outlets for our inner expression, and letting that expression create our experience."

-Adam Gries

Zach studied Sports Medicine and Physiology at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. While attending college here, he also competed and snow skied at a professional level, which provided him the opportunity to travel around the world to work and train with other professional athletes.

Upon graduating, in the fall of 2008, he moved further west and found his niche at Awakenings. Since then, Zach has obtained his Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist certification through the American Council on Exercise, and has worked closely with a vast array of individuals with both physical and mental challenges.

As one of the five original co-founders he has branched into program development to establish the Therapeutic Recreation, Social Integration, and Sports Specific Training programs here at Awakenings. Through his passion for outdoor recreation, he has made it his primary focus to get Awakenings participants re-involved in any sports, hobbies, or activities they desire. This endeavor is made possible by providing the proper support, opportunity, awareness, and recreational outlet that is unique to each participant. As the Director of Therapeutic Recreation he looks forward to the growth of these programs, and how they will complement the overall vision of Awakenings Health Institute.

In 2003 Dr. Angela Smith received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Human Biology and a Doctorate in Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Kansas City, Missouri. After years of working with clients in her professional practice, she developed a passion for nutrition, discovering her true calling in health and wellness. While most of the clients she cared for sought chiropractic services only when in pain, she found that the best results occurred by combining nutritional eating habits with healthy lifestyle practices, rather than just "band-aiding" the problem.

In fact, Angela's personal health challenges led her to Chiropractic schooling, in search of alternatives to harmful and costly medication. For the past 15 years she has studied a variety of healing methods in various medical settings, developing the knowledge and understanding that the human body, in all of its glory, possesses the amazing ability to heal itself, if given the opportunity, especially when fed quality foods. Thankfully, she found the likeminded team of Awakenings Health Institute and joined the organization in 2007.

As an avid health enthusiast, Angela enjoys bringing her excitement and love of food to the nutritional aspect of the AHI holistic program. She aims to keep her approach to building health fun and engaging, (not to mention delicious…) providing the knowledge necessary for clients to understand the great influence that food has the body.

Her mission is to inspire and empower others to take control of their health using simple nutritional choices and lifestyle practices and to educate on the vital role that food has in maintaining or regaining a state of optimal health. She invites you to explore the role that food plays in your life and looks forward to assisting you and your goals toward health.

In addition to heading up the nutrition department, Angela also assumed the role of Administrative Director, taking on many of the day to day responsibilities needed to run the nonprofit effectively. She is inspired daily by the spirit, drive, and determination of each client, and is grateful to be a part of such a worthy cause.

Andrew Braga started his passion for health and fitness while studying Health Sciences at James Madison University in Harrisonburg VA. He has been working in the fitness field since 2002 and been a certified personal trainer since 2005. After working with amateur and professional athletes, Andrew decided it was time for a change and made the long trek across the country to beautiful San Diego, in 2007. Almost immediately he came across Awakenings Health Institute and interviewed for an internship position. After completing his internship, he was hired on as a trainer and has been gaining experience with disabilities and neurological disorders ever since.

Andrew is currently the Director of Fitness at AHI and holds an Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist certification. Learning all the successful techniques and philosophies that helped Laura Karch (AHI's Founder and Executive Director) in her recovery has brought Andrew to shape his role at Awakenings from the fitness side. Integrating the exercise methods with acupuncture, nutrition, and massage has been an essential role to the success of AHI's overall program. Andrew is involved in creating the clients individual exercise programs, client assessments, evaluations, and day-to-day operations at Awakenings.

Keith Nelson graduated from California State University of Chico. He completed his Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology with an interest in nutrition. He is certified as an Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist through The American Council on Exercise. With certifications and continuing education he is constantly advancing his knowledge and training techniques in the neurological health and fitness field. His experience started with an internship through CSU Chico creating workouts and exercise routines for clients of all disabilities, to try and build quality of life and morale. This five month experience lead to his job as a Recreational and Socialization Therapist with disabled youth. The physical, emotional, mental and social integrative positions Keith has experienced are what lead him to his career at Awakenings Health Institute as a Neurological Exercise Therapist.

Alisha's yoga journey began in 1999, followed by her teaching path in 2005 at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Catskills of New York, where she earned her first teaching certification. Alisha has since studied adaptive yoga with Matthew Sanford and expects to continue to learn and share his teachings with students in the disabled community. She has also obtained personal training certifications through the National Association of Sports and Medicine and American Council of Exercise. Her continued growth along the path of health and wellness has been enhanced by working privately with clients, teaching multi-level classes, attending numerous yoga workshops/trainings with world renowned teachers and deep exploration in her own personal practice.

Her style of yoga instruction reflects upon all of the teachers and certifications that she has studied in the past 10 years. Her classes offer a varied and challenging practice of strength, stability and focus. The classes emphasize breathing, body alignment, core conditioning and relaxation. Each class adapts classical yoga poses to meet the needs of the individual. This practice allows the student an opportunity to feel the sensation of the poses. The flow of the class is well-balanced and led by clear instruction that guides the student deeper into their mind-body connection.

Complimentary to healing, Alisha has completed the masters program in Holistic Nutrition at Clayton College of Natural Health. This accomplishment is one of many components on her path of healing others through empowerment, awareness and a practice of mindful balance within the body, mind and spirit.

For more info visit www.alishawelch.com