Cristin Smith channeled discoveries from her own six-year personal wellness journey—after doctors discovered tumors in her neck and thyroid—into the foundation of her Mission Hills boutique holistic health studio, Saffron & Sage.
With a focus on preventative and integrative health care by drawing on the wisdom from ancient traditions like ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine—alongside her team of reiki masters, acupuncturists, massage therapists and nutritionists—Saffron & Sage’s Cristin Smith now helps others with everything from stress management to nutritional therapy. The peaceful space also hosts monthly new and full moon circles, workshops, cooking classes and retreats.
Advice for anyone starting a personal wellness journey? Give yourself grace. Starting a wellness journey can be overwhelming and confusing. Whether you’re suffering from a chronic condition or detoxing your beauty bag, it’s a long road and patience will prove to be a supportive companion.
Your one must-do daily ritual? Yin yoga—meditative movement is one of the best ways to begin the day. Every morning at 7:30am, you’ll find me taking this class at the studio; it helps me gently wake up my body, become centered and find stillness.
Favorite holistic health indulgences? Our botanical massage (one of my de-stress go-tos) and energy therapy sessions. The latter plays a vital role in our approach to holistic health care at Saffron & Sage—it’s not only a favorite indulgence, but also one of the most essential.
What’s new at Saffron & Sage? We have lots of things coming up this year. Perhaps the most exciting is that we are now offering integrative medicine, so in addition to our 30-plus practitioners, you can also come in and see our M.D.
Your words to live by? My email signature bears a quote from one of my favorite authors and philosophers, Alain de Botton, “It is in dialogue with pain that many beautiful things acquire their value.” Having had a successful career in my early 20s to then dealing with a chronic illness, it resonates deeply. It’s the journey that helped me create Saffron & Sage.
Photography by: Sarah Kunst
