Keiko Cronin
Known for her acupuncture services and feather + fire healing practice, Keiko's treatments cleanse the body and spirit of imbalances, bringing you into physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional harmony.
Keiko Cronin has traveled to Mexico on numerous spiritual pilgrimages learning the ancient healing arts of the Huichol people. The Huichols are indigenous to the Central Sierras of Mexico and many still live in their traditional villages where they have kept their language, culture, rituals and ceremonies alive. Their tradition uses sacred objects and fire as tools to balance and cleanse the spirit and provide healing. With each trip to Mexico, Keiko advances her practice as a marakame healer. As an initiated marakame, the name the Huichol people give to their healers and spiritual counselors, Keiko serves as the conduit between the healing energy of Spirit that comes through her feathers and her clients. Keiko is completely devoted to the path of this ancient healing practice.
Alongside this healing work, Keiko also has a traditional acupuncture practice, treating clients in both her office and in their homes. Her wealth of knowledge and sensitivity to the energy around her can be deeply felt through her healing treatments, helping everyone in her sphere to glow brighter.
HOW THEY GLOW QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: Keiko Cronin
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP: Los Angeles, CA
WHEN YOU ARE EATING HEALTHY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL…
BREAKFAST: I’m not a big breakfast eater like I was when I was young. On days that I do healing work with the fire, I am fasting from food and water. So on the days that I do eat breakfast, it is usually a cup of green or black tea and fruit or some yogurt with fruit.
LUNCH: Soup, or a soup/salad combo, or some kind of protein with rice or potatoes and a vegetable, or sushi and a seaweed salad. I love breakfast for lunch on my days off – especially Hawaiian style breakfast = rice, eggs and bacon.
DINNER: Not all that different from lunch. Our diet is mainly sourced from food we get at the farmer’s market, including free-range, grass fed meat and local, organic produce.
SNACK: A handful of nuts, a fruit/nut bar, a piece of fruit or an avocado
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO EAT HEALTHY? Curious Palate in Mar Vista – we see them shopping at the same farmer’s markets we frequent every week. Fresh in the Box – the organic brown rice sushi place across the street from my office. Red Bread – also across the street from my office. All their dairy products are organic, raw and their ingredients are locally sourced. Nook Bistro in West LA and Le Pain Quotidien.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE? Time alone. It is so rare to have a few hours of silence nowadays. So for me that would mean going for a morning walk on the beach before looking at any emails or listening to any messages. Or, taking off in the middle of the day and going to the Korean spa for a couple hours. If you meant favorite edible indulgences = oolong tea from Imperial Tea Court in San Francisco, fresh coconuts or mangos, and John Kelley chocolates.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES/RESTAURANTS TO INDULGE? Piccolo in Venice, Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL ON EARTH? Grass fed filet mignon on the grill, a baked sweet potato, and roasted brussel sprouts or cauliflower with a glass of Italian red wine
WHAT IS THE BEST DISH YOU COOK/ YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE? I love making soup and one of my favorites is an Indian spiced sambhar with red lentils and a bunch of different vegetables, served over basmati rice with a garnish of Greek yogurt.
WHERE DO YOU GROCERY SHOP IN LA? The Wednesday and Saturday farmer’s markets in Santa Monica, Whole Foods for whatever we can’t find at the farmer’s markets
WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS REGIME? (HOW OFTEN & WHAT DO YOU DO) Most of my exercise is walking – I walk to work and that takes about 20 minutes each way. When I’m not overscheduling myself, I’ll go for a hike in Temescal Canyon or a long walk on the beach.
WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? (PRODUCTS, FACIALS, ETC) I started using Dr. Hauschka skin care products about 15 years ago and they are wonderful. The Dr. Hauschka line is made with primarily biodynamic & organic or wildcrafted plant extracts. We use coconut oil soaps from Soaptopia in Venice and all natural lotions and hand creams from Clean Living of Santa Monica. I recently discovered Living Libations products – made with essential oils, plant oils and no chemicals or preservatives. Fabulous products for body care, hair care, skin care. I plan to continue trying their products because they are, thus far, the best all natural shampoo, conditioner and deodorants I have found.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NATURAL MAKEUP/ BEAUTY PRODUCTS? My favorites are all natural essential oil based fragrances from Aftelier in northern California and the sandalwood attars from Floracopeia and White Lotus Aromatics.
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 PRODUCTS WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU? Hopefully it would be a desert island with plenty of coconuts as they can be used for drinking, eating and making soap.
1. Living Libations Sea Buckthorn Shampoo/Conditioner
2. Sandalwood essential oil
3. Lavender essential oil
TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS? My favorite songs are actually prayer songs from the Huichol tradition that are part of the healing work that I do and pilgrimages that I make to sacred sites.
MOST LIFE-CHANGING BOOK? The Key by Cheri Huber, my first Zen teacher. This book got me hooked on meditation when I was in my 20’s.
WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? I love to bake and received a Kitchen Aid mixer 30 years ago that is still going strong.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY. Wake up early, have a cup of tea and head to the beach to take a long walk. Then have breakfast somewhere overlooking the ocean. Spend some time reading a good book. Then in the evening, light a fire and sit outside under the stars relaxing with my husband. All of this while leaving my cell phone and computer off for the whole day! This is pretty much what we do when we go on vacation (he golfs while I hike and read)
WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE BEAUTY TIP/SECRET? Have gratitude for the blessings in your life.
WHAT MAKES YOU GLOW? Time spent in nature. Time spent with friends and family. Doing healing work with clients. Participating in ritual and ceremony to give thanks to the Gods and the Ancestors. Sitting around the fire and enjoying the company of loved ones.
Photography by: Emily Knecht