Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Cervantes.
Hi Robin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ive always been into nutrition and fitness. I was a professional dancer and personal trainer in NYC in my 20’s and felt I lived the the example of what I taught to my clients. Eat clean, exercise often, rest, repeat. Then in my late 20’s at the height of my dance career, I started to fall apart. I was exhausted, having serious bouts of inflammation and injury, had gut, hormone and sleep problems. I was a wreck. Each dr I went to pretty much told me to rest, but I knew something deeper was going on. I put myself through Integrative Nutrition School to heal myself. During my studies I was able to find that my healthy eating was actually making me sick. I had a laundry list of foods I was eating regularly that my body was reacting to…. causing my sever inflammation and health problems. It was a long journey to heal, but eventually I started feeling better and thriving. Once I graduated and was certified to work with clients directly with nutritional counseling, I incorporated food sensitivity testing and coaching into my practice. I started to see how food could both harm and heal through my clients as they navigated eating for their individualized needs. Over the years, Ive worn many hats… personal trainer, integrative nutritional counselor, educator, functional chef, and herbalist Ive continued to grown in my expertise and knowledge of integrative health and functional eating. I founded Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen on these principles to create a safe environment for people to find healthy safe foods, eating with the seasons and incorporating traditional herbalism into everyday practices and food preparations. I feel Sanctuary encompasses all of my loves and allows me to share them with others through our offerings and classes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always challenges with being a business owner. I’ve actually been through frozen pipes, flooding (where the ceiling caved in), kitchen fires, property management takeovers, etc.. We survived the pandemic and all of it’s challenges. Our staff is our family here, and we have moved through the burdens and struggles in their lives along with them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We focus on bio-individuality. Each person is unique and they have different needs. We use creativity to bring in many aspects of improving an individual’s health through diet, herbs, supplements, mental well-being, etc. We integrate the seasons and the unique aspects each season brings. We listen to each individual to determine what their goals and/or concerns are, and we strive to find solutions for them that are practical and fit their personal lifestyle. We are known for having a diverse array of remedies and healthy options, and we often hear from our clients that they enjoy the environment in the store space. We strive to create a “Sanctuary” where everyone feels comfortable and like they can step inside and leave the anxiousness of the day outside.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am a giant risk taker jumping in with both feet sometimes to the cry of my (very organized) husband! I think that comes from being a performer in the first part of my life, because in order to be successful in that career, you have to take big risks. I’ve really been conditioned to do that my whole life. We’ve built a nice collection of staff members in other support structures and areas that blend well with this. My other team members contribute to very supportive roles. It’s created a great “powerhouse” of an organization. I feel really good about the team we have.
Pricing:
- We try to keep the option of a healthy lifestyle affordable for anyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sanctuaryholistickitchen.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanctuaryholistickitchen/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanctuaryHolisticKitchen
