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An initial consultation consists of detailed questions about your health, habits, medical history, and (very important) your daily routine. The practitioner then determines what type of constitution (or dosha) you have, which is based on both physical and emotional traits. There are three types of dosha that correspond with the elements of the earth: vata (air and ether), pitta (fire and water), and kapha (water and earth). After discovering which group you belong to, the ayurvedic advisor can begin to develop a plan for you to create an environment in your body for optimum health and healing. This might include herbs to aid digestion, a rejuvenating tonic, self-massage oil, aromatherapy, or recommendations for changes in your routine and diet. The practitioner often custom blends herbs to treat the whole body -- clearing out toxins and restoring the balance of elements. The treatment is individualized based on your dosha and level of dedication to the plan.
Ayurvedic consultant/massage therapist and owner of Gaia Tree, Holly Zoffoli likes to educate her clients on concepts of ayurvedic medicine that she says are easy to grasp. "I want to give them tools to use and help them make good decisions to achieve balance." An example? "The wrong foods can cause imbalance," she says. "Remember, food is our medicine." For more information on ayurveda check out www.holistic-online.com/ayurveda or www.ayurvedic.org. Gaia Tree: 575 Hayes (at Octavia, 255-4848).
Acupuncture
Resolve not to tolerate pain this year! Years of bartending and catering left me with serious back problems and chronic pain. The journey to healing my back has been long and arduous. For years I shuffled around from my general practitioner, who prescribed Vicodin, (gee, thanks, I'm still in pain but now I just don't care as much about it), to a podiatrist (who gave me $200 custom-made orthotics that did nothing), to physical therapists (lots of great theory and exercises, but no results), a chiropractor (kind of a hack -- no questions or advice, he just cracked my back, then was on to the next patient before the examination table was cold). I had an MRI and tried specialized yoga classes and massage, anti-inflammatory drugs and salves, ice packs, and hot baths, all without any relief.
Finally, on the repeated advice of a friend, I went to see an acupuncturist. I knew it was different right away. On my first session with Jamie Goodman, I filled out a detailed intake form with specific questions about my symptoms, digestion, elimination, quality of sleep, menstrual cycle, food choices, daily routine, and habits. Jamie spent half an hour going over the questions with me, asking more, and taking notes. Then she took my pulse, looked at my tongue, and massaged my stomach. While I kept wanting to get back to the reason why I came -- my aching back -- she seemed interested in all kinds of other stuff: Did I eat ice cream? Wheat? Raw vegetables? Drink coffee? Icy drinks? Smoke? She coached me on a breathing technique, then strategically stuck me with the pins (which didn't hurt -- a tiny pinch). Afterward, she gave me Chinese herbs to take home. I began to feel some relief after the first session, and within a couple of months my pain level decreased by about 80 percent.
Two years later, I still see Jamie for "tune-ups," but I no longer suffer from chronic, daily pain. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are also used to treat a myriad of conditions including migraines, sciatica, cramps, carpal tunnel, heartburn, addictions, depression, stress, endometriosis, and even the common cold. Jamie Goodman, Licensed Acupuncturist: 750-9227, jamielynn- goodman@onebox.com. She practices at The Mindful Body.
MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT BALANCE
Yoga
These days it seems like half the population of this town owns a sticky mat and knows what "savasana" means. Yoga, the ultimate mind/body/spiritual practice, has filled a certain void, and whether you're sweating out toxins at a Bikram class or fine-tuning tadasana at an Iyengar studio, to live in San Francisco at the beginning of this millennium means the odds are good you've taken a class.
The yoga experience varies widely. On the one hand, you have Michael Cooper's warm-and-fuzzy "soulflow" hatha class at Yoga Tree Valencia. On a recent Sunday morning, after an intense series of sun salutations, the class meditated to Here Comes the Sun while Michael, a likable, affectionate sprite, sprinkled the silence with platitudes like, "the love you take is equal to the love you make." Ganesh meets the Beatles -- George would have been proud.
At the other end of the spectrum, Joe Naudzumas holds Iyengar boot camp at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco in the Sunset district. His disciplined approach is in stark contrast to the touchy-feely, spiritually oriented style of many practitioners. No mood lighting, "om" chanting, or lavender-scented eye pillows here. Joe's obsession with proper alignment and attention to minute details imparts confidence that has won him a devout following. Students leave his class feeling as though they really got it, and didn't hurt themselves getting there. His random comments and occasional rants on world events and politics add a refreshing dimension of humor, nonexistent in most yoga classes.
Whitney Manger teaches smooth, graceful yet challenging vinyasa flow classes at Strong Heart, Strong Body and Greenpath Yoga. Simply watching her move inspires you to stretch a little further and start practicing those downward-facing dogs at home more often. At The Mindful Body, a wide selection of classes and teachers allows for exploration in hatha, astanga, pre- and post-natal, Pilates mat, and a reduced-price community yoga class. Roy Bergman's "stretch, release, and heal" class is a good option for beginners or anyone who has sustained an injury. His voice is soothing and the pace is relaxed. The Mindful Body also offers a solid intro class and cost-saving first-time specials. For more information on the studios mentioned above, check the SF Yoga Studios listings below.
