When you walk
into the lovely surroundings of the Mindful Body holistic
health, fitness, and well-being studio in Pacific Heights,
the first thing you notice is the silence. The receptionists
speak like calm kindergarten teachers, and you find yourself
moving more carefully and opening doors as if they might
break. The place oozes relaxation -- even the bathrooms,
equipped with shower stalls and clean robes, smell ultra-aromatherapeutic.
"Through a consistent practice of 'mindful' or focused
activities, we learn how to tap into our inner intelligence
and make choices leading to a life of integrity, fulfillment,
peace and harmony," says founder Roy Bergmann. Ok,
then! As long as it comes with a back rub. Yoga classes
for $16 (with price breaks for memberships and packages)
and $66-per-hour massages are definitely a draw here,
and the services offered, including the not-as-scary-as-it-sounds
Chinese organ massage, or chi nei tsang, are top-notch
and myriad. But it's the highly qualified and serenity-minded
staff that really make the Mindful Body a bargain. The
friendly teachers, facilitators, and masseurs are worth
their weight in Zen.
