Resuscitate Your Resolve

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.

Pilates

"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier." -- Joseph Pilates in 1965, at age 86

The über-confident Pilates developed a method of physical and mental conditioning that incorporated traditions from zen, yoga, and reflexology as well as his knowledge of anatomy and observations of the movement of animals. The equipment was originally designed to rehabilitate soldiers during World War I. Later, when Pilates emigrated to New York, the method was embraced by dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine -- not surprisingly, since Pilates improves flexibility and strengthens the body, without building bulk, and has low impact on joints.

Pilates is a combination of precise movements done on specialized equipment, under the guidance of a trainer, and a series of floor exercises generally referred to as "mat Pilates." In response to the popularity of Pilates, a number of studios have sprung up in San Francisco. Laura Marquit runs a cozy, comfortable one in the Marina called Joyful Movement. A specialist in rehabilitative and fitness-oriented Pilates, she has a firm grasp on physiology, which she ably demonstrated in her thorough physical assessment of me when I arrived for my session (who knew I was so out of alignment?). Laura's easy manner enhanced what proved to be an enjoyable and illuminating session. I felt a new awareness of my body, movement, and posture.

For a completely different Pilates experience, my friend and I booked a "duet" session with Tiffany Parish at the funky Xenodrome space in the Mission. Tiffany, who performs gravity-defying aerial feats with the Xeno ensemble, brings a background in dance to her training. She started us out with some spine stretches done on the floor using props. Afterward, she led us up to the loft, where candles burned in one corner and classical music played, and put us to work on the Reformer -- the centerpiece of Pilates equipment, which looks like a big wooden box frame with springs that increase resistance and a seat that slides back and forth. While the two atmospheres were completely different, both sessions left me wanting more Pilates.

Since private and semi-private Pilates sessions can be prohibitively expensive (most privates cost around $60), many people opt for mat classes to strengthen their "core." The Ellie Herman Studio offers an array of reasonably priced classes, from beginning mat to advanced reformer, as well as mixed-level yoga. Most classes are eight weeks long. Also available are private and semi-private sessions, acupuncture, rehabilitation services, and intensive workshops. Joyful Movement: 2828 Octavia, 440-3846, www.joyfulmovement.com (ask about Laura's affordable introductory offer). Bodicraft at Xenodrome: 1320 Potrero (at 25th St.), 285-XENO, www.xenodrome.com (Tiffany also does mat & physioball classes). Ellie Herman Studios: 3435 Cesar Chavez (at Valencia), 285-5808, www.ellie.net.