Zen Out In San Francisco

  • by elissa
  • -
  • September 09, 2009
Rate Guide Rating_5_0 (1)
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Every once in a while, San Francisco's crowded and gritty side can get the best of a girl. Whether they're induced by getting smacked in the eye by someone's yoga mat on the bus, or watching a pigeon land right in your tupperware container on your lunchbreak, moments like these can only be counterbalanced with some serious zen time. Here's how to fight back in a peaceful, healthy and englightened fashion.

Relax With A Generic Panflute CD

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Genesis Imports

1573 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Why meditate on a boring old rock when you can purchase little meditation kits, complete with fancy little candles and a CD of ocean sounds?

Why meditate on a boring old rock when you can purchase little meditation kits, complete with fancy little candles and a CD of ocean sounds?

Enjoy Awkward Yoga Poses

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Yoga Tree

780 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Meditate while taking this long-pose-intensive class. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to slip into your happy place with a foam brick under your back and your legs straddled up against a wall.

Meditate while taking this long-pose-intensive class. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to slip into your happy place with a foam brick under your back and your legs straddled up against a wall.

Relax Like These Garden Gnomes

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Fort Mason Center

Marina Blvd & Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Go to the community gardens here, where city kids till little plots of bonafied soil. If you feel inspired, add your name to the 5 year waiting list to claim a patch of your own!

Go to the community gardens here, where city kids till little plots of bonafied soil. If you feel inspired, add your name to the 5 year waiting list to claim a patch of your own!

Don't Zone Out; ZEN Out!

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Take it from the masters…

Go here for the real deal.

Go here for the real deal.

Enjoy Some Zen Art

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I like Andy Goldsworthy. He builds all sorts of crazy things out of leaves, sticks, rocks and even ice. Makes for great COFFEE TABLE BOOKS! Your FAVORITE household item!

Goldsworthy On Leaves

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Enjoy Calming Scents

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Common Scents

3920 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

I’m a sucker for this place. Somehow it seems justifiable to spend my lunch money on exfoliating walnut scrub, since so much of it is made in-house, and it’s much cheaper than the name brands. Besides, they even let you bring in your old bottle to refill it. How San Franciscan!

I’m a sucker for this place. Somehow it seems justifiable to spend my lunch money on exfoliating walnut scrub, since so much of it is made in-house, and it’s much cheaper than the name brands. Besides, they even let you bring in your old bottle to refill it. How San Franciscan!

Just don't get a rash like this kid...

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Geez, kid! Don’t stick your nose in every flower. No wonder you’ve got red spots all over your cheek.

Your Happy Spots

Take It From This Kid

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Japanese Tea Garden

1337 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The first time I went to the Japanese tea garden, a young and unthreatening student of Buddhist thought sat me down on a rock and tried to convince me into taking a cat tranquilizer, citing that it would make me able to have a lucid conversation with myself. Perhaps this is why I feel this little tea garden is worth the $5 entry fee (particularly on days when there isn’t a visiting tour bus from Air India). ***FREE every first Wednesday of the month.

The first time I went to the Japanese tea garden, a young and unthreatening student of Buddhist thought sat me down on a rock and tried to convince me into taking a cat tranquilizer, citing that it would make me able to have a lucid conversation with myself. Perhaps this is why I feel this little tea garden is worth the $5 entry fee (particularly on days when there isn’t a visiting tour bus from Air India). ***FREE every first Wednesday of the month.

Free Tea: The second coolest thing that comes in a cup!

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Get your free tea at The Love of Ganesha or Aveda.

The Love of Ganesha

1310 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Your quintessential incense-smelling, toasted rice tea-steaming hippie store. They won’t even get mad if you come in, eat a free rice cracker, meditate in their little shrine room and leave without so much as trying on a pair of yoga pants. That meditation stuff must REALLY work!

Your quintessential incense-smelling, toasted rice tea-steaming hippie store. They won’t even get mad if you come in, eat a free rice cracker, meditate in their little shrine room and leave without so much as trying on a pair of yoga pants. That meditation stuff must REALLY work!

Their free tea samples are so good! Some kind of licorice basil combo.

Their free tea samples are so good! Some kind of licorice basil combo.

Pink Lotus the

1601 Page St, San Francisco, CA 94117

They also have a free meditation room here.

They also have a free meditation room here.

Try Floating Around A Little

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Float Matrix

815 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Remember that time when your crazy new age godmother bought you an hour in a sensory deprivation tank for graduation, even though all you needed was money for rent or a gift certificate to Ralph’s? But then you tried it, and you weren’t even really that mad at her anymore?

All you can perceive is the sound and feeling of your own heartbeat in these things. Astonishing!

Remember that time when your crazy new age godmother bought you an hour in a sensory deprivation tank for graduation, even though all you needed was money for rent or a gift certificate to Ralph’s? But then you tried it, and you weren’t even really that mad at her anymore?

All you can perceive is the sound and feeling of your own heartbeat in these things. Astonishing!

Gee, Thanks Aunt Gloria

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Goldsworthy On Rocks

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Be Peaceful As A Brine Shrimp

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These cool little things only need sunlight to live in this self-sustaining environment. You don’t even need to feed them. It’s even easier than a tamagotchi!

Katsura Garden

1825 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Achieve momentary englightenment as you graze this collection of odd flytraps, bonsais and shrimp ecosystems. Don’t forget to give the store bulldog a little pat on the bean. Warning: May induce buyers’ remorse later on in the day.

Achieve momentary englightenment as you graze this collection of odd flytraps, bonsais and shrimp ecosystems. Don’t forget to give the store bulldog a little pat on the bean. Warning: May induce buyers’ remorse later on in the day.