Weird Health Trends in the SF Bay Area

by Karey Ann - November 18, 2008

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We all know that California, and the Bay Area in particular, is supposed to be on the cutting edge of living a healthy lifestyle. To prove our health savvy-ness (or weirdness - it all depends on your perspective), I have put together the following guide:

1. Nasal Irrigation through Neti Pots

The neti pot is definitely catching on. It has been used in India for centuries and started within the yogic disciplines.
Looking more like a watering can for a gnome’s houseplants than an agent of healthy sinuses, the neti pot helps flush your nasal passages – clearing the yuck and leaving sweet, sweet moisture. The neti is best when filled with a salt water. As the video below shows, coffee or whiskey are not generally recommended.

Demographic that loves this trend: all Bay Area residents

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Whole Foods Market

399 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Don’t have your own neti? For $19, Whole Foods can help you out with that.

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2. Meditation

OK, not so weird, but does any city have more places dedicated to meditation than San Francisco? If I could sit still for more than 5 minutes, I could probably answer that.

Since I can’t, I’ll go with the statement that there are many, many, many places in the Bay Area to sit down, imagine looking through your third eye, and oooooooooooooom.

Demographic that loves this trend: wealthy new agers, fresh-faced 20 and 30 somethings, enlightened folks

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Spirit Rock Meditation Center

5000 Sir Francs Drke Blvd, Woodacre, CA 94973

Check out Spirit Rock for some rockin’ good mediation.

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3. NIA Dance

NIA stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Action. Experience elements of dance, martial arts, and the healing arts. NIA could only be homegrown; it was created and first taught in California.

As to it’s healing properties: “The movement will allow your body to grow through self-expression, relax into comfort and strength, listen and trust your body, revitalize and uplift your spirit and emotions.”

Check out this NIA guide to find out where you can drop into a class.

Demographic that loves this trend: middle-aged Moms, women in their 60s with a past or present hippie streak

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Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

3200 California St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Drop in to the JCC to get your NIA on. Bring your Mom, she doesn’t get out much.

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4. Rolfing

Ok, ok I’m still not quite sure what this is though I’ve met tons of people who are into it, or even giving it.

I think it employs similar techniques as Thai massage, only more purposeful and targeted. The Rolf Institute says it can achieve “remarkable changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body’s myofascial system.”

Demographic that loves this trend: Bay Area yogis

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Ombody

1990 Lombard St. San Francisco, CA 94123

Curious about rolfing or know more about it than I do and want to talk about it with someone who is SUPER STOKED on it?

Go see Govinda Bader at Ombody.

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5. Colonics

What, you thought Madonna was the only one into getting colonics? Well, you thought wrong my friend – San Francisco is wild about them.

Colonics, also known as colon hydrotherapy, are to help cleanse the colon. Please refer to the picture or video, as I don’t quite feel like explaining the process here . . .

Demographics that love this trend: the uber-health conscious, individuals who don’t think it’s socially unacceptable to discuss their bowel movements

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6. Q-link products

From the Q-link website:
“Q-Link products tune up your biofield through a resonant effect that harmonizes your energy and helps you to navigate smoothly through a stressful world. Think of them like tuning forks that remind your biofield of its optimal functioning state. Worldly stress and performance demands cause the biofield to become more chaotic and incoherent. Q-Link SRT products enable you to handle these challenges more dynamically, ensuring greater efficiency, harmony, and balance in everything you do.”

Wow. Some huge claims. The website also has a space for Q-link celebrity sitings – celebrities seen wearing the products – and I was dying to know who was sporting them. Alas, the space was blank.

Demographic that loves this trend: Gregg Braden readers

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