How to get this healthy
Bay Area overachievers—from world-class rock climbers to star artists, bakers, and CEOs—reveal the health and fitness gurus who heal their battle wounds and keep them going strong.
[Portrait by Rod McLean]
World-class rock climbers on who keeps them supple
Bad stuff is gonna happen when you’re climbing sheer walls: Ribs pop out. Shoulders pull. Tendons tear. That’s when Spider-Man-channeling climbers Natasha Barnes and Ethan Pringle turn to their favorite massage therapists. For soft-tissue repair, Barnes loves Scott Schwartz, of Psoas Massage + Bodywork, whose deep-tissue sports massage turned around her tendinitis; Pringle credits Jim Donak, an acupressure massage therapist favored by Circus Center aerialists and acrobats, with helping him get back into climbing shape after shoulder surgery. Scott Schwartz: 333 3rd St., S.F., 415-227-0331, psoasbodywork.com; Jim Donak: 815 Cortland Ave., S.F., 415-515-3282, divingbuddah.com
Who gave Joan Baez her backbone back
For years, performer and activist Joan Baez (you may have heard of her) suffered from chronic neck and back pain. Then she learned about body-alignment expert Esther Gokhale and her eponymous Palo Alto center, where people from around the country are flocking for treatment. After several sessions with Gokhale, who reeducates patients about posture and healthy movement, Baez is nearly pain-free. “With Esther, I learned very quickly a whole new way of realizing the body,” Baez says. Gokhale notes that Baez represents a large segment of the baby boomer population whose members are suddenly seeing their bodies undermine their ambitions. The holistic back master takes it in stride that many of her fans (several of whom are doctors) have become pain-free for the first time in years. “Human beings are actually extremely well designed to function into old age,” she says. Esther Gokhale: 2439 Birch St., Palo Alto, 650-324-3244, egwellness.com
[Photograph by Jules Doyle]
Who keeps the Roller-Derby divas rollin’
To maintain their reputation as some of the fiercest and fittest femmes fatales in the rink, the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls require intense pampering for healing and conditioning. Lusty Malice (Anna Severn) swears by Yoga Loft’s “back guru,” Anne Saliou, who works her magic in eight-week back-care classes. To reduce inflammation and realign her often bashed-up bod, Chantilly Mace (Robin Detterman) depends on acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Dr. Tong Zhang (offices in San Francisco and Oakland). Jane Hammer (Jen Atherley) gets sprung back into shape by chiropractor Peter Lewandowski (“Dr. Lew” to insiders), at San Francisco’s SC Sports Therapy. Anne Saliou: 321 Divisadero St., S.F., 415-626-5638, theloftsf.com; Tong Zhang: 728 Pacific Ave., S.F., 415-788-1788; 599 9th St., Oakland, 510-628-0638; Peter Lewandowski: 61 New Montgomery St., S.F., 415-896-2273, scsportstherapy.com
[Photograph by Cody Pickens]
Who keeps the Double Dutch ladies in kick-ass condition
As performers and teachers of adult jump-rope classes, the tough and toned SFC Double Dutch women are indisputably in supreme shape. But Switchblade (Jill Herrera) and Death Valley (Val Hurysz) are also passionate about the Muay Thai kickboxing classes taught by world-champion kickboxer Bunkerd Faphimai at Fight and Fitness. The cardio- and core-intensive workout provides stability for jumping and a great sense of independence, says Herrera. “It’s really empowering to punch hard and kick things. It makes me feel like a real badass.” Bunkerd Faphimai: 734 Bryant St., S.F., 415-495-2211, fightandfitness.com
Where our top bakers get their fit bods
Sometimes, life isn’t fair. Chad Robertson and Liz Prueitt are the proprietors of San Francisco’s Church of Our Lady of Butter, also known as Tartine Bakery, and they still look this fit? For Robertson’s happiness, good health, and, um, smokin’-hot abs, he has nothing but the Pacific Ocean to thank: He’s a hard-core surfer. Prueitt, on the other hand, attributes her toned postpartum physique to EHS Pilates instructor Chris Black. “Chris is really in tune with the particularities of the after-baby body,” says Prueitt, who became religious about her sessions after giving birth to daughter Archer. Chris Black: 1452 Valencia St., S.F., 415-285-5808, ehspilates.com
[Portrait by Erik Almas]
Two fashionistas on where to de-stress and revamp
Running the shop Carrots, one of San Francisco’s top clothing boutiques, means co-owners and sisters Melissa Grimm and Catie Grimm Gardiner have precious little time to themselves—so they covet sessions at their favorite in-town getaway, SenSpa. Grimm appreciates the spa’s holistic, Eastern-focused approach to beauty: She regularly goes for acupuncture from Gaya Bhatnagar (“She’s very knowledgeable and specializes in women”), deep-tissue massage with the “amazing” Paulene Harrell, and facials from Lori Ann Griffin. Grimm Gardiner, who also loves SenSpa’s acupuncture treatments and facials, says “it’s money well spent” to stay energized and healthy. SenSpa: 1161 Gorgas Ave., S.F., 415-441-1777, senspa.com
FOR MORE RECOMMENDATIONS, SEE HOW TO GET THIS HEALTHY, CONTINUED
Leslie Crawford is a freelancer who writes about health, the environment, and families.
Additional reporting: Renae Hurlbutt, Erin Korsmo, Casey Madden
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