…have yoga mat will travel

Charu Rachlis

The YoYo’s had to wonder what mind openin’ experience we were to encounter when findin’ that today’s Hatha class with celebrated teacher Charu Rachlis would be on her first day back after takin’ the last month to immerse herself in silent meditation and solitude – all alone for one month without any communiqué’ from “the noise”. Sounds near impossible for the roadtrippin’ YoYo’s, but we were curious what incisive lessons this reflective teacher might share.

The Mindful Body

Wholeheartedly we were greeted into energy of The Mindful Body by Hillary, who partnered with her Father, Roy Bergmann after he pulled the corporate plug and opened this thriving 80 employee- 10 massage room- 2 yoga studios, holistic well being sanctuary in Lower Pacific Heights. Behind the massive floor-to-ceiling drapes separating the busy mind / body studios, we “found a comfortable” seat on our Manduka mats as Charu revealed the mind-expandin’, peace-producin’ effects of solitude and silence to this tight knit bunch that seemed euphoric to have Charu “back in the house”. Beginning in seated mediation, this introspective guide shared words of “letting go” and releasing the addiction to “doin’” and “bein’” while questioning – what it is we do, and how we be. Her insights accompanied her total body, fluid sequence of poses requiring these yogis to not “be” anything except, “here now”!