Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Jan Hutchins, right, owner of the Yoga Center of Los Gatos, counter-balances in a partnered yoga pose with his wife, Teri Hope. The center opened on April 2.

Former mayor gets town OK to start new yoga business

By Gloria I. Wang

Former Los Gatos mayor Jan Hutchins continues to add to his extensive résumé--that of business owner and yoga instructor.

The Yoga Center of Los Gatos received final approval from the town on March 28, and opened its doors on April 2. Hutchins, who has practiced yoga for more than 30 years, said he expects the center to be a welcome addition to Los Gatos. "I've got so many people saying, 'thank you, we've been waiting and needing a place like this for a long time,'" Hutchins said.

After his four years serving on the Los Gatos Town Council ended last year, Hutchins intended to focus on yoga and working with the human body. A former newscaster and television producer, Hutchins retains his position as chairman of the San Jose Sports Authority, and will stay involved with the Community Hospital of Los Gatos, as well as continuing to give massages at the Spa Los Gatos. He does, however, say that growing the business is his current priority.

About 30 weekly classes will be held at the facility, which is located on Montebello Way. There is a 12-student limit per class, but the week before opening, several of the classes were already full. "Apparently there's a buzz," Hutchins said. Types of workouts include restorative--mental and emotional rest for those who are injured--torso stabilization, specialization in the inner self and vigorous and intense.

According to Hutchins, yoga, a 5,000-year-old tradition that has become trendy in recent years, comes in many different forms, including prayer and community service. Hutchins teaches and practices hatha, which emphasizes postures and poses that lead to mental and physical flexibility. "[Yoga] is about how to live a healthy, balanced, happy life," Hutchins said.

The space where the center is located became vacant in February. Hutchins said that, of all the possibilities he had looked at, the Montebello Way spot is the best. Besides being in the heart of downtown, it faces the park and is "just around the corner" from the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, owned by Hutchins' wife, Teri Hope. The 1,218-square-foot space includes a reception area, office, workout space and two restrooms, as well as a "cute little meditation area."

Besides Hutchins, there are currently seven other teachers, all people with whom Hutchins has worked in the past and personally chose to teach at the center. Hutchins anticipates that another two teachers and more classes will be added in May.

Hutchins also said that what he wants to do is teach others the phrase that has been his personal saying since 1974 and is now the motto of the center: "The body is a temple of the spirit."

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