世界首个机场瑜伽健身房启用

美国旧金山国际机场的免费瑜伽健身房于近日正式开放。这是世界上第一个在机场候机楼设立的瑜伽健身房，在为旅客提供便捷服务之际，更凸显旧金山的人文特色。瑜伽健身房设在旧金山国际机场国内出发厅2号候机楼。旅客通过安检后就能看到蓝底白色的大型瑜伽标志牌竖立在通道右侧。健身房大约13平方左右，可供4-5人同时运动。屋内以蓝色为基调，隐藏在天花板夹层中的灯光幽然落下，落地大镜子，深色木质地板，几张不同色彩的瑜伽垫子错落有致铺在地板上。争相观看的旅客中，不少人并不是瑜伽爱好者，但很认可这个设施很贴心，很有人情味。旧金山国际机场主任约翰∙马汀在瑜伽健身房的启用仪式上表示，设立瑜伽健身房起源于一个旅客的建议。“我们的目标不仅在于吸引旅客到旧金山国际机场，更着眼于旅客的舒适和方便，让他们在登机前轻松愉快。”

Just cleared airport security and in need of a little deep breathing and stretching relaxation?

San Francisco Airport has opened what it calls a first of its kind yoga room, and while it's not quite a Mountaintop in Tibet, airport officials say the low lights, and soothing blue walls aim to afford travelers, stressed out or sanguine, an oasis of calm in which to flex, twist and decompress.

"As far as we know it's the first (yoga room) at an airport anywhere in the world," said Michael C. McCarron, director of community affairs for the airport.

He said the idea for the room, in the newly refurbished Terminal 2, came from a passenger suggestion at an open house. It joins the Berman reflection room, a space intended for silence and meditation located before Terminal 2 security.

Airport Director John L. Martin called the room, which opened last week, "another leap forward in providing our travelers the opportunity and space to relax and decompress on their own terms."

The architects, Gensler Design, set the lights low and warm in contrast to the light, bright concourse, according to a statement, and a floating wall was constructed to symbolize "a buoyant spirit and enlightened mind. "

Large felt-constructed rocks will be installed in the Spring in a nod to the Zen gardens of Japan.

John Walsh, duty manager at San Francisco Airport, said the room is already attracting its share of travelling yogis, many equipped with their own props.

"I've seen people using it. They do yoga," Walsh said. "We have mats, but some people actually bring their own." There are also folding chairs, popular in many senior yoga sessions. So far there are no plans to hold classes.

Located just past security, it's a particular draw for people with time to kill before their flight, Walsh said.

Santa Monica-based yoga teacher Tamal Dodge believes the yoga room at the airport will be the first of many yoga spaces to be attached to airports and public transportation venues.

"How amazing will it be to stretch out and meditate before you get on a plane for a 12-hour flight," said Dodge, who is featured in the "Element: Hatha & Flow Yoga for Beginners" DVD.

"You are now given the opportunity to really relax and prepare your body for something as taxing as sitting in an airplane seat for hours on end," he said.

Airport yogis are directed to their room by the usual method-- the pictograph: this one of a figure seated in full lotus position.