世界首個機場瑜伽健身房啓用

美國舊金山國際機場的免費瑜伽健身房於近日正式開放。這是世界上第一個在機場候機樓設立的瑜伽健身房，在爲旅客提供便捷服務之際，更凸顯舊金山的人文特色。瑜伽健身房設在舊金山國際機場國內出發廳2號候機樓。旅客通過安檢後就能看到藍底白色的大型瑜伽標誌牌豎立在通道右側。健身房大約13平方左右，可供4-5人同時運動。屋內以藍色爲基調，隱藏在天花板夾層中的燈光幽然落下，落地大鏡子，深色木質地板，幾張不同色彩的瑜伽墊子錯落有致鋪在地板上。爭相觀看的旅客中，不少人並不是瑜伽愛好者，但很認可這個設施很貼心，很有人情味。舊金山國際機場主任約翰∙馬汀在瑜伽健身房的啓用儀式上表示，設立瑜伽健身房起源於一個旅客的建議。“我們的目標不僅在於吸引旅客到舊金山國際機場，更着眼於旅客的舒適和方便，讓他們在登機前輕鬆愉快。”

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.