(Road) Warrior Pose: Cathay Pacific adds yoga space to HK airport lounge

A view of the Sanctuary, a new dedicated yoga and meditation space inside Cathay Pacific’s Pier lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo via Cathay Pacific.
A view of the Sanctuary, a new dedicated yoga and meditation space inside Cathay Pacific’s Pier lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo via Cathay Pacific.

It doesn’t feel like exaggeration to suggest that air travel, with all its attendant cramps, cricks, and general discomfort, is more often than not a living hell.

It was perhaps with this in mind that Cathay Pacific yesterday announced the opening of a new yoga and meditation room in their Pier lounge at Hong Kong International Airport.

The area was designed in partnership with the Hong Kong-based Pure Group, and offers video guides to exercises “designed to improve circulation, enhance joint mobility and relax the mind” of stressed-out passengers — well, fancy ones, at least. The lounge is only open to gold, silver and diamond members of Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club, as well as first- and business-class Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon passengers.

“Wellness is becoming increasingly important to our customers and The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga in our Pier Business Class lounge is the perfect place to relax before a flight,” Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific’s general manager for customer experience and design, was quoted saying in the airline’s announcement.

The Sanctuary is divided into two zones: the Body Sanctuary, for video-guided yoga and stretching, including some stretches that can be done in-flight; and the Mind Sanctuary, where travelers can listen to guided meditation sessions from Pure Yoga’s teachers, or practice so-called “gazing meditation,” in which “comfortable cushions overlook graphics placed on the wall.”

For those unable to afford access to the exclusive lounge, staring at the graphics of your screensaver while you sit on the dirty floor of the terminal next to the only available power outlet may have the same beneficial effects.

Adding yoga areas to airports has become something of a trend in recent years, with similar spaces popping up at Dallas/Fort Worth, London Heathrow, and San Francisco International (shocker!), among other ports of call.



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