Picture this: You’re on your second or third leg of some crazy flight schedule, but instead of killing time reading another magazine or sitting in a chair watching the news on a loop, you can pop into a serene studio to do however much yoga or meditation your layover length permits. Sound dreamy? Well, soon it’ll be a real option for travelers when Yoga on the Fly, the country’s first private yoga-and-meditation studio in an airport, opens on November 6 at Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado.
Its co-founders, Elizabeth Feinstone and Avery Westlund, met while teaching yoga on a retreat in Nicaragua. “We discovered quickly that while we both loved to travel, we also shared a strong aversion to the adverse effects of air travel on our bodies and minds,” says Westlund. “All the layovers, naps on the floor during delays, and idle time in airports made me acutely aware of how hard it is to prioritize wellness during travel and inspired Yoga on the Fly.”
“All the layovers, naps on the floor during delays, and idle time in airports made me acutely aware of how hard it is to prioritize wellness during travel.”
After much plotting and planning, the duo’s solution to this universal pain point will launch a 90-day residency at DEN next month—just in time for the hectic holiday season. (Insert praise hands emoji.) Why there? “Due to its location between coasts, DEN is home to a large amount of domestic layovers,” says Feinstone. “We created a bit of an escape—each mini-studio is fully outfitted with all of the yoga props and equipment you need, a space for luggage, some beauty bar essentials, and plants to create a soothing space.” Yoga on the Fly Den features five private studios that’ll be open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Sunday through Friday) and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Classes cost between $15–$60 depending on length.
While these aren’t live classes—which would, after all, be impossible to coordinate at an airport—the Yoga on the Fly team has created custom videos, which range from 8–20 minutes and can be sequenced together to create longer sessions. Each one is meant to address the issues confronted most by travelers. Explains Feinstone, “We set out to create movement, breathing, and meditation classes to manage stress and anxiety, and to address fatigue, stiffness, and circulation issues—all of which occur during air travel.”
“Yoga on the Fly videos range from 8–20 minutes and can be sequenced together to create longer sessions.”
The company’s Colorado studio will also include a retail component, specifically-curated in an appropriately mindful manner. “We actively sought out other women and minority owned businesses and are building a solid, supportive network of partners we’re really proud to work with like MPG Sport, S’well, SO, YbN, GoDashDot, Blooming Lotus Jewelry, and more,” says Westlund.
If you’re, ahem, onboard with this overdue operation, you may have a few suggestions—nay, desperate pleas—around where Yoga on the Fly should open next (ATL, ORD, IAH, to name a few). Luckily, the savvy duo has given assurances of what’s to come: “We’ve got some great new locations and partnerships in the works,” teases Westlund. “We can’t share additional details just yet, but you’ll definitely be seeing more of Yoga on the Fly in 2018!” Is there a Google alert for that?
For more travel-specific wellness options, check out the 9 healthiest airports in the world. Plus, get the facts about how safe those security scanners really are.
Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter
Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.
Got it, you've been added to our email list.
