Another Monday morning, another body part sore from my weekend adventures. (This time it was mountain biking racing instead of snowboarding.) Once again I’ll be headed to yoga class this afternoon to help work out the kinks. And I won’t be alone. Yoga has become so popular that even travelers aren’t content to leave their yoga practice at home. According to a recent article in the New York Times, yoga is becoming so mainstream that, “like Wi-Fi, on-demand movies and fitness centers, yoga is becoming an amenity many hotels and resorts just can’t do without.”
The article states that yoga classes are no longer offered exclusively at resorts and spas, but also at conventional hotel chains. You are as likely to find a yoga session offered at Salt Lake City hotels these days as at fancy San Jose del Cabo resorts. According to the article, the hotels see yoga as a way to help the bottom line. While the widespread offering of yoga in hotels may be a new trend, there are some chains that deserve kudos for getting the ball rolling, or maybe I should say, “downwalk dog walking”, earlier than others.
Kimpton was the first chain hotel to offer in-room wellness and yoga. The idea was to make it easier for guests to maintain the practices that keep them calm and serene, even while traveling. Most of their hotels offer special yoga tote bags for guests that include yoga props, mats, and straps. Combine those with an on-demand video yoga class and you might not even need the famous complementary Kimpton wine hour in the evening.
Hyatt Hotels
Denver-based company YogaAway has partnered with Hyatt Hotels since 2005 as part of Hyatt’s StayFit@Hyatt program. The turndown cards on Hyatt guest pillows often include an inspiring message from YogaAway as well as directions on how to access the evening relaxation yoga class offered through guest televisions. Other on demand programs offered emphasis fitness, stress reduction, and mental focus. In addition, select Hyatt hotels actually offer yoga classes in their fitness centers, as do many of the Hyatt Resorts.
One of an assortment of twelve brands owned by Marriott International, the JW Marriott hotels and resorts are the most luxurious in the company’s portfolio. From custom bedding to marble countertops, the JW Marriott brand looks for way to distinguish itself from the competition. One of those ways is to offer fitness centers that are more like spas than gyms. While the centers do sport much of the standard fitness equipment found in other high-end hotels, they are also known for offering services like yoga classes and massage.
I personally am thrilled to see this trend. It makes sense. As more and more Americans practice yoga (there are 15.8 million of us out there according to the popular magazine Yoga Journal), the demand for yoga services will continue to grow. Yoga is an easy ammenity for hotels to offer, as it requires very little in the way of equipment and infrastructure investment. It’s a win-win for guest and hotels alike. Namaste.
Image courtesy of Kimpton Hotels
I wish they would get these classes more in the Dallas area.