Travel and wellness don’t always go hand in hand. The airport is a stressful and chaotic place and for a long time that is just something frequent travelers had to put up with. However as we become more and more aware of the negative effects frequent travel has on us and the benefits of wellness activities, a shift in attitude is starting to occur. Airports are starting to recognize the wellness needs and wants of their traveling customers and are looking to build a new mindset around time spent at the airport, whether that is through fitness facilities, meditation rooms or other more innovative methods (check out what Frankfurt has to offer below!) At Sanctifly we recognize that airport downtime does not have to wasted and it certainly does not have to mean spending time at the bar. It’s great to see airports joining us in this new approach to travel downtime. Check out the best wellness options available at airports below.
Fitness
Incorporating fitness into your travel routine can be difficult. Although we always encourage travelers to fit in a workout whenever you can, even if you only have ten minutes at the gate, having the motivation to get up and stretch or do some squats is easier said than done. That’s why we love it when an airport gives it traveling passengers fitness options that can be accessed right from the terminal. These are our favourite fitness options at airports:
The TWA Hotel is an amazing location by itself and the gym is something to behold. The facility is over 10,000 sq ft and is the largest hotel gym in the entire world! It boasts a full yoga studio, Peloton bikes, treadmills, weight equipment and so much more. The fitness center is within walking distance of the airport and can be accessed directly from Terminal 5 at JFK.
Sanctifly members get access to the TWA Fitness center and we send Sara, our travel wellness expert to check it out. Take a look at here video here. Find out more about the amazing benefits you get when you become a Sanctifly member here.
One of the few in airport gyms, ROAM Fitness at Baltimore Airport is an amazing facility. The gym is located after security next to gate D1. The perfect spot for a workout before or even after your flight to help you stay energized. The gym has lost of cardio and weights equipment for you to use and they even lend you workout clothes for free should you need it! That is some customer service! Of course you will need to rinse off the sweat you just worked up and ROAM fitness has you covered. You can reserve a shower for after your workout and continue on your journey feeling clean and refreshed. Day passes start at $25 and they have lots of other membership options available too. ROAM fitness at BWI are also part of the Sanctifly partner network and Sanctifly members can get access passes through the Sanctifly app.
You don’t always have to hit the gym in order to add fitness to your travel routine. It is great when airports take an active interest in their traveling passengers physical health and provide easily accessible fitness options right in the airport. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport have done just that with their Start! Walking routes. The routes are available in all terminals and give passengers that are waiting for a flight or may be delayed a chance to get moving and get some exercise. CLE also has Health Tips related to diet and exercise posted throughout the terminals.
Stress relief
Airports and air travel are some of the most stressful experiences we go through. Even when traveling for pleasure the airport is a tiresome experience, with its large crowds and noisy atmosphere. Add to that the potential of your flight being delayed and it’s a recipe for stress. Airports are waking up to the fact that they need to take better care of their passengers’ wellbeing and are incorporating stress relief into the passenger experience. Here are some unique ways airports are helps travelers deal with stress.
The WAG brigade - Airport therapy animals at SFO
This almost sounds too good to be true… Your flight is delayed, you’re are getting more and more stressed and along comes a happy, cuddly dog to help melt your stress away. Well that’s exactly what could happen at San Francisco Airport thanks to the Wag Brigade. Trained by SF SPCA's Animal Assisted Interactions training program, these airport therapy dogs and pig (yes, you read that right, the Wag Brigade actually features a therapy pig named LiLou!) are used to the hustle and bustle of the airport and do wonders for stressed out passengers as they wait for their flight. Even just seeing them trotting along in the terminal is enough to put a smile on your face and relieve some of that inevitable airport stress.
Silent chairs at Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt is one of the most progressive airports when it comes to passenger wellness, topping most lists as the best in the world for providing wellness amenities. It is not totally surprising that Frankfurt Airport has some unique facilities to help its stressed out passengers, one of which are the Silent Chairs. An airport can be a chaotic and noisy place and sometimes the thing you need most to destress is some peace and quiet. The Silent Chairs are dotted throughout the airport in both terminals are great spots for meditation. The chairs have soundproof glass panels on either side, with integrated speakers and earphone jack so you can enjoy your own music. The also come equipped with small tables, USB ports and power sockets if you need to get some work done.
Watch the fish at the indoor aquarium in Vancouver Airport
Vancouver airport is packed full of wildlife and one of the most peaceful ways to spend your airport downtime is to visit the 114,000-litre aquarium located in the International Terminal. Watching fish and other sea creatures is soothing and almost hypnotic to watch and can have incredible positive benefits for your mental health. The large aquarium at YVR is home to over 5,000 sea creatures and the small 1,800-litre aquarium is home to Pacific Sea Nettle Jellyfish. Except for the throngs of people, airports can often be lifeless places with very little space for nature, so it is great to see an airport incorporating local wildlife in such a unique way. Even if you don’t find fish particularly soothing, the bright and natural colours are at least a welcome change from the relative blandness and artificial light you often find in airports.
Many airports now feature yoga and meditation rooms for their passengers to use. Check out this blog post I wrote on the top 5 free yoga/meditation rooms at the airport.
Get outside
Airport Park in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam has the perfect place to get some fresh air and get close to nature thanks to its Airport Park. The ‘park’ is located after security and is open 24/7. The space has lots of comfortable seating, plant life and a terrace so you can get outside and breath in some fresh air. Relax and enjoy the space while listening to the pre-recorded birdsong and you will feel like you are a million miles away from the airport. The space also has energy generating stationary bikes so you can work up a sweat and charge your phone at the same time! You can also get outside at Schiphol by going to the Panorama Terrace where you can do a bit of plane spotting with an expansive view over the airport runways.
Sun terrace at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Get some fresh air and soak up some Texas rays at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The airport has an outdoor patio in the South Terminal that is accessible to passengers once they go past security. The area has lots of tables and chairs for you to sit and relax before your flight and you can even grab bite to eat at one of the food trucks stationed in the outdoor patio. There is also WI-Fi access and charging stations available, but I recommend taking a moment to put down your electronics and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Cultural gardens at Honolulu airport
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii is one of the best airports for outdoor space. The airport has several cultural gardens for passengers to enjoy. The gardens surround Terminal 2 and offer a peaceful oasis for travelers with various plant life, water features and sculptures throughout. There are three distinct areas, the Chinese Garden with a bright red pavilion for travelers to sit and rest, the Japanese Garden with its zigzag bridge and colorful carp swimming in the ponds and the Hawaiian Garden with its quiet lagoons and Luau torches linking the paths. An amazing resource for anyone traveling through Honolulu and a great way to experience different cultural influence through natural design.
Runs/walks in the Sanctifly app
There are some airport specific outdoor areas listed above but there are so many more options if you are willing to leave the airport and go a little further afield. At Sanctifly we have gathered information on walking and running routes within 5 miles of all major international airports, and we are adding more and more every week! You can find all this information by downloading the Sanctifly app, creating a free account and exploring the run/walk section.
And if you would like to become a member and get access to all of our locations, including airport lounges, gyms, pools and spas all over the world you can get your Sanctifly membership here.