Yoga classes at hotels have long been a popular guest amenity, but now some properties are opening them up to the public as well.
The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air, which are both Dorchester Collection properties in Los Angeles, have complimentary Saturday morning 60-minute classes (on Nov. 30, the classes will be at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and all other Saturdays through the end of the year, they will be at Hotel Bel-Air).
Participants are provided yoga mats and are also given free, freshly pressed juices.
The Palomar San Diego, a Kimpton property, has complimentary hourlong vinyasa-style classes on Wednesday evenings next to the rooftop pool and offers students beforehand a free healthy snack like a fruit kebab or a smoothie. The Tides Inn in Irvington, Va., offers 90-minute paddleboard yoga three times a week, where the poses are done on a paddleboard on Carter Creek adjacent to the hotel. The classes are free for guests, but nonguests must pay $40 to join.
The Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., about 90 minutes from Los Angeles, has two to three yoga classes a day in different styles including restorative and power that guests can take free but cost $25 to $30 for everyone else. The price covers access to the spa facilities, which include a Jacuzzi, steam room and pool. The Z NYC Hotel in Long Island City in Queens also has seasonal 45-minute beginner yoga classes on its rooftop on weekend mornings, which cost $15 for guests and nonguests.
Hotels are trying to build a sense of community by opening yoga classes to the public, said Albert Herrera, the senior vice president for global product partnerships for the luxury travel network Virtuoso.
“We’re seeing that today hotels want to be more than a place for guests,” he said. “They want to be a local hangout. A yoga class is a great way to do that and also increases the chances that these locals will become aware of, and come in for, other offerings such as the restaurant or spa.”
From: The New York Times