Heathrow Express travellers were treated to sessions with yoga influencer Celest Pereira, who developed a 12-minute seated yoga and meditation session to help passengers relax. The class was developed to enable travelers of all ages and abilities can perform the exercises safely from their seats.
The initiative was trialed after a study also commissioned by Heathrow Express found more than half of public transport users find travel stressful following the Covid-19 pandemic. Celest Pereira said: “Travelling can get very fraught – there’s lots going on, lots of things to think about, and it’s very deadline driven – so it can be a very intense experience.
“By hosting these classes we’re hoping to alleviate those pressures and help passengers be in the present moment, feel less overwhelmed and relieve any muscle tension. “There’s no reason why travel can’t be tranquil – and often it’s about training your brain to think a little differently. “And that’s largely what these meditation and yoga sessions are doing – they aim to help passengers clear their heads through breathing exercises and particular body stretches.”
Our study of 2,000 adults also identified the most frustrating aspects of travel including delayed departures (52 per cent) and crowds (48 per cent). Missing flights, trains, or buses (47 per cent) also leads to aggravation, as does trying to find a seat (43 per cent) and worrying you’ve forgotten something like your passport or the tickets (40 per cent).