Group yoga session on the runway of Bangkok Airport

Bangkok:

Hundreds of yoga practitioners spread out their mats on the runway of Bangkok’s main airport Saturday, stretching their fingers toward the red sky and practicing their downward movements as the morning flights thundered overhead.

The unusual event on the airport’s third runway – which is still under construction – saw workouts accompanied by beverages, as participants were offered coconuts, iced tea and water to supplement their routine.

About 500 yoga practitioners and camera-ready influencers began arriving at 5:00 a.m., running through the darkness to their mats.

As the sun rose, yoga instructors enthusiastically guided the group through two workouts despite the pollution, industrial setting and occasional roar of flight.

“Today is going to be a very special day,” shouted one instructor, before urging participants to “throw your coconut in the air.”

“Feel like a beautiful bird,” she said, as a plane rumbled along the concrete and rose into the air behind the participants.

While many of the attendees were impressive – and perhaps more focused on getting the perfect shot than the perfect lunge – it seemed like most people came for the laughs.

“It was some fun, it was a good event,” said lawyer Rugeradh Tungasupakul, who was attending with a friend.

“Right now, because of our jobs, we are too busy to go to yoga studios,” she told AFP.

Although Rugerad was concerned about pollution – a perennial issue in smog-filled Bangkok, which regularly ranks among the world’s most polluted cities – she said she had checked the air quality before arriving.

“Right now, it’s not too bad,” she explained.

Although there were a few men scattered among the crowd, the workout was dominated by women.

Most people were wearing the ubiquitous yoga uniform of black leggings and short white T-shirts – in this example the word “brew” for Brew Yoga, which organized the event.

‘Why not?!’

“This is a very special program for me,” said instructor Pawade Komchokpaisan, 30. He said it was the first time yoga was done on the runway.

“We have a lot of people coming here to join yoga classes and take pictures on the runway,” she told AFP, praising Bangkok’s yoga community.

One of those receiving instructions was Precious, who has lived in Bangkok for the past four years, and said she was invited thanks to her Instagram-famous cat Ernest.

“He’s been to Switzerland, Botswana, South Africa, so obviously it felt right,” he told AFP.

She thought she would never be asked to do yoga on an airport runway again.

“Why not?!” He asked.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)