Luxury hotel group Mandarin Oriental has been tapping into the emerging in-room fitness trend by rolling out a library of Grokker workout videos for guests. Virtual classes include a five-minute meditation to ease stress, a 20-minute workout, and Pilates and yoga sessions including a “soothing bedtime yoga practice to encourage sleep”.
Last year, Hilton led the way in launching complete in-room gyms, with its “Five Feet to Fitness” concept. The company said “the introduction of the workout room is the biggest change in the fitness hospitality space since it became the first major hotel company to standardise hotel gyms 20 years ago”.
Although Mandarin Oriental hasn’t gone as far as installing exercise bikes and weights, it has partnered with leading global health and fitness platform Grokker to bring wellness into the guestroom, making it more convenient for people to improve themselves.
“It can be difficult to maintain a wellness routine while travelling,” says Jeremy McCarthy, group director of spa and wellness for Mandarin Oriental. “Thanks to our collaboration with Grokker, we can now deliver extended wellness expertise and activities that our guests can easily access from the comfort of their room or suite.”
A selection of Grokker’s fitness, yoga, meditation, and Pilates videos can be viewed at Mandarin Oriental hotels in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore, Boston, Miami, New York, Washington, Geneva, London, Paris and Prague, with other locations scheduled to come online throughout the year.
Grokker instructors and classes
Yoga with Celest Pereira
Celest has danced since a young age and graduated from university with a bachelor of science in Physiotherapy. Soon after graduating she travelled to India to study hatha yoga and Vipassana meditation which led her to a full-time career as a yoga teacher in London. Her popularity has grown quickly thanks to her clear and unintimidating style.
Meditation with Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is a senior teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has been teaching Insight meditation retreats worldwide since 1997. He leads wilderness retreats from Alaska to Peru, integrating mindfulness meditation with hiking, kayaking and being in nature. He is author of Awake in the Wild: Mindfulness in Nature as a Path of Self-Discovery.
Pilates with Lottie Murphy
Lottie fell in love with Pilates at the age of 16 while practicing daily at ballet college. Lottie has trained with the respected Body Control Pilates in London and is well respected in the Pilates and health world.
Fitness with Sam Skelton
Sam Skelton obtained his bachelor of science degree from San Jose State University and has been in corporate wellness for six years. He has trained people across a broad range of ages and has experience working with those who have biomechanical challenges, including post-surgery hip and knee injury patients. Sam is an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist and enjoys helping people achieve their fitness goals. Some of his specialties include weight loss, strength training, and core conditioning.