Do you fancy arriving off the back of a long-haul flight feeling refreshed and ready-to-go instead of jet-lagged and jaded?

According to Hong Kong based Pilates experts, Iso Fit, doing just a few of the method's stretches and exercises during your flight will make your journey more comfortable and enjoyable - both for you and your body. Pilates stretches and exercises can help strengthen your lower back and promote circulation in your legs (how good would it be if your shoes actually fitted your feet after 13 hours in the air?!).

The following on-board exercises are designed for normal, fit travellers. Those suffering from osteoporosis or disc problems should avoid any exercises with flexion or flexion and rotation.

The Hundred Breathing at 35,000 feet
With your seatbelt on or off, sit up tall, inhale for a count of five then exhale for a count of five using short percussive and consecutive breaths. Do ten sets of this breathing, concentrating on keeping your core (abdominal area) pulled in and up and breathing into your lower back and sides. If you have high or low blood-pressure use only a breath pattern that feels comfortable for you.

Hamstring Stretch
While the seat belt sign is off, get up and walk to the back of the plane. Stand with your feet hip width a part, place your hands on something hip height (maybe the snack bench) and bend your knees. Arch your back and try to keep your tailbone sloped upwards as you attempt to extend your legs slowly. Think downward dog but with hands on a something higher than the floor!

Knees Up!

1. Unbuckle your seatbelt but remain seated, pull your right knee into your chest. Without moving anything but your arms and knee, circle your knee in the hip joint three times in each direction. Think of using your core to move your knee not just your hands. Not a good choice of movements if you've had a hip replacement, mind you!
2. After the last knee stir, release your hands and hold each knee into your chest, pull your core upwards and inwards and count to five.

Seat stretches

1. Sit tall and cross your arms across your chest. Pull your core in and up and bend right then left just moving your upper body not your hips. Make sure you do not disturb the passenger next to you*
2. Stay in the same seated position as the side bend and now twist the upper body to the right then the left, avoiding moving your hips.

Roll Down
Inhale and sit up tall. As you exhale curl your chin to your chest rounding your spine forward toward your knees. Keep your tailbone and sitting bones pointing straight down towards the floor and avoid tucking the pelvis under. Then roll up sequentially through your spine until you are sitting up tall once again. Use your hands on your thighs to guide you if you need. Repeat this three times. On the last roll down reach down and grab onto your ankles to get a deeper stretch.

Look up at the stars
Lace your fingers behind your back and rotate your palms onto the seat behind you to open up your chest. Inhale and look up at the ceiling. Exhale to draw your abs back towards your spine and return back upright.

Iso Fit can be found at 8th Floor Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central. For more information about Iso Fit and its classes, please telephone 2869 8630 or visit www.isofit.com.hk.

Photo Credit: istockphoto.com.

(Relaxnews)

A US-based aircraft company has officially launched a two-seat vehicle that can transform from a plane into a small car in less than 30 seconds, according to a press release published Wednesday, March 18.

Terrafugia - Latin for 'escape from ground' - announced the successful flight and landing of its model plane/car at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, NY, on Wednesday, March 18, after the vehicle had already passed six months of road tests.

The 'Transition,' as the vehicle's been baptized, can fold up from a 27' 6" (8.17m) wingspan to a 80" (approximately 2m) wide car, small enough to be driven on any road, at the press of a button from within the cockpit.

It has a flying range of 450 miles (724 km) at more than 115 mph (185 kmh), drive "highway speeds"- that is, 65mph to 70 mph (105kmh to 112kmh) - on the road, and is small enough to fit into a standard household garage.

It also comes with cargo space to fit a pair of golf clubs and a 'full-vehicle parachute,' according to the company press release.

Both the car and plane modes are powered by unleaded gasoline available at most any gas-station.

The vehicle is classed as a Light Sport Aircraft, so a Sport Pilot license will be required to fly it.

The concept has still to undergo some more advanced flights and drive testing before a pre-production prototype is finally built and certified.

At present, the company is accepting $10,000 refundable pre-orders. The anticipated price for the production model is $194,000.

For more information, please see www.terrafugia.com

In the last 3 months I've flown Hong Kong - London - Hong Kong three times, each with BA. There's been a problem with my seatback entertainment system on every one of the flights.

Last week, flying from Hong Kong to London, not only did my on-demand system pack up, but the overhead seat light didn't work either so I could neither read nor watch a film.

I headed over to the BA stand at the Berlin ITB to try and get an answer to why this keeps happening.

The Marketing team admitted that BA is having problems on long-haul flights with their new on-demand system, apologised profusely, and left it at that. Great. I've got a 13 hour flight back to Hong Kong with them tomorrow.

Perhaps once Terminal 5 opens later this month they'll get round to fixing their fleet. Has anyone else had the same problems as me?

I’m envious of travellers in America and Dubai – they don’t have to suffer the stress and mania of searching for the perfect travel accessories minutes before leaving for the airport. They get to breeze into one of the Flight 001 boutiques instead.

The boutiques, of which there are eight, stock every comfort the style conscious traveller could want under one roof. We’re talking luggage, carry-on approved products, packing aids, gadgets, “aerotherapy” items (like rose-scented paper soap sheets) and those must-haves to make sure you have the most comfortable flight possible (think cashmere blankets and jetfresh kits – ggrrrrrrrrrr).

Although it makes me weep into my keypad to do this, as I’m 3701 miles away from the nearest store, here are the Flight 001 (pronounced flight one) products I want the most:

1. The Orla Keily leather shopper ($595): hand luggage nirvana
2. No Jet Lag homeopathic remedy ($13): enough for 50 hours of flying and kicks in before you get on the plane
3. Silk eye mask ($20): say goodbye to those nasty nylon things
4. The aforementioned cashmere blanket ($220): first class comfort in an economy seat
5. No Cooties ($9): sprayable essential oils that cleanse and purify the air around you

Whilst we’re on the subject, I really want the Smythson travel wallet too. I’d better start sweet talking Santa.