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Marcee Cretarolo, 55, from Redwood City, practices yoga in the new "Yoga Room" in Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. Officials from San Francisco International Airport announced the opening of the first of its kind yoga room in the recently refurbished Terminal 2. The room, located just past the security checkpoint affords visitors the opportunity to step into a space devoted to comtemplation and self-reflection. (John Green/Staff)

In a quintessentially Californian move that could provoke a groan from some in the red states, officials inaugurated a public yoga studio Thursday for passengers at San Francisco International Airport -- possibly the world's first inside an airport.

After the official opening for the 150-square-foot former storage closet, Airport Director John Martin, a yogi of 18 years who performed a sun salutation pose to mark the occasion, had a word for those who's eyes roll at the concept.

"Maybe this is exactly the place they need to de-stress," said Martin, standing a few feet from the dimly lit, silent, blue room.

The Yoga Room, as it's called, is located beyond the security checkpoint in Terminal 2, and so is open only to fliers. There's no teacher or TV inside, just a few chairs and some yoga mats. It cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to build and was born of the idea from a visitor to the terminal, Martin said. As the rules show -- shoes and turned-on electronic devices are prohibited -- it's a rather self-service operation.

"Silence is appreciated," the rules remind.

The room already has been open for two weeks, and at least six people made use of it during the roughly 45 minutes reporters were there Thursday morning. Andrea Chenu, of Redwood City, popped in for a few poses before her flight to Florida.

"I think anything that makes traveling easier is a good thing," she said. "You avoid road rage in the sky."

Her

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thoughts were shared by most of the people who walked past, slowing the roll of their luggage to take a look. Dean Lukin of Kotzebue, Alaska, who said he'd only left his home state four times, smiled when he saw it.

"Well everyone's different," he added. "I think it's cool."

As to the claims that SFO was home to the world's first airport yoga studio, well that's a bit of a maybe. Airport officials based their belief on the lack of an internationally recognized symbol for yoga rooms.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 26: A sign is posted in front of the new Yoga Room at San Francisco International Airport's terminal two on January 26, 2012 in San Francisco, California. San Francisco International Airport opened the doors to what they are saying is the first-in-the-world yoga room inside an airport terminal. The small room in the newly constructed terminal two is dimly lit with soothing blue light provides weary travelers a place to relax or practice yoga poses once they have clearing security. The yoga room is open from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ( Justin Sullivan )
Nearly everything in the airport has a universal pictogram in order to communicate with people from anywhere: a picture of a suitcase stands for baggage claim, and a martini glass means bar.

Into the yoga symbol vacuum stepped the officials from SFO. They crafted a black and white, Buddha-looking pictogram that's posted above the frosted glass wall and door to the yoga studio.

"We're almost certain its the only (airport yoga) room in the world," Martin said.

Contact Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335.