Experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS-Delhi) have developed an anti-gravity body suit that will allow astronauts to do yoga in space, AIIMS doctors said on the eve of International Yoga Day on June 21.
The anti-gravity gear will help astronauts strengthen muscles and prevent the loss of bone density minerals.
AIIMS said that this is India’s first bodysuit for astronauts and it will increase their weight in space by more than 70% to prevent them from floating. The claim has been validated by the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, and the proof of concept will be submitted to ISRO.
“For the past few years, we have been pursuing space physiology vigorously. We have indigenously developed a new body gear for astronauts to perform yoga in space in collaboration with NIT, Jalandhar. An enabling environment has to be created in the spacecraft for this purpose,” said Professor KK Deepak, Head of Physiology at AIIMS.
“Space travel of astronauts adversely affects the functioning of muscles and bones. The anti-gravity gear will help astronauts strengthen the anti-gravity musculature and also prevent atrophy (a health condition in which the size of a body part is reduced) in microgravity environments,” Deepak said.
“No country in the world has such a unique body suit for astronauts that has grounding and loading facilities. It is known that when we reach space, our body weight becomes zero. When an astronaut wears this body gear, his body weight can be increased in a controlled manner and he will be comfortable and further affixed to the ground surface defined in space by Velcro-magnetic force.”
Space Physiology is one of the emerging focus areas for India in Space Science and Technology Development.
The theme of International Yoga Day 2022 is Yoga for Humanity. According to the central government, the main objective of the day is to create public awareness about the health benefits of yoga.
On the occasion of International Yoga Day 2022, AIIMS will present about 90 research papers on Yoga published so far.
“Our body is made up of five elements – space, air, earth, fire and water. We have to nurture the space elements and for that we need to do some pranayama and asanas, meditation,” said Dr Amrit Raj, Yogacharya and Director, Arogyadham, Rishikesh.