While the world watched their feat with awe little did people know that an Indian Yoga guru played a big role in the success of Solar Impulse 2 which completed a historic trip to fly around the world.
As the fuel-free aeroplane Solar Impulse-2 gets energy from the sun, its pilots energise themselves by doing yoga to remain mentally and physically fit during their long flight hours.
Both the pilots have been practising yoga for last 12 years under the guidance of Indian yoga guru Sanjeev Bhanot to safely take on their first round-the-world trip on SI-2.
For pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard of the single-seater Solar Impulse-2, it was important to sustain themselves for 12 to 15 hours without taking a break while flying between destinations and to energise themselves they have chosen yoga and Bhanot trained them to stand these extreme conditions.
The organizers felt the need of yoga for their solar impulse mission when André realized that as a human, he would need professional support on a holistic level to face the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual challenges.
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André found his answer in Antastha Yoga which is Bhanot’s experience of the yogic world in a scientific context made a perfect match to understand the challenges which André would face, both at the level of the body and the mind.
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The pilots are using Antastha Yogas „CNS series“, specially designed to balance the central nervous system, along with a special set of classical, static yoga postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. When exercised blindfolded on the plane, its benefits are striking.
Yoga worked wonders for the crew as tools and techniques which were gathered over the last decades, combining with the ancient wisdom of Yoga for health improvement and coupled with modern psychology and scientific knowledge helped create an immediate support. At the end of an Antastha Yoga session, internal quietness and clarity of mind with a refreshed and readjusted body are the rewards.
Bhanot has been training Andres for the past ten years. Â
Before flight, the pilots were trained with maximum physical and cardiovascular exercises for flexibility and fitness.
During flight, meditation for mental alertness and yoga nidra for deep relaxation was advised so as to maintain alertness.Â
After the flight was the recovery process where the pilots helped the body eliminate the extra nitrogen built-up in the body due to lack of movement. They recovered muscle strength through the combination of massages and yoga.With Yoga Malish lympathic system removes tiredness from the body.
Explaining the asanans Bhanot told NewsMobile that the pilots used Antastha Yogas “CNS series“, specially designed to balance the central nervous system, along with a special set of classical, static yoga postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. When exercised blindfolded on the plane, its benefits are striking.
The CNS postures provide better cognitive coordination and reflexes. It helps neutralizing the challenges faced during the flight such as possible muscular atrophy, loss of concentration and under functions of all body systems.
The breathing techniques, pranayama, helps them deal with respiratory and blood circulations challenges due to the extremes of temperature and altitude.
Postures like “shoulder bridge“, “spinal twist“ or “knees to chest“ increase the blood circulation in his vital organs, detox them, keep his endocrine system in shape and maintain his joint movements and general flexibility.