Usually we just think of Zentai suits as being for fun, but they can also make a big difference. Some people have very light sensitive skin. They get sunburned in minutes and can't go swimming outdoors easily. New swimsuit designs now give them a chance to enjoy the beach.

These suits are skin tight and cover the entire body, including the face or parts thereof. Some suits have a face opening, or just eye or mouth holes.

Even if a suit doesn't have any face opening, it's usually quite easy to see or breathe through. It is not an effective blindfold. For swimming such a suit should at least leave mouth and nose open for breathing as wet lycra can be a hindrance.

Zentai Origins

The name comes from Zentai (from the Japanese ゼンタイ). This is either a contraction of zenshin taitsu (全身タイツ) ("full-body tights") or a direct translation of "full body" (全体　zentai). Zentai is most commonly made using nylon/spandex blends, but other materials such as cotton and wool are used as well.

Growing Popularity

In major cities worldwide (but especially in Japan), zentai suits are becoming an increasingly common sight as recreational wear for both men and women. People in Zentai suits are showing up in dance clubs, meditation studios, swimming pools and shopping malls. A subculture is beginning to take shape around zentai.

There are also those who enjoy Zentai suits for the recreational sensory novelty or physical comfort Zentai suits are also being used more and more as recreational clothing to lounge around in.

Performing Arts

Zentai suits were first developed for use in modern dance, but are now used in the arts to diminish the presence of an actor in a scene. In fact, in the traditional Japanese art of puppetry called bunraku the apprentice performers are completely covered in black garments against a black background to produce the same effect.

Artists also use these suits as a medium to accentuate the body, sometimes making use of vibrant patterns. By making the performer anonymous, the performance of the body itself becomes the focus. Ponder about this for your next competition or synchronised swim. Just make sure you can breathe.

Meditation

The suits are also finding a place as a useful tool for meditation. It can provide a medium for body awareness, a focus for meditation via the senses by allowing for both sensory deprivation as well as sensory enhancement, as well as a symbolic barrier between the self and the world. Frankly, it is kind of refreshing.

For the most part, this has not yet touched the western world, but The Zentai Project is pioneering its recreational use.

www.thezentaiproject.org