Scrolling through pages of ads on Workaway, a site that lets you stay for free in places across the world in exchange for work, I came across an interesting profile. An older gay man was offering a place to camp with no obligation to work in the Canary Islands.
The catch? He’s a naturist living in a naturist village.
What is naturism?
Depending on who you ask, some people will use the terms naturist and nudist interchangeably, while others feel there is a clear distinction between the two terms. Naturism is meant to be more social rather than sexual, but both refer to wandering around nude in public as a normal experience.
One might argue that naturism is the oldest, most natural way of living. But the movement as we know it today started in the early 1900s as the ‘free body movement’ in Germany. Another swell of popularity happened with the hippy movement of the ‘60s, and if a recent UK survey is to be trusted, there is a new swell of popularity in recent years.
If you’ve never tried it, you may be wondering: Why would people expose themselves so fully?
It can boost your self-esteem and promote self-acceptance
If the thought of revealing your naked body is terrifying to you, you might not believe that the solution very well might be to reveal your naked body.
It’s not just the revealing of your own naked body that helps, but the fact that you’re doing it with other people, all of whom have normal bodies. Seeing other naked bodies helps you to relax and embrace your own. And this has even now been backed up with scientific evidence.
When you see the whole range of diverse bodies of different sizes, colours, shapes and ages, you see that everyone’s body is unique. Most of us have scars, or rolls, or sagginess somewhere, and it’s fine.
More nudity can de-fetishize the naked body and promote respect for others
Unless you specifically look for it, nudity isn’t really included in day-to-day life in many parts of the world. In fact, in North America, you could easily go years without ever seeing a naked body that wasn’t your own. It’s very much a taboo in that part of the world and has therefore also become highly fetishized.
Some believe that exposure to nudity fans the flames of sexually charged violence, but the opposite seems more likely, largely because porn exists. In a society with a taboo against nudity, the only context within which one experiences other naked bodies is a sexual one. This leads to fetishizing the body, particularly body parts that are supposed to always be covered.
Naturism allows us to separate nudity and sexuality because you see enough nonsexual nudity to counterbalance the idea that nudity is only a sexual thing. But that’s not the only way that it can promote respect for others. Without clothes, you no longer have the same class barriers as you would with branded and styled clothing.
Naturism is a great equaliser.
It’s good for your health
Ok, so there is shockingly little scientific research on the biological impacts of clothing vs nudity. However, there are some benefits that one can logically conclude.
For starters, you might remember the article regarding synthetic materials (rats in pants article). A lot of clothes have microplastics in them and can even disrupt your hormones. Less clothing means less exposure not only to your own body, but to our waterways (and consequently the bodies of others) as well.
Additionally, clothes can be really restrictive, particularly if you’re used to wearing tight or stretchy clothes. A lot of internet sources seem to believe that this can impact your circulation, so if you find that your circulation needs a little help, try nudity! I haven’t found any actual studies to verify this, but it’s worth experimenting on yourself.
Please report your findings!
But the BIGGEST health benefit has to be the vitamin D exposure. Vitamin D isn’t easy to get through diet alone and it impacts so many bodily functions. Increasing your vitamin D absorption boosts your immune system and strengthens your bones. To maximise this benefit, try eating more leafy greens. They’ll help prevent sun damage and improve your vitamin D absorption.
We know that clothing can trap bacteria and sweat, keeping it close to the skin and causing problems. Removing clothing not only reduces the amount of bacteria and sweat trapped on your body, but it also increases airflow. If you’re taking in the sun while nude, the sun also has an antibacterial effect in and of itself.
Freedom
Once you’ve normalised nudity, and the range of bodies that exist, a new level of freedom can be reached. No longer are you worried about people ‘discovering’ your flaws. They see them. It’s all out there. And it doesn’t matter.
For some, this can be a huge burden suddenly lifted from your shoulders. Many of us go about our daily lives concerned about our appearances. Releasing that worry frees us up to focus on things that actually matter.
When you stop obsessing over your body, you can finally then start to live within it. Our bodies are wonderful machines that allow us to experience all sorts of sensorial pleasures. Living an embodied experience, without shame, can be profoundly liberating.
Reconnection With Nature
One of my personal favourite aspects of naturism is, well, the nature. Walking out to the ocean with sunlight touching every part of you. Swimming, completely unencumbered by clingy, cold material that balloons up in weird places at unintended moments. It’s the same joy of walking barefoot, only it’s not limited to your feet.
Wearing clothes can be helpful for a variety of reasons, in numerous contexts, but ultimately, they act as a barrier between your body and the rest of the world. Living without clothing allows for a closeness with nature that you can’t really get any other way.
Not only are you immersed in nature, but there is no division between you and the rest of the natural world. You begin to really see yourself as part of it all, which is a mindset sorely needed to face the ecological catastrophe we are in today.
My personal experience
My first day was a memorable mix of daring and vulnerability. I was a bit scared at first, but seeing so many others fully nude emboldened me to give it a try. Honestly, it helped that everyone around me seemed to be retired and, well, normal.
I did have some fearful moments when I was walking alone and encountered young, clothed men. I noticed the power differential immediately and it triggered deep fears. Nothing bad happened and I was able to walk away unharmed. But the more time I spent safely in the buff, the more relaxed I felt. And the more I got to know others in the community, the safer I felt. My host turned out to be a very kind and friendly older man who I felt I could go to if there was any trouble.
Something I didn’t expect was that when I started spending more time au naturale, my manifestations became more immediate and precise. Now, I know that term has been co-opted by spiritualist influencers, some of which have given it a bad reputation. But for those of you who are interested in how our internal worlds interact with the external one, I did notice a change. I now appreciate why a lot of witches and other pagans like to do ritual work ‘skyclad’.
The naked truth
In a world where nudity is largely taboo, you’re going to have the odd person who seeks out naturism for the wrong reasons. Cultivating safety in your experience is a must. This can look like befriending those around you, knowing who to call if you need help and finding out what environments you feel safest in.
Temperature is a big factor in how well things will go because nudity isn’t fun when you’re cold. Be mindful of the climate and prepare for it. Bring a sweater or shawl if you might get cold, and water and sunscreen if it’s really scorching.
Know the laws. Some places allow non-sexual nudity, and others criminalise it. Take the time to know what the laws are in the area you plan to explore naturism in. No one needs an indecent exposure arrest on their records. Even if you think it’s fine, it’s always good to check so that you know what level of risk you are accepting.
Where can one go to embrace a communally nude experience?
In the European and North American world, one can seek out naturist communities, resorts and beaches. Depending on where you plan on going, they might use the term naturist, nudist or, in Germany, FKK (Freikörperkultur). Some places require nudity, while others simply allow you to exist however you feel most comfortable.
In Japan, Korea and Russia, communal bathing is practiced. Japan especially has embraced nude bathing, not only as a part of spiritual and physical purification in natural springs, but also as a part of social bonding. In fact, they even have a special term for the “naked friendship” bond that can take place while nude, hadaka no tsukiai. Japan has thousands of onsens and sentos where one can bathe communally, sometimes in mixed gender settings.
In South America, Africa, and Oceania, many communities have no shame associated with nudity. When the weather suits nudity, people are commonly nude. Tourism sometimes threatens this liberty because a lot of tourists are weird about nudity, having been deprived of it most of their lives. However, if you search for naturist beaches in all of these parts of the world, some do exist. Always be mindful of the local regulations. No need to break any laws.
Charge up your butt!
Ready to embrace the healing power of your birthday suit? Check out your local nude beach, or travel abroad for an exploration free from the shackles of your seemingly uptight community.
I highly recommend a hot climate near the ocean for the ultimate experience in living in nature.
Now, get out there and love your body!