It is not that difficult, really.
If you are learning about nude recreation, you may have heard about how nudists come in all shapes, size, colors and ages. Yes, tou will fit in no matter what you look like. Yet, some of you may be worried about being offended by what you'll see - by what other people look like. I can assure you, what other people look like is a non-issue.
Some reasonable questions by someone new to nude recreation:
With a long hot summer upon us and ever increasing energy costs, there's one way to beat the heat and surging prices. Get naked!
Getting naked in the comfort of your home is easy. First, be sure the window blinds are closed. Then, just remove your clothing the same way your do when taking a shower.
Simple.
Cloth coverings (clothes) keep heat in, making humans hot and sweaty. The cloth material keeps the heat in and radiates the heat, making you hotter. What do you do when hot? You turn the fans and air conditioners to high. I know you do.
Your hot and sweaty clothes now need to be washed in the washing machine and then dried in a dryer.
Air conditioners, washers and dryers use electricity. Electricity costs more money each year. The washing machine also adds to the water bill.
Being without clothes costs nothing. It's cooler and may keep you from turning on the A/C. You may even need to wash less clothing.
Now, I'm not saying go out and be a nudist and visit nude beaches and the likes. But it sure does seem like a good idea to be naked in the comfort of your own home.
I remember one time seeing some residents of a naturist campground building a deck in front of their trailer. They worked without wearing anything. I thought: "Wow, I wish I could do that at home. It seems like such a natural way to do house work."
The only option for most people is to do housework indoors. Just keep the curtains shut!
If you've never tried doing housework without clothes, give it a try. You'll thank me for the idea. It is a way to try naturism/nudism and to see that being without textile material covering your skin is simply natural.
Why? You'll probably find the experience very natural and refreshing. Most people avoid vacuuming the rug, but the chore becomes more comfortable without clothes. It is like taking a shower and the refreshing feeling of being naked in a natural state.
Have to clean the bathroom? Do it before or after taking the day's shower. It is very convenient not to have to put on clothing.
Already do this? I'm not surprised. Doing housework without clothes is common amongst many people - even those who are not aware of this thing defined as nudism or naturism.
What's the first thing people take off at nudist resorts and clothing optional beaches?
Pants.
Pants. Who needs them?
To celebrate going without pants, a group has created No Pants Day. Though it has no relation to nudist recreation or the "nudist community", it seems worth mentioning. No Pants Day is a day where "everyone, be they students, respectable businessmen, or cherished community leaders, leave their pants behind. Usually this means wearing thick, appropriately modest boxer shorts, but bloomers, slips, briefs, and boxer-briefs all work as well."
No Pants Day is a fun event not intended to cause harm. There are no profound goals, like nudism, and the goal is just to have fun. As the No Pants Day websites states: "When large groups of people parade around in public without their pants, amazing things are bound to happen. At the very least, you’ll take your drab, wretched life a little less seriously, at least for one day."
Who can argue with that?
UK's 16,000-member strong naturist organization, British Naturism (BN), has some basic introductory information about naturism and a list of UK naturist destinations worth checking out.
They refer to the International Naturist Federation (INF) definition of naturism: "A way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment."
Author Michele Hartley on About.com provided a nice overview on German nudist attitudes here in the article "Nude in Germany - German Nudists Bare All".
Here's some of the key points relevant to Nudist Beginnings readers:
"Nudism in Germany is not shocking, it is daily life. German nudists are everyday people like you and me. The first documented nudist camp was established just outside of Hamburg in 1904 by Paul Zimmerman,..." (Michele Hartley via About.com)That's so different from the United States nudist experience where nudism has growing acceptance but is still considered strange by many. Most American nudists keep their nudism private from coworkers and even family.
"Freikörperkultur (free body culture or FKK for short) has a huge following with campsites and vacations spots for the entire family. Germans don't mind nudity. It is accepted and sometimes expected, as in most saunas, where bathing suits are generally verboten or at least looked upon as an oddity." (Michele Hartley via About.com)It sure seems that Germany is a different way of life when it comes to body acceptance and freedom. According to Hartley, anyone can be clothesfree and not have to worry about being judged.
"Sunbathing in the nude is commonplace in the major city parks around Germany (including Berlin) and the beaches are very often clothing optional. Whole families (from Grandma down to toddler) frolic on the beaches naked." (Michele Hartley via About.com)Sure makes me want to consider visiting Germany someday. I'll certainly be looking into it further and reporting more here and on my nudist travel blog.
Everyone has a unique perspective on nudism just like everyone has a unique perspective on life. The point is to talk about it. Several nudist use blogs as a way to let others learn about nudism.
It's alright to think nudism is not for you. Everyone has a preference. However, if you are open to the idea of being clothesfree beyond your shower, there are some good nudist blogs out there in the blogosphere that can help you learn more about real nudism.
Here's a few to check out, though there are many others that are just as good:
The Nude Life is a new blog with several articles from an experienced nudist. He was the author of the nudist cruise series on my nudist travel blog earlier this year.
USA Nudist covers USA nudist news topics and AANR happenings.
Nudist Day covers world nudist news and travel and has interviews with nudists and more.
The Nudiarist blog has a lot of posts on a variety of nudist topics. Check out the Burqini - the opposite of being cloths-free.
Of course, there's my other blog to learn about nudist travel and naturist resorts.
Does sleeping naked lead to nudism?
The Urban Dictionary, a slang community-made dictionary, defines sleeping naked as:
"Ok, I have to say that I am a very paranoid person at times, and it took me a while to be able to do this. I kept thinking, “what if the house catches on fire or something horrible happens and I have to run outside!”... But then I came to this realization… SO What>>> It’s just a body>> It’s not that Serious! So I tried it, and loved it. It’s even more spectacular with someone you love lying next to you."Right on! It's just a body. Clothes seems extraneous, don't they?
"I hear sleeping naked is a 'gateway activity' that leads to nudism. Once you’re naked in the bed, what’s next? Naked in the yard?"Yes, sleep naked and you may realize that being naked is not always about sex. You might even want to learn more about nudism. The MSN Encarta definition of nudism (naturism) is this:
"wearing no clothes as custom: the practice of going without clothes, usually in a communal setting or in designated areas, in the belief that nudity is a healthy natural state"Next thing you know, you'll wonder what else you could do naked. You may even end up reading more on this Nudist Beginnings blog or visiting a nudist travel blog like this. Soon, you'll consider swimming naked and then visiting nude beaches or maybe even a nude resort.
In this fun video segment, HamptonRoads.tv's Brian J. Clark goes to an American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) nudist conference. The event talks place at Whitetail Resort in Ivor, Virgina. See what the resort and a nudist conference are like.
Watch video
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Check it out.
Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, CA put out an article about the Top 7 myths about nudist resorts that people new to nudism may have. This is perfect for Nudist Beginnings readers so I though I'd pass it along:
The Top 7 Myths About Vacationing at Nudist Resorts
Vacationing at nudist resorts is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. It is a booming niche market with over $400 million in annual revenues. A recent Roper poll showed 25% of American adults have gone skinny dipping. Maybe it is time you should too. Make your next vacation a fun one, go as bare as you dare.
Palm Springs, CA, June 13, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Those high walls and locked gates seem just so imposing. Everyone knows there are nudist colonies in America. Yet, everyone also wants to know, "what really happens inside the walls of a modern nudist resort?"
Tom and Mary Clare Mulhall, the owners of The Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa located in sunny Palm Springs, California share some of the secrets and myths about nude resorts.
Just this March, their beautiful boutique hotel was reported by AOL.com to be one of the top 10 "world's best clothing optional resorts."
More importantly, The Terra Cotta Inn is considered the most mainstream nudist resort in America and perfect for couples trying nude sunbathing for the first time.
Once you learn about the top 7 myths about vacationing at nudist resorts, you will want to pack the sunscreen, some good books or magazines, your iPod, sunglasses, and if you have kids at home, pack them off with the grandparents. Because it will be time to experience your most fun, romantic, relaxing vacation ever.
Myth #1 All nudist resorts are the same
As experienced naturists know, all clothing optional resorts are unique and different. They have their own personality and character. Most cater to families and their kids. Many are charmingly rustic campgrounds and parks. Nicer ones that appeal to first timers like Terra Cotta are not for kids. That way you can have a nice relaxing, pampering, romantic vacation. It is very important for your first nude sunbathing experience to find the nudist resort that is right for you. If you go to the wrong place, you will probably never try nude recreation again.
Myth #2 You will have to play volleyball all day long
Yes, volleyball is the national pastime of many nudist clubs, parks, beaches and campgrounds. However, most of the more modern nudist resorts don't even own a volleyball net. And if you go to a nudist campground or beach for your first experience, don't worry, no one will force you to play.
Myth #3 You have to be a "card carrying" nudist to visit a clothing optional resort
Yes, it is true that many of the older nudist parks and clubs in America still want their customers to buy an annual membership just like you buy an annual gym membership. But, many parks allow you to visit before joining. And nudist resorts like The Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs have never required any of their guests to buy membership.
Myth #4 Everyone laughs at you if you have tan lines
This couldn't be further from the truth. You will see many experienced nudists have tan lines because many times they take a 1 week vacation with their kids and swimsuits and then go to a nice nudist resort for their 1 week relaxing vacation without the kids and swimsuits. Also some first timers like to try European sunbathing (also called topless sunbathing) first. That is ok at some of the nicer hotels like The Terra Cotta Inn. You must enquire first before booking your vacation. Finally, you find not all nudists like laying in the sun all day long. So there is normally lots of shade at the nicer places.
Myth #5 All nudists are aging hippies
While some nudist parks are having a hard time convincing younger couples to buy annual memberships, that is not true of all nudist venues. For instance, a recent survey published in the 2007 National Leisure Travel Monitor showed 16% of adults born in 1979 or later consider vacationing where there is access to nude or topless sunbathing desirable or very desirable.
Myth #6 Nudists have orgies
Not true. Most guests at nudist resorts are married or in long term committed relationships. There is much less sexual tension at a clothing optional resort, than there is at a regular hotel where everyone is wearing a bathing suit. Nudist resorts make you feel comfortable with your naked body and build self esteem.
Myth #7 You need to lose weight before vacationing at a nudist resort
This is the biggest myth of all. Many people think nudists are all models and body builders. Where in reality, they are regular normal people. They are tall and short. They are thin and not thin. They are all ages from 20's to 70's. They are all professions. And they are democrats, republicans, and nonvoters. Everyone vacations at nudist resorts, and so should you.
So make this the year for you to have a great vacation. Find out for yourselves all the fun that goes on behind those mysterious, high walls.
If you want to say goodbye to your tanlines forever, give the Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs, California a call at 1-800-786-6938.
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If you need a reason to try nude recreation, look no further.
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS) are teaming up this summer to encourage Americans to take off their clothes during the annual Nude Recreation Week celebration, held July 9-15, 2007. Nude Recreation Week gives first-timers the chance to give clothes-free recreation a try at home or at one of the many AANR-affiliated clubs that open their doors to the public during this week.
This video provides a brief introduction to nudism and explains what nudists do while at a nudist destination.
The speaker asks questions about the nudist lifestyle to an American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) representative.
The video mentions AANR's 50,000 members.
50,000 is just the tip of the iceberg. Think of all the people in the US who are not members, either because of lack of awareness or interest in joining an organization.
Looking at the number of people at nudist beaches, there must be a significant number of people who enjoy the clothes-free outdoors regularly.
Nope. True nudist/naturist cruises are not sex-charged places. They are human places. Nudist cruises are about real people on a cruise ship who just happen to be more comfortable without clothes. And with that, they form a common bond.
To get a feeling about what a nude cruise is really like, read the daily trip reports from a nudist aboard a Caribbean nude cruise with 1,200 other nudists.
There is one rule that must be followed for this nudist myth busting experiment to be true. The nudist cruise event must be held in positive regard by members of AANR, the International Naturist Federation, or any of the other wholesome nudism focused organizations, you can be assured the cruise is a good one.
When selecting a destination, reading the genuine nudist forums is a good place to start. A good one with a loyal following of "clothes-free people" is ClothesFree forums.
Nudist Myth Busted. Nude cruises provide a friendly, respectful vacation environment when properly selected.
After hours of research on this April 1st, I am pleased to present the Complete List of Reasons to Wear Clothes:
1. Clothes are good when the weather is too cold to be comfortable.
2. Clothes are good for the safety of construction workers, race car drivers, etc.
3. Clothes are good for sterile environments like hospitals, medical labs, and research centers.
4. Clothes are good for graduation ceremonies (with nothing under the "cap and gown" required).
5. Clothes are good for religious ceremonies for symbolism.
There you have it, the complete list of 5 reasons. This was more difficult than I originally thought.
Competing with the 205 Arguments in Favor of Naturism appearing in The Naturist Society's (TNS) N magazine in 1996 is just not possible. The list of arguments was compiled by K. Bacher from various sources.
Here's a sample of the arguments:
15. Children are not born with any shame about nudity. They learn to be ashamed of their own nudity.
21. Many indigenous tribes go completely naked without shame, even today. It is only through extended contact with the "modern" world that they learn to be "modest."
29. Nudity is not, by itself, erotic, and nudity in mixed groups is not inherently sexual. These are myths propagated by a clothes -obsessed society. Sexuality is a matter of intent rather than state of dress.
33. Studies have demonstrated that countries with fewer hangups about nudity have lower teen pregnancy and abortion rates.
45. Naturism is the antithesis of pornography.
101. Clothing is produced by environmentally irresponsible processes from environmentally irresponsible sources.
205. One of the most important arguments in support of nudism is personal experience.
43things.com is a cool website with a "1,000 things to do before you die" theme. People contribute what they want to do, what they have done, get ideas from other people and share experiences.
Some people want to try nudism and others have already. I'm just browsing through the 43things website and so far it is fun.
I tried to contribute to one person's Thing: "my strange desire to visit a nudist colony"
Other people want to get nude on a nude beach, visit a nudist colony (nudist resort/campground) and others talk about positive experiences. Yet others want to go nude more, having tried it a liked it, and another has lived in a nudist resort.
Humans need clothing, don't they? Let's dispel the myth of clothing. A brief sampling of works by other authors makes it clear that living nude is more common than you may think.
In the recent and recommended book "The Complete Guide to Nudism and Naturism" by Liz and James Egger, the husband and wife nudist authors of 30 years provide some interesting facts and evidence why clothing is not a physical requirement for survival.
They point out that the natives in Tierra del Fuego in South America's southernmost region have lived nude in a climate with 43F (6C) degree average weather. Charles Darwin is among the people to document this.
The Egger's go on to say "The difference is that [the natives] had never felt the need for clothing, and so their bodies had adapted to the cold."
NUFF, the Naturist UK Fact File, is compiling a list of many existing and extinct nude cultures around the world. The list is surprising. Did you know that the peoples of the indigenous tribes of the Caribbean, the Caribs, were usually nude at the time of discovery by Christopher Colombus?
In a 1927 book entitled "Studies in the Psychology of Sex: Vol. 1" by Havelock Ellis, the author examines many cultures whose people do not normally cover themselves with fabric. The book is dated and relative, but points out many cultures where nudity has been the norm:
"The Mandurucu women of Brazil... are completely naked, but they are careful to avoid any postures which might be considered indecorous..."
"The semi-nude natives of the island of Nias in the Indian Ocean are "modest by nature," paying no attention to their own nudity or that of others,..."And then there are cultures where clothing is restrictive:
"In [1927] England, the regulations of the Swimming Clubs affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association, require that the male swimmer's costume shall extend not less than eight inches from the bifurcation downward, and that the female swimmer's costume shall extend to within not more than three inches from the knee."Living naked is a way of life in many cultures. Myth busted.
How does colored fabric change who we are? Researchers says clothing has an impact on how you perceive yourself.
In a University of Michigan study entitled "Clothing in the Self-System of Adolescents" (1997 - view), researchers explored the cultural impact of clothing in relation to the self during those developmentally important adoloescent years.
The researchers explain how clothing and the self are linked:
"If adolescents regard clothing as a tool for validation of the self or inclusion in social interaction through which the self can be established, they may value clothing more than other objects as part of the self. They may perceive clothing as central to the self and psychologically become linked to clothing. The centrality and psychological linkage of the person to clothing is what is meant by the psychological closeness or proximity of clothing to self."
John Veltheim wrote an interesting article called "Naked beneath your clothing" a while back. I won't claim to agree with every last point, but he presents a lot of good thoughts.
Here, he provides an argument about the negative impact of clothing on our body and mind:
"When people use clothing as a means of shutting out the world and covering up to stop the world from seeing their distorted inner self image, they create a tragedy of immense proportions. When hiding behind clothes, people are closing down their body energically and psychologically. A healthy body has its energy, nervous system, and life forces flowing freely throughout it. When shut down psychologically and physically, the body energy shuts down, distorts and flows abnormally. This manifests major kinks in spiritual, emotional, mental and physical growth."
