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Though nudity is often taboo in modern societies, frequent nudity can have health benefits. Obviously, if the air temperature is too cold, your environment or activity is dangerous, dirty, abrasive or otherwise hostile, nudity may not be so healthy. However, if you are somewhere where nudity is safe, legal and acceptable, such as home, private backyard or a nudist resort, you can be doing your body good!
Here are a few health benefits:
Vitamin D - Sunlight exposure to the skin allows your body to make it’s own vitamin D. If you are nude, you are creating more vitamin D than if you only have, say, your face and arms exposed to the sunlight. Of course be careful of too much sun, which can lead to skin cancer. A good rule is to avoid sunburn. It’s your body’s way of saying you’ve been in the sun too long!
Skin health - The drying effect, UV light and warming by the sun is good for many skin conditions. Ultra-violet light helps lessen the symptoms of psoriasis and kills surface fungus on the skin. The increased air flow allow parts of the body to air-out and this helps prevent fungal, bacterial infections as well as bad odors.
Keeping cool - The human body has an amazing ability to regulate it’s temperature, especially to stay cool enough as the temperature climbs and humidity increases - if it’s allowed to. The body can cool much more effectively when nude. Clothes often do what you’d expect - they insulate! Various ideas about long sleeves being better to wick away sweat or keep out the heat are mostly BS. I always have to laugh when I see western anthropologists wearing a lot of clothing when studying nude natives in hot, humid areas. The westerners claim it’s somehow better to wear clothing in the environment…implying that somehow the natives didn’t figure that out over thousands of years!
Comfort/Stress-relief - Comfort is like the opposite of pain and stress. Nudity, in a comfortable environment can relax your mind and your body, lowering stress hormones.
Digestive tract flow - Few people realize how everyday clothes constrict the proper flow of digesting food in the intestines. Nudity lets things move naturally.
Body awareness - Nudity can be indirectly healthy because when nude, you are more likely to think about your body and see signs of unhealthiness needing treatment. If others see you nude, they could point out health-related concerns as well.
Nude exercise - Nudity can be a great way to enjoy exercise. With nudity, you have more freedom of movement, greater comfort and a greater ability to cool naturally and effectively by sweating.
Have you participated in a world naked bike ride? Naked bike rides have occurred in major cities around the world, where permissible. So what are naked bike rides bike rides about?
You might ask why a bunch of people, mostly younger adults, would get totally or mostly nude and ride across town on their bicycles? It is supposedly a protest and statement to “protest oil dependency and celebrate the power and individuality of our bodies”. Of course any reasonable person might conclude it’s mostly about just having fun, doing something crazy and feeling something that feels like freedom in this oppressive world.
Are naked bike rides legal? That depends on laws in whatever jurisdiction the naked bike ride takes place. In some places, it’s totally legal, in others it’s legal as an organized, peaceful protest event (but someone riding a bike any other day might be arrested), and in some jurisdictions, it’s not legal at all, so therefore doesn’t happen or gets shut down fast. Some participants wear underwear or shorts anyway and in some cities they all do, to avoid arrest.
A bad economy hits nudists, like it hits everyone. So how is a nudist to enjoy a full-fledged nudist lifestyle when you’re now unemployed or just getting real frugal?
Scene from a Leon
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Consider these ideas, as alternatives to pricey resorts:
Be nude at home more: Be nude more at home, reducing the need to go somewhere and pay to be have a place to be nude! Have nudist or nudism-curious friends over for food, drinks and a movie.
State/national forests: Sometimes you have find sufficiently-remote areas of public lands where you can be nude. However, be very careful and check state laws. Some states legal to be nude as long as no one sees or is offended. In some states, it may be illegal altogether or just too legally risky! Also, as always, be considerate to non-nudists in the park and make sure you are in a rather isolated area.
Plan trips more wisely: Maybe you can still go to those resorts and nudist events, if you carpool with other nudists and plan carefully to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Free nude beaches: Some spots around country and world may be lucky to have free nude beaches, so no grounds fees are necessary. For example, Haulover Beach, in Miami, is free - except for parking.
Check discounts for resorts: If you are young, female, a college student or other under-represented minority and they don’t list discounts, it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Just live at a resort: Be open mind about possibilities. What if you rented a cabin, apartment, house or camping spot on the grounds of a nudist resort? You probably would not be charged “grounds fees” if you live there, and it might turn out to be best savings/quality of life combo when all is considered.
Are all college students nudists? No way. But many students do experiment with nudity in their college years. For some it is just that - a short term experiment to be considered a naughty little college ritual and shunned for the rest of life. Others may continue to have at least a laid-back attitude regarding nudity for life, in part due to college experiences. A few will like nudity so much they will someday call themselves nudists, however most students who end up a nudist aren’t ready to accept the label of “nudist” or “naturist” during their school years.
College students’ nude ventures may take a variety of forms. They may be of a more obnoxious nature, i.e. streaking across the university campus, drunk at 3 AM, or in a more relaxed, less legally risky setting such as swimming or sunbathing nude at a local lake or resort. Students at some universities have even organized low-profile, civilized nude parties - sort of like a toga party without the toga.
Whatever the method of getting comfortable in one’s own skin, realizing that nudity can be a wonderful thing is a lesson that can last a lifetime.
Will the nudist industry continue to grow, despite the lagging economy? Fortunes are made by developing undeveloped in-demand services and products. Why should nudism be any different? Well, it is different, due to legal barriers, cultural barriers and associated risks - but it is still a relatively underdeveloped industry. Does your state have the demand and legal allowance to support more resorts or travel services (boat tours, etc.)? Does your state have laws that directly or effectively outlaw nudist ventures? Do your research and consider doing your part in starting or helping with a nudist enterprise!
Why are there many more male nudists than female nudists in most places? There are many reasons, some reasonable and some not so reasonable.
Women may feel a natural, perhaps even instinctual vulnerability, even when they have no reason to believe they’ll be in danger. Of course nudist resorts and even nudist beaches can be very safe places, especially if accompanied by friends. Nudist resorts weed out offending types so that you’ll encounter a better-behaving bunch of people than in mainstream society.
Women in the modern world are also heavily influenced by harsh mainstream judgement about what a woman should and should not look like, and they fear other nudists will judge similarly. Of course, modern nudists are accepting of all body types and will admire your courage instead of judge you. A woman attending a nudist resort will likely see other women with similar forms. Any experienced nudist has seen all types of real bodies, with all their imperfections as well, so just be nude for yourself and have no fear what others think of your appearance.
There is likely some tendency for the male mind to be a little more attracted to nudity more than females as well. Yes, most males are more visual sexually and as “pure” as we want to keep nudism, doubtless this is a motivation to some males. But another possible difference may be that males are simply more curious and experimental, at least regarding something like nudity. This is sure to be a controversial point. It is difficult to determine what traits are caused by culture, upbringing, genetics or hormonal influences. Whether you’re talking about possible differences in the way male and female minds work in intellectual, vocational, political endeavors or nudism, it will probably be a couple decades before science sorts out all the causes.
On the other hand, there is apparent evidence for the gender ratio being more due to culture and upbringing, rather than genes/biology in liberal college town nudist spots. In small, isolated liberal college town settings, nudist clubs, resorts and swimming spots tend to actually attract something close to a 50/50 ratio of males to females. This is surprising to many used to big city/non-college nudist scenes, but seems to show that women can indeed be as bold as men in nude ventures (at least at college age), when they feel empowered and feel free to explore something other than tradition and mainstream culture would dictate.
So if you are a female curious about nudism, but haven’t jumped in yet, give it a try! Be tolerant and patient if your first experience isn’t ideal, but be bold and feel this wonderful multi-level freedom we call nudism!
As a first-time visitor to a nude beach or nudist resort, you might ask “Should I be embarrassed about my body at a nude beach or nudist resort?” The basic answer is… No. Absolutely not. Real nudists are one of the few havens of body acceptance in modern western society. It is a basic nudist principle that you should not judge others based on their appearance, but if anything, should admire them for their courage to join you despite their possible insecurities and issues. For many, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to try a nudist location or event for the first time. You’ll see that many of your fears are needless, and that’s certainly the case with concerns about your appearance.
With nudists, you’ll see all shapes and sizes, all ages, men and women, and those with all manner of scars and abormalities. Some have even reported a sort of mild reverse discrimination at some nudist venues toward those who look too good… but that is rare, and not something to worry about if you happen to fall into that group. Appearance is just a non-issue at any real nudist place…so go, be free and be without worries. The size and shape of your breasts, penis, butt, belly or anything else just doesn’t come up. Nudists are a more sophisticated bunch than that!
Here, I’ll run down a list of common concerns:
Body weight/body shape:
As stated above, you will see all shapes and sizes. You’ll certainly see a more realistic picture of body diversity than you’ll ever get from the mainstream media. So don’t be thinking “I’m too fat” - you can be anything from very “overweight” to very skinny and you’ll fit in fine regardless!
Scars/abnormalities/skin conditions:
Nudists have just as many scars, abnormalities and skin conditions as everyone else. The difference being it’s not hidden, of course. Nobody is “perfect” and you’ll see everyone has some scars or something they could be self-conscious about, if they chose to be. The bottom line is…don’t worry - you’ll likely see several others much like you, all happily enjoying nudity as well!
Age:
You’ll see all ages at a nude beach or nudist resort. And I mean all! In the U.S., most locations are demographically weighted toward older people, but that’s just because more young people haven’t mustered up the courage yet. Think about it - statistically, some of those fraidy-cat younger adults will eventually become declared nudists themselves, by the time they have gray hair. And if you are younger and concerned with the age distribution, remember, the only way to balance it out is to do your part - attend and invite your friends!
Piercings/Jewelry/ornamentation:
In general, any tattoos, piercings or jewelry are just fine, probably common and so likely won’t even raise an eyebrow. Years ago, when new kinds of piercings were not so widespread, some resorts banned genital piercings, but that’s less common today. The main concern seems to be with genital piercings, jewelry or ornamentation that flaunts or calls attention to the genitals. This is mainly an issue for men, since their genitals are more out in the open and obvious. Women might wear such jewelry without it being viewable, and therefore it wouldn’t be an issue. For men… a good guideline is…if you might imagine it appearing innapropriate, creepy or pervy to other nudists, don’t do it or at least ask management first! The bottom line is… even nudists have some taboos, so be considerate and take into account the likely feelings or taboos of those around you - some crowds are more liberal or conservative in this regard than others.
Gender:
Some nudist locations have more males than females. As with the age issue above, the way this can change is by doing your part. If you are a female, attend anyway, bring one or several female friends with you if possible.
Race:
This is not something to worry about in the least. Nudists love diversity and welcome all, regardless of race, ethnicity or cultural background. If anything you’ll probably experience even more social warmth as a racial minority.
Pubic Hair:
In recent years, the shaving of all or part of one’s pubic hair has been fashionable. This is another non-issue. You will see those who are all natural (don’t shave or trim a thing), to those who shave all, and all variations in-between. Remember, nudists are a diversity-friendly bunch, and whatever style of pubic hair you have, it’s fine and not a concern. Likewise, distribution of other body hair, male or female, is a non-issue.
Genitals, breasts appearance:
Here again, you’ll see how pop culture badly lies and misrepresents about the true diversity of genitals and breasts. Do not be concerned about the size, shape or general appearance of yours. For one thing, you’ll probably see others like you. In addition, your appearance, of any body part, just doesn’t matter. Nudist locations aren’t pagents - just a place for you to be free, comfortable, happy, healthy and social if you want!
Tattoos:
Tattoos are essentially not an issue. And as common as they have become, they barely raise an eyebrow. The only problems I could imagine is if someone had a tattoo said something very offensive, like “I hate nudists”!
Other body-related concerns
Arousal/erections:
Some are concerned they may become aroused at a nude beach or resort. While this is certainly possible, many don’t find a nudist environment particularly arousing once they get there, depending on the person and the environment. Even then, you’ll be surpised how much you can keep your thoughts and feelings under control if you really try. Women are luckier in this regard, because their signs of arousal are usually not as obvious as with men. Men should take care to hide an erection if it occurs, and psychologically suppress it as soon as possible. This is one of the few nudist taboos, the seriousness of which depending on the actual crowd or resort/club policies.
Menstruation:
Even nudist women menstruate (surprise?) and however you handle it, you will have no reason for embarrassment. Some women wear a tampon, but snip off the string. Some leave the string. Some wear shorts those days, if the resort policies allow. The concern some resorts or groups have is that if they allow women to wear shorts at their discretion, some will wear shorts all the time, then some men will and before you know it everyone is going to a nudist resort to wear clothes - making those who are fully nude feel very awkard and like they’re in the wrong place! I know, sounds strange, but people do strange things without some guidelnes and rules. The bottom line here is, do what you need to do, possibly check resort policies or ask other women in the resort or group. Most places will be fine however you handle it, as long as it’s reasonable.
Body position:
Mosts nudists aren’t offended by any particular position or view of the body. I mean, nudists are prepared to see the full reality of the human body and therefore it doesn’t make sense for them to be offended or bothered by someone bent over or legs spread apart. Some older nudists, from a previous generation, often 60 or older, may be offended by “un-lady-like” positions, but they are in the opinion minority, so be comfortable and have no worries in your nude relaxation and recreation!
More common nudist concerns
Mainstream reputation:
Will the word get out, to friends, family, co-workers and your community, that you are a nudist or frequent nude beaches? This is a legitimate concern for many, but in practice, nudists rarely “tattletale” on who they saw at a resort, beach or club. They wouldn’t want you to tell on them either. Unless you tell your aquaintences, they usually don’t find out, unless you give give big clues. Even then, most people don’t have the nerve to ask or bring it up. If they do, you could always tell a white lie or downplay your nudist experience if you need. Some people don’t feel the need to hide it and freely tell anyone they know that they’re a nudist. Whichever type you are, it’s fine, but respect the privacy of other nudists.
Photographs:
Will someone take my picture at a nude beach? It’s unlikely. It’s highly taboo to photograph nudists without their permission, and this is one reason a nudist resort is a safer place than a public nude beach. If you’re at a public nude beach and you’re very concerned about being photographed nude, put on some sunglasses or maybe wear your hair different. That’s probably enough to at least make you unidentifiable in the unlikely event someone were to take your picture and put in on the web.
Gawking:
Will you be gawked at, firted with or otherwise harassed at a nudist place? Probably not, but again, nudist resorts are much, much better, for this concern, than public nude beaches. Most public nude beaches have no effective way to keep out badly-behaving individuals. If you do go to a public nude beach, it really helps to go with a friend (or many), especially if one of those friends looks like he/she can kick some gawker ass!
You’ll see that, though many people have fears about trying nudism for the first time, most of the fears are unfounded, and the rest usually worth the benefits. So get out and there and feel the freedom today!
A nudist spring break is the most awesome way to break, for college students or anyone else who is lucky enough to escape northern climate this time of year. Having endured a North American winter and finding a warm beach of more southerly lattitudes, it feels great to have the warm, ocean breeze against your skin. Why not take it all the way and get nude? Well, of course, some college students at conventional spring breaks do get nude, but we’re not talking about the actions meant to shock or arouse, of questionable taste - we’re talking about places where nudity is totally acceptable and, in fact, preferred or even required. There are many nudist resorts and beaches, from the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico, Texas and California, where you can be as nude as you want to be for spring break.
Now it’s usually not required that you call yourself a “nudist” or “naturist” at these places. It’s understood that most college students or other young adults are not yet ready to accept that label. For some, nudity is a short-term experiment. For others, it is the start of a lifetime of enjoyment of the nudist/naturist lifestyle.
Who do you go with? It may be that your friends you’d normally spring break with are afraid of getting nude in front of strangers. However, many college students are quite willing to try a low-key nudity experience, so float the idea by them, maybe as a joke at first to check their reaction. If nothing else, you could get some different friends, meet some online to meet you at the nudist place or just go alone. On the other hand, if you happen to have nudity-tolerant friends already, you’re good to go!
If money is an issue, check into nudist resorts in your own state (or one nearby). Sure, it may not be an exotic, tropical destination, but certainly would be a delightful way to say “hello” to spring.
Nude Beach or Nudist Resort for Spring Break?
Whether you go for a nudist resort or nude beach (or both!), depends on how you’d like to experience nudism and your tolerance for the occasional gawker. In a typical nudist resort, gawkers are forbidden, therefore only other nude people seriously interested in, or trying out nudism will be there. Because only real nudists are there, there is a more trusting envionment, which makes for easier socialization, if you want to socialize. If you don’t want to talk to anyone, find a large resort with nature trails and plenty of space where it’s easier to get away, alone or with your partner or friends.
A nude beach, on the other hand, typically has gawkers to some degree (people who go just to look at naked people), and so you have to have more of a tolerance for that and other potntial social annoyances at a public nude beach. This problem is worse at urban nude beaches, like Haulover Beach (Miami, Florida area), where people can easily walk literally right off the street, taking little effort to gawk at you. More rural or difficult-to-reach nude beaches, like Black’s Beach in California, however, have less of a gawker problem. It’s a matter of who has more willpower to get to remote beaches, nudists or gawkers, and usually the nudist wins out here.
Whereever you decide to go, have fun, be careful and wear that sunscreen!
A few nude beach and nudist resort listings for spring breakers:
Haulover Beach, North Miami Beach, Florida:
While the people environment here has been described by some as “socially cold”, the beach and water here are warm and beautiful! South Beach is just a few minutes from here, so after a day at the nude beach, a nap at the hotel, you can have a blast at the South Beach clubs all night long.
Many nudists are still nude in their homes in the winter time, depending on how well-heated their house is.
Some don’t find the dry indoor winter air as comfortable as the more humid summer air, and some choose to save energy by lowering the thermostat, thereby making it too cool for nudity. Yes, most nudists put on clothes when it comes to saving money or the environment (through decreased energy usage).
For those with the flexibility and funds to travel, you can always fly, drive or boat to someplace warm, no matter how cold the winter. Sunsport Gardens, near West Palm Beach, Florida, hosts the Midwinter Naturist Festival (going on now), from Thursday, February 12 - Tuesday, February 17, 2009 and about the same time each year. On the USA West coast, there are nude beaches and resorts, such as Terra Cotta Inn in sunny Palm Springs, California. There are several resorts and beaches in the Caribbean which are lovely nude escapes in winter months. If you’re in Europe, you may try Cape D’Agde, Crete or many other destinations whose climates are kinder to the naturist in winter months.
Are nudists mostly Democrats or Republicans? Right wing or left? Socialiist or capitalist? While there are no comprehensive statistics on the matter, at least a couple surveys in the U.S. showed actually a slightly higher number of Republican nudists vs. Democrat nudists. This is a surprise to many, who imagine all nudists as distinctly liberal in all views in their life. The thing is, Republicans value freedom too, just prioritize other types of freedoms than Democrats stand for. Though Republicans are often stereotyped as consisting soley of the religious right, there is actually a large portion that aren’t particularly religious and think more like Libertarians - that people should be as free as reasonably possible without harming others. There is also the growing Christian Nudist movement, which tends to be a little more Republican as well.
Whatever your political orientations, know that nudists are roughly the same proportions as the rest of society. Indeed, the only single thing you can expect to agree with all nudists on is that we ought to be free to have places where we can be without clothes!
Comments(3)
Why are there many more male nudists than female nudists in most places? There are many reasons, some reasonable and some not so reasonable.
As a first-time visitor to a nude beach or nudist resort, you might ask “Should I be embarrassed about my body at a nude beach or nudist resort?” The basic answer is… No. Absolutely not. Real nudists are one of the few havens of body acceptance in modern western society. It is a basic nudist principle that you should not judge others based on their appearance, but if anything, should admire them for their courage to join you despite their possible insecurities and issues. For many, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to try a nudist location or event for the first time. You’ll see that many of your fears are needless, and that’s certainly the case with concerns about your appearance.
