The Emerging Nudist

People who have never experienced social nudity might wonder, "What's the attraction?" "Why would anyone want to be naked in front of other people?" Those are reasonable questions, and before becoming a confirmed naturist I recall having pondered similar questions in the past. Speaking from my own experiences, it was a gradual progression. I'll attempt describe it for you.

I've always felt comfortable being nude in my own home and that open-minded attitude led me to try experiences like free hiking (hiking in the nude) and skinny dipping while backpacking in remote backcountry areas where I didn't have to worry about encountering and possibly offending anyone. These activities are best described as unorganized nudity, simply enjoying alone the sensation of going nude while interacting with nature. Less than a year ago, however, I found myself interested in exploring organized nudity which is where social nudity, being naked with others comes in.

One day while doing some research on the web, I stumbled on a nudist social networking site and perhaps because the topic of social nudity was presented there so tastefully, I became intrigued and mostly out of curiosity decided to join the site. As a result I became acquainted with a number of the other members and found them to be cordial and well, quite normal. Previously, I had nothing beyond the common superficial and stereotypical views of naturists and nudists that many people have but once I began to actually meet those who practiced the lifestyle, my opinions quickly changed.

While American society today is in many respects overly sexualized and sex obsessed, at the same time we are a very prudish and sexually repressed society. Part of this stems from the fact that we are socialized from childhood to subscribe to rather unhealthy views of sexuality and nudity. We grow up equating nudity with sex believing that being naked around someone else implies that we have the desire to have sex. Consequently, many in society have a rather negative view of naturists and nudists believing them to be either perverts, exhibitionists, voyeurs or simply immodest people of questionable moral character. As I have learned from personal experience, nothing could be further from the truth.

Traditional naturists and nudists practice non-sexual, non-erotic social nudity. Gatherings at nudist resorts, clubs and clothing-optional beaches are not sexually charged affairs as one quickly discovers when first experiencing such a gathering. People are not there to gawk at other nude bodies but to simply enjoy the experience of their own nudity in a communal setting with other like-minded people. In fact one finds when visiting a nudist venue that there is a great deal more openness in conversation and a great deal more eye contact than usually happens in clothed social gatherings. In addition, there are principles of etiquette present at such gatherings that sanction any overt sexual conduct. While it is true that there are groups, such as swingers who combine social nudity with sexual expression, that is not an example of social nudity as practiced by traditional naturists and nudists. Anyone attending a naturist gathering with the intent of enjoying titillation or becoming sexually aroused would be most disappointed. Not only would they not observe any overt sexual behavior they would also not likely see any examples of the unrealistic, enhanced, airbrushed perfection of the excessively thin, toned naked bodies that media and advertisers promote as the ideal in this country that contributes to so many Americans, especially females, suffering from poor body image. By and large, naturists and nudists tend to be people with very average body types and not those you would find in sensual advertisements or adult magazines. In fact one of the things that most stuck me after my first visit to a nudist resort was just how similar we all look when naked.

I find a lot of benefits in practicing the naturist lifestyle. Like many people, I was not raised to believe that being nude around others was okay. As a consequence, I did not accept the nude human body as natural but more as an object of perversion. One of the biggest positives I see in the practice of naturism and nudism is that quite quickly, you learn to replace those types of unhealthy ideas with a much more positive view. You soon come to realize that nudity is not only okay and natural but it a much more enjoyable state than being dressed in restrictive, uncomfortable clothing. Spending time around others in social settings also helps you to learn body acceptance and you find that the human body is truly a marvelous and attractive thing regardless of size, shape or color. I truly believe that becoming accepting of others also contributes to self-acceptance of one's own body as you begin to realize that you don't have to measure up to those unrealistic ideals of perfection but instead can feel comfortable and accepting of your own body as it is. There is nothing else that I have personally experienced that compares to the freedom that nudity produces. The feel of the warm sun or a pleasant breeze on the naked body is beyond remarkable. In the same way, the pleasing sensation of swimming without wearing an uncomfortable, soggy and often chaffing bathing suit is unsurpassed. Beyond the benefits of more meaningful social interaction and positive body acceptance, spending time nude is simply pure enjoyment.

I realize that there are many people who would never consider visiting a nudist club or resort or a clothing-optional beach. Some because of religious or other moral reasons hold deep seated beliefs that social nudity is wrong. They have no desire to engage in it themselves and they would be offended by seeing others naked. I do understand and respect those who happen to hold those opinions even if I don't agree with them. Every person has the right to hold and adhere to whatever standards of morality and modesty that they are comfortable with. Still, I do want to assure people who have such beliefs that they have nothing to fear from nudists and naturists. Traditional followers of the lifestyle confine their practice of social nudity to appropriate situations and locations so as not to force their nudity on others who might be offended. There is a difference between social nudity and public nudity. Social nudity take place primarily on private property or within designated clothing-optional areas where those present expect and consent to the nudity of others. Actually naturists and nudists are among the most sensitive of people when it comes to the rights and feelings of others and certainly do not wish to offend. In return we ask only that non-nudists would extend to us the tolerance of allowing us to enjoy what is for us a meaningful way of life without persecution as long as we do so in a responsible way in appropriate venues.

Perhaps some reading this might have found something that resonated with them with respect to exploring nudity. Perhaps you don't feel ready to visit a naturist or nudist social gathering but many of the benefits of the lifestyle can be experienced right in your own home. If you have a backyard with privacy, I encourage you to learn how peaceful it can feel to sit outside naked early in the morning with a cup of coffee listening to the birds or in the late evening while you enjoy a nice glass of wine, ending your day in a serenely relaxing way. Someone once said that habitual nakedness might indeed be capable of elevating man to a higher mental plane and I tend to agree with that. Spending time nude, especially outdoors is so relaxing and rejuvenating and it just feels so natural, just as if it were the way we were meant to enjoy nature.

My own experiences as an emerging nudist in the naturist way have been nothing but positive thus far and my only regret is that it required nearly five decades before I learned to appreciate and practice what has become for me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of life. The practice of habitual nudity for me has been like a treasure discovered that I'm eager to share with others. If you can be open-minded enough to try it, I can almost guarantee that as it has with me, it will become a permanent facet of your life.