Fitness in the Buff: The Naked Truth And Where to Try It
Spanish Version: Ejercicio Desnudo: La Cruda Realidad y Dónde Intentarlo
Being an exercise enthusiast myself, I am always looking for new ways to stay fit. I have probably tried every form of exercise ever created, except naked exercise. While the thought of being naked doesn’t bother me, something just seems odd about doing high-intensity workouts such as HIIT or Tabata in a group setting without proper workout gear. These high-impact exercises include a lot of jumping, squatting and thrusting. I tried to envision myself doing burpees naked, and I have to say, I don’t want to think about it ever again.
Swimming
Exercising naked isn’t something new. In all reality, people have done it for years. Interestingly, until the 1960s, swimming in the buff publicly wasn’t considered taboo, and in fact, men had to swim nude. You were able to strip down, hop in and swim to your heart’s content. These days, not only might you raise a few eyebrows (or hear a few screams), you will be arrested and taken to the nearest hospital for a psychiatric examination.
Granted, without a bathing suit weighing you down, you probably can shave at least five milliseconds off your best lap speed, but the thought of hopping into a public pool totally naked to swim around with others might put a few people off. On the other hand, if you have a pool of your own or access to a private pool, why not give it a try? Since swimming is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise, you have nothing to lose.
Yoga
Naked yoga is another example of nude exercise that is taking off. Now, from a practical perspective, it is easy to see why. Most people do yoga on their own mats, and since there is not sharing of equipment, the risk of injury to your private parts is relatively low. Die-hard yogis are adamant that naked yoga is a relaxing and self-esteem boosting experience.
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For those you who are wanting to give it a go, places such as the “Bold&Naked” are springing up in major cities across the USA, while online instruction and DVDs are available for those who want to keep up with current trends, but prefer to do so in private. Truthfully, I would find it a little awkward to do the downward dog position in the buff among others, but individuals who comfortable with the idea, it’s good to know there are places to go.
Naked Gyms
Close your eyes and think of all the possible things that could go wrong. Although there are gyms in Europe that are allowing workout days sans clothing, the idea of using heavy weights and equipment while nude seems dangerous. The thought of dropping a 10-pound on my foot without wearing appropriate shoes is frightening, let alone on any other part of my body. Secondly, even with top-notch cleaning, gyms are known to breed germs. Working out with clothing opens the doors for a host of medical problems I don’t even want to think about.
If you are up to the challenge, you can find places in Washington, D.C. such as “D.C. Men’s Naked Yoga”, or if you happen to live in one of the cities that “Bold&Naked” calls home, you can give it a try. If you are a globetrotter, why not try out one of the clothing-optional gyms in Denmark?
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Is naked exercise here to stay, or is it just a fad? Exercising naked isn’t for everyone, but if so inclined, it might be best to try it at home first before venturing out.
