Naked yoga is the practice of yoga without clothes. The practice is gaining popularity, notably in western societies that have more familiarity with social nudity. While many practice naked yoga at home, there are a growing number of group classes including Children.
History
In the West since the 1960s, naked yoga practice has been incorporated in progressive settings for well-being, such as at the Esalen Institute in California, as depicted in the 1968 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Other films with notable segments include The Harrad Experiment and Naked Yoga (1974).
In New York City in 1998, an American going by the name Jayadev started a group called "Midnight Yoga for Men" where participants practiced "naked before the infinite" in the style of the sadhus. This spawned a plethora of imitators. Many of these male-only naked yoga groups have been associated with the gay community1, though often not intentionally. One Taste Urban Retreat Center popularised naked yoga after it was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle.2
Motivation
Many participants find it thrilling to go outside of society’s norms, greater freedom of movement due to the absence of clothing and the liberation from having to wear expensive yoga outfits are common motives to practise naked yoga3.
Other motivations are the acceptance of one's own body with all its imperfections and to open one's heart 4. San Francisco courts found that naturist and libertarian George Monty Davis (aka "Naked Yoga Guy") did not commit a crime by practicing naked yoga in a public place5, but rather a variant of public nudity.
See also
References
- ^ Naked Yoga for men -- Gay Naturists International (GNI)'s worldwide class listing (includes mixed-gender)
- ^ Carolyne Zinko, Doing it in the altogether is what makes this yoga practice altogether free from distractionsSF Chronicle, May 24, 2005
- ^ Nude Yoga - Why do Yoga in the Nude?
- ^ http://www.amica.de/beauty_body/trends/naked_yoga German source
- ^ Au naturel is natural for Naked Yoga Guy, San Francisco Chronicle, September 22, 2004
Further reading
- Naked Yoga, by Yen Chu and George Monty Davis (1st printing had no ISBN).
- A Book of Yoga: The Body Temple, by Jo Ann Weinrib and David Weinrib, 1974, ISBN 0-8129-0494-X.
- Nude & Natural magazine, "Naked Yoga: A Sanctuary and Source of Strength", by Kevin Brett. Issue 25.3, Spring 2006.
- Shakti: The Feminine Power of Yoga (Hardcover) by Shiva Rea (Foreword), Victoria Davis, ISBN 0-9715581-1-6. Photographs of yoginis in the nude.
External links
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