Naked yoga
Encyclopedia
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 participants, including children, in group classes. It is becoming popular in Europe and USA.
. 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 sadhu
s. Aaron Star, owner of Hot Nude Yoga, began his version of nude yoga in April 2001 becoming an instant "underground sensation" as quoted by Time Out New York. Because of the success of Hot Nude Yoga, nude yoga groups began to blossom all over the world, from London, Moscow, Madrid to Sydney. Many of these male
-only naked yoga groups have been associated with the gay community
, though often not intentionally. One Taste Urban Retreat Center popularized naked yoga after it was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle
.
Other motivations are the acceptance of one's own body with all its imperfections and to open one's heart. 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 place, but rather a variant of public nudity
.
Yoga as exercise
Yoga is a term for a range of traditional systems of physical exercise and meditation in Hinduism.Modified versions of the physical exercises in hatha yoga have become popular as a kind of low-impact physical exercise, and are used for therapeutic purposes. "Yoga" in this sense, in common...
without clothes
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
. The practice is gaining popularity, notably in western societies
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
that have more familiarity with social nudity. While many practice naked yoga at home, there are a growing number of participants, including children, in group classes. It is becoming popular in Europe and USA.
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 & AliceBob & Carol & Ted & Alice
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice is a 1969 comedy-drama film directed by Paul Mazursky. It stars Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon....
. Other films with notable segments include The Harrad Experiment
The Harrad Experiment
The Harrad Experiment is a movie about a fictional Harrad College where the students learn about sexuality and experiment with each other...
and Naked Yoga
Naked Yoga (film)
Naked Yoga is a short documentary released in 1974 and illustrates the practice of yoga in a natural setting and in the nude. The plot of this movie includes women practicing yoga in Cyprus and in a studio. These visuals are interspersed with images of Eastern art, processed for "psychedelic"...
(1974).
In New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1998, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 sadhu
Sadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
s. Aaron Star, owner of Hot Nude Yoga, began his version of nude yoga in April 2001 becoming an instant "underground sensation" as quoted by Time Out New York. Because of the success of Hot Nude Yoga, nude yoga groups began to blossom all over the world, from London, Moscow, Madrid to Sydney. Many of these male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
-only naked yoga groups have been associated with the gay community
Gay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
, though often not intentionally. One Taste Urban Retreat Center popularized naked yoga after it was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
.
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 practice naked yoga.Other motivations are the acceptance of one's own body with all its imperfections and to open one's heart. San Francisco courts found that naturist and libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
George Monty Davis (aka "Naked Yoga Guy") did not commit a crime by practicing naked yoga in a public place, but rather a variant of public nudity
Public nudity
Public nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
.
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 & NaturalNude & NaturalNude & Natural: The Magazine Of Naturist Living or simply Magazine is a quarterly 100+ page naturist magazine published by The Naturist Society in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and distributed throughout the United States and internationally...
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
- Be Naked Yoga Offering naked yoga retreats for men. Private beachfront location on quiet tropical island in Thailand.
- www.nakedyogasf.com
- The Boston Phoenix AU NATUREL Yoga buffs By Nina Willdorf, Issue Date: April 26 - May 3, 2001
- Yoga Journal December 2005 Peel It Off: For nude yoga practitioners, doing yoga in the altogether can be a liberating and respectful experience By Jaimal Yogis Includes comments by instructor Meredith Medland.
- Common Ground October 2005 Naked Yoga Revealed: SF’s Edgiest Yoga Class Wants to Liberate Your Bodysattva by Lisa Maria
- San Francisco Chronicle, 24 May 2005 Doing it in the altogether is what makes this yoga practice altogether free from distractions by Carolyne Zinko
- TashiTagg 27 May 2005 Naked Yoga: The Hard Truth by Luke Tagg
- San Francisco Chronicle, 22 September 2004 Au naturel is natural for Naked Yoga Guy by Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross
- China Daily 23 September 2004 Naked yoga OK in San Francisco
- Naturist UK Fact File page on yoga and naturism
- "Naked Yoga. Is it the Yogic Way?" Article by founder of popular naked yoga group in New York
- Striking a pose, stark naked by Charlotte Maitre
- Links to Naked Yoga groups worldwide
- Naked Yoga NYC Another well developed naked yoga practice, in NYC