Fitness Tips - LOOSEN UP WITH NAKED YOGA

Sure, yoga is one way to get buff, but practicing in the buff??? And I’m not talking about in the privacy of your own home either.

No, I am talking about the booming new trend of Butt Naked Yoga!

From New York to Salt Lake to San Francisco to Atlanta, practitioners are raving about yoga classes which help them shed body image issues along with their yoga pants. Practitioners see Nude Yoga as a way to learn to respect and honor their bodies by getting past their hang-ups and learning to enjoy their “naturalness.”

This is not to say that all this bliss and glory is completely unmarred by an occasional voyeur or someone who is just trolling for goods. For example, Aaron Star who teaches a men’s class in Manhattan admits his class is some times more erotic than Zen. He states, “It’s a bunch of naked gay men doing partner yoga” But, Star also emphasizes that no lines are crossed within the class, it is sensual, not sexual.

Star’s naked classes and retreats have proved to be hugely successful, he now leads classes in Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Europe. If you are interested, you can check out his DVD series “Virgin, Strength, Partner and Tantra.” I have not had the pleasure (?) of viewing these tapes, so if you try them and don’t like them, don’t be blaming me – I’m just trying to keep ya’ll current…

Since I am sure you are just chomping at the bit to get started on a Naked Yoga path, here is a bit about the structure of a typical Naked class:

In most Naked Yoga classes, students enter the studio and perform meditation with clothes on. Then comes the fun part – students go into a separate room (why so modest all of a sudden?) to “mindfully” remove their clothing. Apparently, practitioners manage to maintain a mutual respect for each others bodies and the classes generate a safe and supportive vibe.

According to Meredith Medland who leads a class at the co-ed studio “One Taste” in San Francisco there’s no, “woo-woo energy, it’s seeing the god in each other. That’s what class is all about.”

Now, I am truly happy that these people are enjoying Naked Yoga and that they are able gain confidence and feel more comfortable with their bodies. But I just gotta say, if I glanced over and saw a big ol’ Willy hanging out, doing Downward Dog, I would just burst out laughing! I don’t even think I would be grossed out or embarassed – I’d just collapse in gales of laughter!

Maybe that is cathartic in itself?

I guess if I were to ever get drunk and summon the nerve to try Naked Yoga, I would look for a women’s only class. In the back of my head, I am thinking there might be a small, miniscule, infinitesimal chance that if I were guaranteed that I would NEVER see the women in that class again, I would be willing to give it a try.

But seeing a Willy in Tree Pose? Gawd!

I don’t mean to discourage you by talking about my own hang-ups. I say, give it a go if Nakedness sounds appealing. In this crazy world anything you can do to liberate your mind, body and spirit is a good thing! Just don’t be borrowing my mat….

Naked Namaste!

Love,
Health Sundae

Technorati Tags: Naked Yoga