Naked yoga
From Wikipedia, the free 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 group classes including Children.
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[edit] 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 community[1], though often not intentionally. Teaching in the Grimbergendubbel Yoga school, Annalise Haigh has been a driving force in the popularization of Naked Yoga in Australia.
One Taste Urban Retreat Center[2][3] made Naked Yoga world famous after it was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle. Teacher Meredith Medland incorporated high level hands on healing/energetic surgery, intuitive body work, vipasanna practice and sensuality to create as she describes it, "a sacred space where groups of people experienced highly transformational experiencing while tapping into their multi-dimensional energies". She is currently living in Santa Barbara, CA teaching "Sexy and Spirited" at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club.
[edit] Public environments
Recently, San Francisco courts found that George Monty Davis (aka "Naked Yoga Guy") is not committing a crime by practicing naked yoga in a public place[4], but rather a variant of public nudity.
On June 10, 2006, World Naked Bike Ride Seattle[5] held a brief yoga program at Madrona Park (Seattle), a park in the City of Seattle's Parks & Recreation system. The program, led by Matt Meko of Mekosun,[6] incorporated use of the riders' bicycles in a mid-ride stretch. Matt Meko has offered naked yoga in the Seattle area for men. Mekosun led the yoga for WNBR 2007, again Madrona Park, guiding 57 cyclists with partner yoga and stretching.[citation needed]
[edit] 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 yoga[7].
Other motivations are the acceptance of one's own body with all its imperfections and to open one's heart [8].
[edit] References
- ^ Naked Yoga for men -- Gay Naturists International (GNI)'s worldwide class listing (includes mixed-gender)
- ^ onetaste.us - HOME
- ^ Yoga Journal - Yoga Habitat - Peel It Off
- ^ Au naturel is natural for Naked Yoga Guy
- ^ WNBR Seattle :: WNBRseattle.org
- ^ Welcome To MekoSun.com
- ^ Nude Yoga - Why do Yoga in the Nude?
- ^ http://www.amica.de/beauty_body/trends/naked_yoga German source
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
- Skin Asanas This is a beautiful gallery of complete Yoga sequences performed by naked women.
- This Yahoo Group lists, on its LINKS page, more than twenty naked or clothing-optional yoga classes.
- 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
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