Picture this: July 2023, solo backpacking and island hopping on the Greek islands. Sun shining, waves crashing, completely naked without a care in the world. I found peace on the nude stretch of Agia Anna beach on Naxos, so much so that I spent about 6 hours – and a ton of sunblock – relaxing in the sun. Days later, I took the ferry over to Paros and made my way to Lageri Beach, and had another peaceful nude day swimming in beautiful clear waters meering people from all over. This is the kind of serenity I aim for so why did it take me so long to find it?
What is Nudism?
Let’s be clear on what I am talking about. Nudism, also known as naturism, is the non-sexual practice of nudity in both public and private spaces. People practice nudism for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s just an ordinary day at a nudist/topless beach or a day at a wellness spa; for others, the desire to be nude is to find liberation and evoke a sense of freedom – nowadays, I fall somewhere in the middle. Finding the courage to strip down is not only liberating but also grounding and stress relieving. Once you hit that meditative state of uncaring, you suddenly realize what you’ve been missing.
Body Image and Self-Acceptance
Positive body image is a foreign concept to me. I was never comfortable in my skin, and I still struggle with it now. *cue fat kid tears* It is really hard to find peace with yourself when every chart, at every doctor’s office you enter, has OVERWEIGHT stamped as the primary issue. I have always been a large person – tall, broad, and dense – and currently stand at 6’4 (193cm). My weight fluctuates constantly but I could always rely on that stamp sitting prominently on my chart. Coupled with growing up in a family that normalized commenting on each other’s bodies, I remain hyperaware of the flaws that others may see in me.
You never know how much these things impact you until you realize that your entire wardrobe is black and you’re wearing hoodies in the summer months. As an adult, I have learned to stop caring as much but that doesn’t mean the feelings are not there. I am accustomed to not taking photos of myself and still avoid cameras pointed at me – I can count the number of selfies I have taken this year – 26, and less than 10 are posted online.
Self-acceptance is a skill that can be taught and not some innate personality trait. Some days are much harder than others, but such is life and I can’t stop moving forward.
My First Experiences
I am not sure what exactly sparked my curiosity about nudism or when it even started, I just know that I wanted to try so when a close friend floated the idea of a Korean Spa when we were traveling through Los Angeles, CA, I was hesitant but excited. With absolutely no research or the slightest clue what I’d encounter inside, we paid the fee, hit the locker room, disrobed, and entered the sauna, nude. Nervously holding a small towel over my junk, I was greeted by a quiet, calm, clean sauna filled with men proudly walking around naked. Quickly, I learned it was me, I’m the awkward one trying to hide what no one else even cared to see.
Since then, I have been to many a clothing-prohibited sauna and still frequent some in my local areas, often with a friend. I have participated in two World Naked Bike Rides and when I travel, I now seek out nude beaches and nude hiking trails but I have yet to venture into a nudist resort – for reasons I’ll discuss later.
Navigating My Misconceptions
Nudism Starts In Public:
Not necessarily. Before taking the leap into a spa, beach, or hiking trail I started at home. I spend a lot of time just walking around nude, casually strolling past the mirror, and getting comfortable just seeing myself. This practice helped condition me to just the feeling of not having on clothes, which was my first step. The fact is, nudism can be practiced indoors all year round, but when those summer months come around you can lather on the SPF – everywhere – and get outside. Take your time and get comfortable.
Yes, People Are Looking:
In the same way that you notice someone’s sneakers or hairstyle when everyone around you is naked, guess what? You’re going to see them naked. The major difference lies in that nudists aren’t glaring with sexual deviance, but what else can you look at when all I’m wearing is a hat and sunglasses? Nudists tend to mind their business and occasionally strike up a casual conversation. Do the same, and just enjoy the day.
Finding Community
Being Nude With Friends:
Sounds weird, right? But this is already your community. For many of us, nudity is a secret. We are told to remain modest and only share our nude body with the person we love but shedding your clothes with the homies adds an unspoken layer of depth to the friendship that is often overlooked. I first experienced this while living in Portland, OR when a large group of extended friends planned a day at Sauvie Island Nude Beach. I went knowing that I didn’t have to get naked if I didn’t want to so we brought beer and headed out. Much to my surprise this group of friends all stripped down and started hanging out in the water. After some time getting comfortable, I joined in as well. Being amongst friends is already a safe space so why not be in your most vulnerable state surrounded by people you trust?
Race, Let’s Talk About It:
Who do you picture when you think about a nude beach? Resort? Club? I bet it wasn’t me. Another aspect of my reluctance to nudism as a Black man is the fact that I do not see myself reflected in these spaces. Still, whether I’m in San Francisco, Miami, Portland, Puerto Rico, or Athens, it’s not uncommon to be the only Black person, let alone a person of color, in sight. When you start to research online, you’ll notice that the top naturist bloggers are white cisgender heterosexual people, and the top resorts with the largest communities all look the same. Though I continue to push through this, it remains a major area of doubt and discomfort – and I haven’t even mentioned the aspects of age. Maybe one day, I’ll book a stay at a nudist resort but for now, I’ll stick to the public spaces.
Looking to the Future
Nudism is a practice that challenged my self-awareness and my anxiety while pulling me closer to my natural self. It has lifted my confidence and my understanding of those around me in many ways. I hope to build community and dive deeper into the practice and not only save it for my beach vacations over the summer or alone in my bedroom after a shower. I would not claim the title of “nudist” but I enjoy clothing-free spaces and learning more about myself, so I’ll continue to do just that.
I would have missed all of these views if I hadn’t gone out to find these nudes beaches in Greece!