I tried nude yoga……and I liked it.
As a way of deepening my commitment to yoga, I’ve challenged myself to embrace new yogic experiences. And a nude yoga class certainly fell into the category of “things I’ve never done before.”
I’ve modeled for figure drawing classes, so the idea of nude yoga wasn’t as anxiety-inducing for me as it might be for some others. But I can’t say there was no nervousness at all. Body shame is not among my current struggles, but I still have my own insecurities and inhibitions. However, the environment at The Elements has always felt very safe and welcoming so I expected the Nudasana class would be no different.
When I arrived, I was told I could wear whatever level of clothing--or non-clothing--that made me most comfortable. There was no pressure to practice nude (which of course I knew there wouldn’t be).
I got to the changing room and realized I had forgotten to bring a full-sized towel. After a brief moment of panic over how I was going to get from the locker room to the studio, I decided I’d keep my leggings and top on.
I walked in found an empty spot and unrolled my mat and towel. After a moment’s pause, I decided to just go for it and took off my leggings and top. It was a bit awkward to undress in the room, but I’m sure no one else was even paying attention. We were all there to have our own experience. At no point during the class did I feel I was being scrutinized.
I took note of the room and realized the gender ratio wasn’t 50/50. But having both a female-identifying teacher and a male-identifying teacher put me at ease and seemed to balance the atmosphere in the room. We all have masculine and feminine energy within us, and it was interesting to think about this as the class unfolded.
Once the class started, I was struck by how uninhibited each movement felt. There were no constricting leggings and no sweaty tank top or sports bra getting in the way of the poses. There was only skin on skin and the feeling of sweat dripping in places where clothing would normally absorb it. I felt refreshingly unencumbered, both in the physical sense as well as the spiritual sense. I went from being acutely aware of my own and others’ lack of clothing to feeling a surprisingly high degree of comfort in my own skin and a sense of solidarity with those around me.
The Nudasana class description says it’s about exploring freedom of being and deepening our self-understanding. If cultivating a sense of freedom was the goal, I certainly achieved that. I felt completely uninhibited by the end of it. I wasn’t worried about what I looked like or how I compared to what others were doing. I was focused on myself, intent on paying attention to the unique physical sensations of this experience.
When external circumstances start to feel chaotic or overwhelming, it can restrict us both physically and emotionally. But the Nudasana class can be an antidote, inviting us to relish a sense of freedom and openness.
Written by Elizabeth Rose - IG @elizabethashleyrose | Actor, blogger
