As often stressed-out young professionals (YPs), we are always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to relieve that stress and better our well-being. Some trendy options come and go, while others make their way into our regular routines. Yoga is one of those activities that has gained a permanent spot in many YPs’ hearts, and one we are all for. While there are a variety of types of yoga continuously making their way onto the scene (Hatha, hot, paddleboard, etc.) none has been more unique than the latest trend: naked. Like many of you, we found this idea to be a little too, let’s say, eccentric for our taste. But as the popularity of doing yoga in the buff grows, so too has our need to know more. So in true Notable fashion, we sought out an expert to get the naked truth on naked yoga.
But…why?
David Flewelling, a certified yoga teacher at Mudraforce Yoga in Montreal, has been teaching the ancient Indian practice for 15 years, and has been instructing naked yoga specifically since 2006. So who better to ask, just what is naked yoga? “The short of it,” says David, “is yoga practiced without clothes.” Ok, we’ve got that part covered (or uncovered), but why? “Practicing naked frees the body from the subtle constraints of clothing. And beyond the usual health benefits of yoga, it also includes demystifying the erotic and normalizing the human body in its variety of shapes, sizes, ages, etc. Yoga is the union of body, mind and spirit. Removing a layer or two of clothes is laying bare the soul.”
For young professionals
While we hold no judgment for anyone looking to lay bare their soul, we want to know how naked yoga might benefit the typical YP lifestyle. “People love to have secrets and those secrets seem to empower them to push to great heights. Young professionals sitting in the boardroom may think to themselves, ‘If these people really knew what I was up to’. In essence, David explains, young professionals who take on naked yoga often end up feeling, ‘If I can do naked yoga (like skydiving, scuba diving, climbing Mount Everest), I can do anything’.
Don’t think
Ok, so there is a very empowering effect of naked yoga that can certainly enhance the YP lifestyle, but how do we get over the common heebie-jeebies, the discomfort of being naked around others? Note: while co-ed classes do exist, Flewelling’s classes are done in what he calls a “uniquely fraternal environment.”
“People tend to invent all kinds of ideas about what happens as soon as it involves nudity. It’s yoga…done without clothes. That’s it. That’s all. The titillation is short lived and a naked body soon becomes normal, natural, freeing, and liberating.” And how does David suggest that we ultimately take the plunge? “Just don’t think. Do it. Do it. Do it.”
But be smart about it…
For those YPs interested in experimenting with naked yoga, or who are looking to incorporate it into their regular wellness regimen, David cautions that we must be smart about it, for like in any profession, there are questionable practitioners. “Ask questions,” he recommends. “Ask if the instructor is a certified yoga teacher. Ask about their experience.” It’s all about our own personal comfort, our openness to new experiences, and our desire to become empowered by and accepting of our own bodies – flaws and all. The only way to get to such a state is to be well informed, a little brave, and to just…do it.
Have you tried naked yoga? Tell us about your experiences below in the comment section, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.
For more information, check out Mudraforce Yoga here.