How to Become a Naturist

There are numerous advantages to the naturist, or nudist, lifestyle, including the pleasure of feeling the sun all over your body, no tan lines, and the healthy self-confidence that naturism reflects. Many of us find it too embarrassing to be naked even in front of loved ones, let alone strike up a conversation with a fellow vacationer at a nudist resort. Conversely, many of us are quite comfortable being nude yet don’t know how or where to practice naturism. The following guide will increase your comfort with naturism, and help you find ways and places to practice it.

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2. Get comfortable with nudity.

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   • Realize that nudity is natural. We are born naked and it is our natural state. Yes, people have sex naked, but nudity itself is not sexual and revealing clothing is often more sexually suggestive than your birthday suit. Consider how unsexy those groggy Monday morning showers can be.
   • Allow yourself to enjoy nudity. Nudity can be pleasing to the senses: the feel of air or water flowing uninterrupted across your entire body awakens the senses and may be arousing. This is healthy and natural.You should not feel ashamed to have or explore these sexual feelings. Suppressing sexual feelings is unhealthy in general, and suppressing them in the context of naturism negates the healthy benefits of a naturist lifestyle.
     
   • Sleep naked. Not topless or in your underwear, completely naked (and yes, the socks have to go, too). Sleeping naked promotes relaxation and thus improves the quality of your sleep. On warm nights, sleep naked and skip bed-coverings, too, and see how good you feel fully exposed to the open air. If you find sleeping naked difficult, work your way up to it. Shed one piece of clothing, for example your pajama top, and when you’re accustomed to sleeping without that, shed the next piece, and so on until you’re sleeping nude.
   • Stay naked after a shower. Towel dry and go about the rest of your routine naked.
   • Spend as much time as you can around the house naked – while you’re eating, while you’re cleaning, and especially while you’re relaxing, be it in front of the TV, with a good book or sunning in your backyard.
   • If you exercise at home, do it naked.
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   Find a community. A online search will help you locate your nearest naturist club or beach. Once you’re comfortable being naked at home, take the next step and visit a naturist community.
   
• Don’t let feelings of inadequacy hinder you. Once you visit a naturist community, you’ll realize that everyone is different in some way and that none of it is wrong. The visitors aren't worrying about their bodies, or yours, they’re simply there to enjoy the pleasure of naturism in a friendly environment.
• Take a naturist holiday. France is an excellent naturist destination. If France is too far, closer to home you should be able to find clothing-optional resorts, natural mountain hot springs for nude soaking, and skinny-dipping spots.
• Continue to be naked whenever you can. Check out your local laws regarding being topless in public, including at parks, swimming pools and at the beach. Likewise, you can participate in one of the fun naked bike rides that take place the world over. Go nude where it is appropriate, hiking, nature reserves. Be comfortable with yourself and by experience one can go nude as long you don't upset other people.

3. Tips

   • Naturism is often easier and more fun when practiced with a friend or partner.
   • Be sure to wear ample amounts of sunblock when outdoors.
   • If you are a girl and on your menstrual cycle, take precautions before sleeping naked.

   
   

   Warnings

   • In many places, public nudity (nudity in a non-designated naturist area) is legal; for example, in Britain public nudity is legal. But this is not so everywhere: in the United States, nudity laws vary, but many localities are adopting a more open attitude to simple public nudity and legalizing it, so long as there is no intent to alarm or arouse. Contact a local naturist organization to find out what is allowed in public.
   • Cooking naked is not recommended, as it is much easier to get burned. Likewise, it can be difficult to treat burns to the genital and posterior regions.