Picture it: you’re completely nude, surrounded by strangers in downward dog. This isn’t some feverish anxiety dream; you’re in the middle of a naked yoga class.
While dreams of public nudity often reflect feelings of shame or embarrassment, a naked yoga class promises the opposite.
Research published in the Journal of Happiness found that naturist activities can improve body image, self-esteem and overall life satisfaction.
For Ella Riggs, owner of Elevate Studio, offering naked yoga was always on her dream list.
‘The practice of being naked - moving, breathing, feeling - was so impactful to my personal journey,’ she explains. ‘It unlocked the tools for me to be my authentic self and take up space. I wanted to share that wisdom through my studio.’
- This wellness trend is the secret to relieving stress
- Yoga teacher reveals 12 surprising poses that will transform your sex life
Though it took her years, Riggs eventually found the perfect facilitator in naturist instructor Georgia Williams.
‘There’s a sense of trust and vulnerability within the space,’ says Williams. ‘We are all sharing a part of ourselves, laying ourselves bare, which creates a wonderful connection.’
Williams believes baring all in the yoga studio can be a deeply healing experience, helping us shed not only our clothes, but also the social restraints we place on our bodies.
Can we be naked and unashamed?
The history of shame around nakedness runs deep in modern society. And although communal nude activities are proven to boost body appreciation and wellbeing, the prospect of stripping off is enough to make most of us cringe.
‘The difference between being clothed and naked for any activity – even just sipping a cup of tea – can be a huge mental and emotional roller coaster for someone,’ says Williams.
‘We are brought up and conditioned to feel shame and fear around our bodies which makes the thought of doing anything without our clothes so alien.’
For around 2.5 million years, humans went about their daily lives stark naked, only adopting clothing around 80-170,000 years ago.
You just need to look at ancient Greek statues to see how nudity was once celebrated – a symbol of heroism, virtue and empowerment.
Today, the sexualisation of our bodies means public nudity is often tied to humiliation and ‘indecent exposure’.
That feeling of shame can even creep into the privacy of our own home. When was the last time you sat naked in the living room? Or wandered freely around your flat in your birthday suit?
Nudity, even in private, is often confined to the bathroom and bedroom.
‘So much of our shame lives in the body – it’s stored in how we hold ourselves, how we hide, how we shrink,’ says Riggs. ‘When you’re naked and moving, you can’t hide anymore. You must meet yourself where you are, and that’s where the healing starts.’
‘I used to think shame was something to get rid of. Now I see it as something to listen to – to bring into the light. That’s what naked yoga does; it lets you meet the parts of yourself you’ve been told to keep covered.’
Research shows that taking your kit off has both mental and physical health benefits.
A cheeky skinny dip in nature lets your whole body soak up immunity-boosting vitamin D, while also improving mood and reducing symptoms of depression.
Sleeping in the buff helps you rest better too, keeping your body cooler and improving your overall sleep quality.
The idea of being naked, submerged in water, or wrapped in a duvet, feels less exposing than being bent over in a yoga studio – yet it’s this very inability to hide or censor the body that makes the practice so therapeutic and freeing.
‘It allows you to tap into a deeper layer of self-acceptance,’ says Riggs. ‘To say I’m here, I’m taking up space. This is my naked body; this is my home. And it’s also being accepted by a room full of people who are also naked.’
Why is naked yoga a thing?
Yoga has fallen victim to wellness gimmicks in recent years, with ‘goat yoga’, ‘boozy yoga’, and even ‘Harry Potter yoga’, all straying from the practice’s traditional roots.
Naked yoga, however, is far from a fad; it’s a practice that helps deepen the mind-body connection.
Yoga itself is about slowing a runaway mind and tuning into the sensations of the body through physical postures and mindful breathing.
Removing clothes can intensify the unity between the mind and body, helping to release any shame imposed on us by society.
‘When you first take your clothes off in a class, that voice of shame might show up,’ says Riggs. ‘The one that says, ‘don’t look, don’t be seen.’ But when everyone around you is doing the same, it quietens down. It loses its power.’
Williams invites people to explore being their authentic, naked selves freely through her Naked Yoga Workshops.
She believes the mental challenge of baring all is exactly what makes the practice so transformative.
‘There’s a huge emotional unloading,’ she explains. ‘It’s as though those negative, unhelpful beliefs you have about your body just disappear – or at least become much quieter. You start to feel the sensations of the body moving: skin on skin, the air around you - it becomes such a freeing, sensory experience.’
What actually happens in a naked yoga class
To go from rarely seeing yourself naked to stretching and bending in a room full of strangers is a daunting leap.
But Williams has rules in place to ensure her classes feel relaxed and welcoming, encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones without pressure.
‘My women’s workshops are clothing optional,’ says Williams. ‘Women can be completely naked or in whatever state of undress suits them in the moment.’
There are three main rules:
- ‘Be as naked as you feel’ – whatever that means to you on the day!
- ‘No photography or phones out’
- ‘There’s no getting it wrong ‘- this is a space to be held.
To ease participants in, the class begins with an opening circle, where everyone sits together to share and set intentions for the practice.
This helps build a sense of community and trust before getting started. Williams then guides you through a Vinyasa-style flow that winds down with a guided meditation.
Though there’s never any pressure to bare all, Williams says most attendees can’t resist the urge to take their kit off: ‘Almost all participants end up completely naked by the end of the class. It’s a real honour to see confidence blooming throughout the sessions.’
Riggs puts this down to the way Williams holds space in the studio. ‘She’ll literally say: ‘Okay, I’m going to take my clothes off now, and you can too at your own pace,’ explains Riggs.
‘Some people undress slowly, others all at once – her comfort gives other’s permission to find theirs. Her authenticity allows others to mirror it – to think: ‘Okay, she’s showing up in all her glory, maybe I can too.’
For Riggs, naked yoga isn’t about exhibitionism, in fact, she was surprised at how little you pay attention to the nudity.
‘It’s a strange thing – you’re in a full forward fold with someone’s arsehole right in front of you, yet somehow you can’t see it. Everyone just goes into their own lane. You’re naked, but you’re not being looked at, you’re just being,’ she says.
The physiological benefits of naked yoga
- Stronger mind-body connection. We are conditioned to compartmentalise our own nudity, banishing it to sex or the shower. Naked yoga broadens our perception of our bare bodies, helping is build a deeper, more accepting relationship with our naked selves.
- Greater body positivity. The mindful nature of naked yoga helps us face body image issues head-on. Non-sexual nudity encourages us to marvel at what our body can do, rather than how it looks – breaking negative thought patterns and fostering genuine appreciation.
- Improved self-confidence. Finding the courage to practice yoga in the nude is an act of self-assurance in itself. Our bodies are often sexualised, shamed and degraded; challenging those cultural taboos can help heal our relationship with ourselves and boost self-esteem.
- Increased life satisfaction. By embracing vulnerability and stepping out of our comfort zones, naked yoga can be an empowering and liberating experience that leaves us feeling more content and fulfilled.
- Reconnecting with other humans. Camaraderie naturally emerges in the naked yoga studio.
Naked yoga also brings physical benefits, allowing freer movement without the constraints of clothing.
‘It’s so freeing not to be constantly pulling trousers up or readjusting,’ says Williams. ‘If you come into a seated fold and your trousers are digging into your waist, it’s pretty distracting. Without the clothes, you can just experience the moment – sensing where your body feels best and find the right alignment that works for you.’
What if I get aroused? (and other anxieties)
Practicing yoga in the buff comes with its own set of anxieties. The big one for men: what if I get an erection in class? According to Williams, it’s rarely an issue.
‘Naked Yoga is not a sexually charged environment, so it’s very rare,’ she explains. ‘I think people are so used to nakedness being about sex that they can’t imagine not getting one, but honestly, it’s highly unlikely.’
Yoga postures require attention and constant movement, leaving little room for arousal.
Even so, things can come up – literally – but Williams assures there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Naked yoga is, after all, about releasing shame.
Other common worries include sweating, periods, or even farting.
‘Everyone’s an adult - and what’s a fart shared with friends?’ laughs Williams. ‘People’s backs often get suctioned to the mat at the end of the class, and when we move again there’s a big release of air that sounds like the whole room has farted together. It gets a laugh every time.’
When we shed the layers, we also shed the fear of embarrassment. By not taking nudity, or ourselves, so seriously, we become free from judgment.
Georgia Williams’ naked yoga dos and don’ts:
- ‘Do keep an open mind, it might seem and feel strange at first, but it can be a very grounding, freeing experience.’
- ‘Don’t compare yourself to others, each body is unique and wonderfully so.’
- ‘Do focus on your own experience as well as the shared ones. Focus on the sensations and not appearances.’
- ‘Don’t sexualise the space, the space is for embodiment and acceptance, treat it like any other respectful practice.’
Reclaim your body confidence
‘I’ve taught a wide range of Naked Yoga classes, from women-only workshops to 100+ person mixed classes at festivals, as well as online sessions,’ says Williams.
‘One thing connects them all - the sense of shared experience. There’s often laughter, shared joy and even a shared tear.’
Williams believes naked yoga offers a refreshing antidote to the airbrushed, edited bodies we see everywhere in the media and on social media platforms.
‘Honestly, I have seen thousands of bodies now and I realise that each one is unique and perfectly so. If you’re looking to reset your body image, naked yoga is for you!’
Williams reassures newcomers to the practice that you don’t have to dive straight into a studio session.
‘Getting more comfortable with being naked around the house is such a great way to start out if you’re unsure,’ she explains.
‘Even just making and drinking a cup of tea without anything on can be a big confidence booster. I used to be so worried about belly rolls and cellulite, but now I barely notice or care.’
However, Riggs says the experience of being in a class is unmatched. ‘To be naked in a room full of people and make a loud, audible exhale – that can be deeply liberating,’ she explains. ‘It’s about owning your experience, not performing it, and feeling over form.
‘You can feel the love in the space – the acceptance. No one runs or screams. You realise everyone’s body is different and everybody is welcome. That’s the magic of it.’
Whether at home or in the studio, naked yoga encourages self-acceptance, confidence and a deeper connection with your body.
So, go ahead and strike a warrior pose in the buff to shake off those toxic body standard and become more comfortable in your own skin.
Read more:
