Living in the nude – how is that possible? Even the Neanderthals have learned, that you need clothes in cool Europe! And even in the middle of summer, you won't get far by trying to go shopping nude in a supermarket!
Public nudity usually has no place in our cities – except on advertising posters, for naturist activities like (sun)bathing in fenced areas, and in art. However, in your private life outside of towns in open air, there is plenty of room for naturist activities. And we use this space!
Hmmm, I do not dare! How can I free myself from my upbringing and the general habit of wearing clothes always and everywhere?
That is the same for everyone! However, you can practice slowly. You can start by being nude at home – a lot of naturalness is already regained, when your own nudity becomes a habit and you accept yourself in the nude. And your family learns with you!
The next step is then to go to places, where nudity is common and accepted: To a sauna, a swimming pool with nude bathing area, or to a naturist beach. There you will learn, that you can easily be in the nude together with other people.
At some point, your desire to try yourself total naturist freedom and participate in naturist activities such as those initiated via natury arises: Every year, the natury website informs about many initiated nude hikes, bicycle tours in the buff, and other activities in the nude. Most of them take place in the great outdoors, where you will experience curiosity and benevolent interest of clothed fellow citizens. Interested naturists register with the initiator of such naktivities by e-mail or with a registration form (new window or tab) and form groups of 5 to 50 participants.
Well, what can you do in the nude?
Almost anything that is fun – there are no limits to your imagination. Have a look:
You may naturally be nude at home
This is the best training for yourself, children, and partner, to get used to being in the nude and to experience it as a matter of course. Whether it is housework – you sweat too quickly with your clothes anyway – or preparing vegetables, cooking, eating, schoolwork, or games: Living in the buff at home is the beginning of all happiness!
You can swim or bathe in the nude
This is traditionally the most common practice of naturism. Lying in the sun, playing in the sand, cooling down in the water, and swimming a few meters are pure summer pleasures. By the sea, you can walk nude on a beach, collect shells, walk in the dunes, play badminton or beach volleyball, or throw frisbees.
You can practice your gardening hobby in the buff.
Caring of flower beds, picking weeds, tending flowers and growing vegetables, watering plants in the evening. Of course, you can also be nude drinking coffee in front of the garden house or grilling in the evening – however, you may have to protect yourself against flying sparks and radiant heat, when barbecuing.
You can move around nude in nature
A walk in the forest is the first training for a longer nude hike. For humans, it is a joyful life experience to directly participate in the beauty of nature, to admire and appreciate it – maybe even to take a refreshing bath in one of the natural showers.
You can practice your photo hobby nude
As a photographer of flowers, you dedicate yourself nude to your motifs and do not allow yourself to be distracted by disturbing ballast. If you photograph a nude model in front of a bizarre background, you create photos with exclusive or even artistic expression.
You can ride your bike in the buff
A bike ride in the buff through forests and fields is an exciting experience and gives the refreshing feeling of the wind all over your skin. It makes you want to take part in a World Naked Bike Ride Day together with other people – an event of special charm, as it is often characterised by international participation.
You can ride your skateboard in the buff
Those, who prefer inline skating, can of course come along – scooter riders are just as fast and just as welcome: After all, a joint nude tour with several people is much more fun than a solo tour.
You can practice the hobby body painting in the nude
Painting the human body with colour can become a creative artistic activity, but even if it remains an amateur ambition, painting together requires a lot of empathy and trust. Above all, it intensifies the personal relationships between people.
You can experience nude art or create it yourself in the nude
In art, the nude human body is a common motif, and some artists also work in the nude themselves. If you want to create art yourself, you can do it in the nude and then be part of the artwork yourself. You can also enjoy nude art – in a theatre, in an exhibition, in a museum, or at an event.
You can do sports in the nude
Nude race competition is always one of the highlights of the Danish Roskilde Festival. But even if it is not about winning a laurel wreath, nude sport is not only pleasantly human and immediately physical, but also an Olympic tradition: Between 700 BC and 470 AD, Olympic, Pythian, Delphi, and other competitions were always held in the nude.
You can do yoga in the nude
In Munich and Berlin, Germany, there are regular nude yoga classes, in other places less regular. But of course, you can also practice this combination of body positioning, rest, and meditation in your own garden or at home, in private groups, without an official teacher – figures with imaginative names like “Bird of Paradise” or “Side Angel” are inviting enough.
As a horse enthusiast, you can groom, move, and ride your animals in the buff.
The feeling of unity between rider and horse cannot be more intense than with a skin-to-fur contact! As with nude cycling, you might want to think about a helmet to protect your head in case of a fall.
Is that something for me as well? Should I just try it?
However, don't I have to be ashamed?
Don't I have to be ashamed, when I am naked and everyone can see everything of me?
Our answer:
As a naturist you know, that we are all creatures of God or Allah or evolution – there is no need to be ashamed of our body: It has been given to us, and we can – just as it is – only be grateful for that!
I have nothing to hide – do you? …
… is to be read on the handlebar poster of a nude cyclist. A wise insight, which we can only agree with!
Hmmm: I'm too fat. I've two different sized breasts. I've so many moles. I've a surgical scar on my stomach. My penis is crooked. My buttocks are no longer firm. My thighs are fat. Oh, I have fat thighs. Well, I've got orange peel skin.
So what! None of us is perfect. Otherwise, we would be movie or porn stars. Better normal, then! Among naturists, you are simply accepted as you are!
Hiking in the buff is not forbidden in Germany
Regional daily newspaper Westfälische Nachrichten reported in 2018 statements of a spokesman of the police in Münster (Westf.) and a managing officer “Citizen service and order” of the town-hall in Senden about hiking in the buff. The bottom line of the information stated in this article is, that hiking in the buff is neither a criminal, nor – in general – a regulatory offence in Germany, as long as you only hike and you do not commit a crime such as sexual deeds in public.
In fact, the officials only commented on nude hiking – which is, after all, what they were questioned about. However, whether you do nude sports like hiking, jogging, nordic walking, skateboarding, or inline skating – of course none of these naktivities can be prohibited or prosecuted, as long as you are moving around in nature and you do not commit an administrative offence or criminal deed, such as sexual acts in public. And that is exactly, what we do not do!
However: What is true in Germany, is not true everywhere
Law always has a limited scope: it applies in countries, in federal states, or in municipalities. So, you always have to take a close look here, because completely different law may apply in different locations.
In most countries, nudity in public is only prohibited, if it serves sexual purposes. In some countries, however, nudity in public is generally prohibited and may be prosecuted as a criminal offence. There are also places in all countries, where nudity is prohibited.
Many countries (France, …) also use terms in their legal texts, of which it is not clearly defined, what exactly they mean. Here, one can only look at legal practice and see, which judgements courts have made in the past - however, legal practice is subject to change over time.
Whether you are allowed to be in the nude or not – you should find out about that beforehand. The natury website helps with information at Nudity and law concerning several countries.
What do clothed people say?
Reactions are practically always positive. Textile wearers, who we encounter, usually make a funny, friendly remark. Naturism is accepted. At least in Germany, there is a 100-year naturist tradition and (according to travel industry figures) around 8 million people book holidays to a naturist destination.
However, there are still occasional rejections, which you have to take into account. Everyone, who claims a certain position, causes distinctive opinions of agreement and rejection. In many cases, however, rejection of naturist activities is based on ignorance, which we can reduce by offering information.
What if one reacts weird to me?
In a community of nude people, everyone is much more understanding and considerate, yes: more turned towards the others. This is probably due to the fact, that you as a person being in the nude feel your own vulnerability very clearly, and you show automatically the consideration, which you expect for yourself, towards others.
So, you can be sure, that nobody will try to put you in an unpleasant situation, but on the contrary, you will be a warmly welcomed part of the community: You are in good hands in the group!
Your first step into your nude lifestyle …
… is the most challenging one! By the way, this was the case for all of us – even the most eager naturists of today have thought twice before the first time, whether they should participate and how it would work! But once the first step has been taken, the conviction grows very quickly, that you have done it right. Nobody has regretted it yet!
Concerning naktivities already happened, you might browse regarding and read some of them to get more information.
Also, you may inform yourself about scheduled naktivitiess launching a giving an overview or use the to participate yourself. Pls take into account, that some initiators use the registration form, while others simply use e.g. e-mail.
