Nude recreation

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Nude recreation is recreation without any clothing. Common references also may substitute "nude" with the terms "clothing-optional", "naturist", "nudist", "body-positive" or "clothes-free".

The following activities are sometimes enjoyed in such contexts: hiking, running (in some contexts this is referred to as streaking), swimming, cycling and yoga. Other less aerobic activities include enjoying sauna, hot springs, and sunbathing (such as at a clothing-optional beach).

When such activities occur on public lands, the activities are sometimes said to be occurring within the context of public nudity, which may or may not be legal, and if illegal, may or may not result in arrest of participants, depending on how society views such activities.

Contents 1 Motivation 2 European nudist culture 3 Nudity in sports 3.1 Nude swimming 3.2 Nude horseback riding 3.3 Other sports facilities in nudist resorts 3.4 World Naked Bike Ride 3.5 Nude hiking 4 NIFOC (Naked in Front of Computer) 5 Quotes 6 References 7 See also

[edit] Motivation

Practitioners participate in clothes free activities for various reasons. Many are convinced that increased exposure to the natural environment, made easier through nudity, can result in numerous health benefits. Sunlight has been shown to be beneficial in some skin conditions and enables the body to make vitamin D, a necessary nutrient. Overall, those who enjoy clothes free activities often claim that they are more relaxed and in a better state of mind when they shed their clothes.

Many people get their first exposure to the clothes free movement through that kind of informal approach (e.g. a clothing optional beach, a friend's place in the woods, a party on the shore or skinny dipping).

Recreational nudity in the context as is practiced today was most common in Germany and the Nordic countries, where "Body culture" known as "FKK" was very much revered (and some say, copied) by Nazi ideologues. This movement grew into the modern social nudity movement.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] European nudist culture

In the Nordic countries, with their sauna culture, nude swimming in rivers or lakes was a very popular tradition. In the summer, there would be wooden bathhouses, often of considerable size accommodating numerous swimmers, built partly over the water; hoardings prevented the bathers from being seen from outside. Originally the bathhouses were for men only; today there are usually separate sections for men and women.

[edit] Nudity in sports

Main article: Nudity in sport

[edit] Nude swimming

It is not uncommon for private clubs with male-only or female-only facilities to allow (for example) nude swimming. Some argue that in more private environments (whether at home or in, say a single-gender bathhouse), the less clothing one has on when exercising or doing any activity the better.

Some organizations traditionally offer members and guests of both sexes the opportunity to swim nude. As an example, NAC Seattle Swims used to organize monthly swims at City of Seattle Parks & Recreation aquatics facilities, with city lifeguards watching over the event.

[edit] Nude horseback riding

In some nudist resorts there is also the possibility to practice nude horseback riding. As with other sports in nature, the naked riders enjoy direct harmony with horse and nature and the feeling of freedom.

[edit] Other sports facilities in nudist resorts

Many nudist resorts own or lease facilities that allow other sports to be played, including volleyball, tennis, badminton, bowling and the like. Typically these sports are played at a recreational level of intensity, and need not be particularly competitive.

[edit] World Naked Bike Ride

Since 12 June 2004 thousands of people all over the world have taken part in World Naked Bike Ride in mostly western cities, where participants rode their bicycle either partially or totally nude in a light-hearted attempt to draw attention to the danger of depending on fossil fuels. In 2005 many European capitals saw bare bikers protesting 'poetically' against the badly protected 'exposure' of the cyclist compared to 'armored' motor vehicles.

[edit] Nude hiking

Nudist walking/hiking clubs have been established in several continents. Unlike the example set by Steve Gough, most keep to wilderness areas and do not seek or encourage publicity. Individuals are also known to engage in nude hiking. In keeping with nudist/naturist tradition, participants do it for the enjoyment it brings to them, and will try to minimize any potential discomfort it might bring to an accidental passerby.

Stephen Gough, dubbed the Naked Rambler, in 2003/2004 made a long-distance walk from one end of the UK to the other, wearing only boots. He was arrested several times, and his walk was interrupted by two periods of jail time, together five months. Including these, the journey took seven months. He undertook his walk as a protest, in order to celebrate the naked human form, and to try to convince the public to stop being paranoid about the naked body. He observed that anti-nudity laws are more strictly enforced in Scotland than in England. He completed a second walk over the same route in early 2006, punctuated by many arrests.

[edit] NIFOC (Naked in Front of Computer)

NIFOC is an abbreviation for Naked In Front Of Computer. It is often used while chatting on the internet to let others know that you are nude in front of your computer^[1]. It is also used in instant messaging, e-mails, blogs, and newsgroup postings^[2]. A naturist chatroom with the motto NIFOC is also available^[3].

[edit] Quotes

• Body Acceptance is the idea, Nude Recreation is the way. -Lee Baxandall. Popular motto of The Naturist Society
• Every civilized nation has nude beaches. That's a mark of a civilized nation. -Lee Baxandall from video: The Beginner's Guide to Skinny Dipping. The Naturist Society. Fast Forward Images, Inc. 1991.

[edit] References

1. ^ Naked In Front Of Computer - NIFOC
2. ^ NIFOC - NetLingo The Internet Dictionary: Online Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Acronyms, Text Messaging, Smileys ;-)
3. ^ Naturist chatroom

[edit] See also

• Gymnopaedia
• List of social nudity places
• Strip games (often done in sexualized or semi-sexualized contexts)

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