Are you into getting naked?
Unlock new levels of authenticity through social naturism.
It wasn't until I started the clothing-optional beaches of Europe that I discovered that I really enjoy getting naked.
Sure, I'd get naked to have sex, but that was a means to an end. I wasn't consciously thinking about the experience of being nude.
I guess I'd also been sleeping naked from a fairly young age but that was mainly to make it as easy as possible to masturbate.
Getting naked on a beach was something different.
It took a bit of figuring out, but what really began to resonate with me was nudity in a homosocial environment - a space where men are comfortable being naked with each other. Just dudes hanging out, literally.
The connection between naturism and sexual energy
One of the things that is interesting about the broad nudist community is how different naturist spaces or events navigate the tension between the act of getting naked and the sexual energy of being naked with others.
I prefer a relaxed approach around sexual energy - not everything has to be a sex-party but there's no point pretending that we're not sexual beings. It's okay to be naked and be aware of the sexual energy in the room without having to over-think it or make it complicated.
In a social naturism context, having that discussion around sexual energy - and establishing a shared perspective - then gives you both permission to talk about sexual things. It unlocks a new level of authenticity.
Talking about sexual things can also be an invitation or an opportunity to lean into the sexual energy of being naked together - if that's where you want it to go - or you can just keep the vibe in social hang-out territory.
Learning from other men
It often feels that we have to figure everything out by ourselves, that no one else really understands what we're struggling with or trying to navigate.
What can be really helpful is talking to other guys and hearing their stories.
Even if what you're hearing doesn't match up with your own experiences or view of the world, getting a sense of where other men are coming from and how they've got to where they are can help to put things in perspective.
Naked Men Talking is a podcast that features men from around the world talking about their relationship with their bodies, their sexuality, and their experience of intimacy and connecting with men.
Are you ready to join the conversation?
How to explore getting naked in public
If you're interested in experiencing what getting naked with other men can feel like, a good starting point is a small group event.
Social naturist events generally have a bit of a framework - you can visualise what the event is going to look like, giving you confidence that you'll be able to navigate the space and the men that you're interacting with.
Small group events are often easier that larger events - you'll have conversations, you'll feel seen and heard.
An important consideration is to reflect on the level of sexual energy that you'll be comfortable with in a small group naturist event - being clear on that will help select the type of event that will be the best fit for you.
For example, a circle-jerk is a really powerful homosocial space but it's going to be a room full of naked men all masturbating and maybe more. Is that what you're ready for? Or would you maybe be more comfortable with something a little more low-key.
You can be fairly confident that a naked Book Club event is going to be at the social-not-sexual end of the spectrum. The benefit of an event like a Book Club is that there's a very clear framework within which the event is operating - it's a group of men getting together to discuss the book. It's fairly clear how that event is going to play out and how you will fit within that dynamic.
An interesting middle-ground could be something like a game of Strip Poker. This has a clear framework - it's a game of cards through which everyone ends up naked - with the potential to explore the sexual energy in the room as things unfold. This style of event gives you plenty of agency - no one is going to force you to do anything you don't want to do, you could just focus on playing cards, or you could be open to exploring connections with the other guys in the room.
Wherever you're at with your relationship with your body and your exploration of getting naked in public, connecting with other men who are also on that journey will give you confidence that you're on the right path.
Gareth Johnson
