Its roots are as long, deep and noble as yoga’s but in recent years the meaning of the word has morphed and, sadly, it is often now used as a synonym for sex and to imbue events and practises with a salaciousness that only really serves to cynically increase sales. Yes, it is, but tantra is a difficult concept that weaves together body, sexuality, spirit and soul. The ancient philosophies and spiritualities eastern cultures, which have strong links with yoga, recognise and celebrate our sexual drive as an important life force. If it happens, enjoy the energy and carry on with the yoga. They’re not offensive or shameful and need not be hidden.
What if you sneeze or hiccup or blink? These are all natural things that our bodies do. Many students say they forget about the nakedness very quickly and it just comes to feel natural. It has also suggested that the outfits produced by many of the fashionable yoga labels are just as sexually revealing and provocative as nudity, if not more so.Ĭalvin and Hobbes cartoon by Bill Watterson
Many people find it very liberating to do yoga with no clothing, both psychologically and, because they don’t have to twitch at riding up hemlines or chafing seams, practically. Naked yoga strips that away, simply and directly. Practising yoga without clothes is one way to counter that. When we are invited to be aware of our bodies, it’s very often in a negative, self-critical way. There’s a pervading message that our bodies are not, and never will be, good enough. Modern culture tends to disconnect us from our bodies.
NAKED YOGA SKIN
Nudity awakens the senses, enabling us to fully experience and enjoy our physicality: things such as the delicacy of the air moving over our skin and the deep strength and muscular engagement of a full stretch… and so much more. What better way to connect with, accept and even celebrate our own bodies than to be nude? One of the core concepts of yoga is self-acceptance. Unfortunately, it has never been available on commercial video or DVD, so the best one can hope for is to attempt to track down an off-air recording of the UK broadcast.Nakedness is beautiful, sensuous, nurturing, joyous and fun. If you are interested in either naturism or yoga, I recommend this film strongly. This is delivered in the wonderful gravel voice of UK blues legend Alexis Korner. Complementing the visuals is a commentary discoursing on Buddhist philosophy and its links with yoga. It is probable that some will regard this film as aimed at voyeurs - I think such views are misguided and unfair, and I also think a voyeur would be disappointed! On the other hand, the way the participants are limited to good-looking young women does invite such criticism, and I regret that a wider range of humanity was not on show.
All are clearly experienced in yoga, and some shots illustrate beautifully the importance of breathing rhythms in the practise of the asanas. Three are filmed in the open air of Cyprus, one in a UK studio. The core of the film is the presentation of a range of yoga postures ("asanas" - none of which are named) shown by four supple young ladies. It does this in spite of an over-emphasis on "psychedelic" visuals of manipulated images from Eastern art, and a score which is best described as "hippy trippy". "Naked Yoga" succeeds in encouraging those who have only experienced one of these to try the other. Yoga and naturism go well together, and there is some overlap of interest in these two minority pursuits. This doesn't matter (unless the viewer is seeking those aspects - which is possible and the reason why my vote is no higher than 6/10) because the object seems to have been to inspire. It is definitely not an instructional film, and the information content is low. In 1986, this film was transmitted by Channel 4 in UK - probably gaining more viewers in that one showing than in all other screenings.