Image via WikipediaWould you get naked for yoga?
By LAUREN ACURANTES
July 11, 2011, 12:13pm
There is no question about the health benefits of yoga, but would you do it naked? (Photo from yogafuture.com)
Yoga has its history firmly rooted in ancient Hindu philosophy. Over time, though, the meditative form of exercise received such a following that yoga instructors all over the world were forced to come up with innovative ideas to modernize the practice.
One of the more unique forms of yoga to come out in recent years is laughter yoga. First introduced in Mumbai in 1995, laughter yoga has now garnered thousands of followers and has already sprouted close to 10,000 ‘Social Laughter Clubs’ the world over.
The idea behind laughter yoga is very simple; self-induced laughter interspersed with deep breathing associated with yoga seeks to release the participant’s inhibitions.
Now a new type of yoga is being introduced that also seeks the same. It is, quite aptly named, ‘naked yoga’.
‘Naked yoga’, as the name suggests, is yoga practiced sans clothing. Practitioners are encouraged to come completely naked; absolutely no underwear.
‘Naked yoga’ classes have been around since 2007 and Isis Phoenix (quite the name for a yoga instructor!), claims that some participants may be hesitant at first, but after a few minutes, they start letting go.
Phoenix, who teaches at Naked Yoga NYC in New York City, claims that sessions become an eye-opener for first time students, where constraints are shed and self-confidence is built up.
“A new reality is created in the first 15 minutes of class – a reality where one can be naked and practice yoga in the room, and it’s ok. Nobody’s going to point and laugh,” said Phoenix.
Primarily offered to nudists who wanted to try yoga for the first time, ‘naked yoga’ has started to take on an avid following with the clothed set, particularly for yoga aficionados looking for a new way to do the exercise.
Of course, if one is going to get naked in their yoga class, one will definitely have to think about cleanliness and sanitation.
One simple advice? Bring your own mat, says Janet Konefal, assistant dean at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and who specializes in studying the health benefits of yoga.
Be wary of studios that offer used mats to its students, lest you get “a nick or a cut and risk infection,” she said.
Come to think of it, this should be good advice for students of ‘clothed yoga’ as well.
Additionally, while Konefal sees nothing wrong with the practice of clothing-optional yoga, she explains that the benefits of are actually more psychological than physical; the lightweight clothing and spandex people usually wear to their yoga classes should not be a deterrent in being able to perform the proper stretches and poses.
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