My naturist story

Hi all. This is Abhi from India. Namaste.

I must have been a nudist since my childhood. As far as I remember, I used to stay in my room nude in my childhood when parents were not around, and actually used to imagine myself to be a Jain saint. Yes, India has a long tradition of Digambara Jain saints , Naga sadhus(saints) and several other saints, including women, who take only the elements for their clothes. In ancient India, nudism was not taboo. Women could go without their chest covered and not be considered an automatic target for rape and murder. But that was several millennia back. The last two millennia and multiple politico-social factors changed the cultural fabric of the country.

But even today, in peripheral areas, and in several religious congregations where bathing occurs, men and women do expose themselves partially. Tribes in India have had a history of nudism, where it is not a taboo at all.

However, social nudism is currently not mainstream in our country. Social nudism/ naturism, which is separate from sex, doesn’t have much of a modern history in this country except one- the first naturist club in the world was formed in this very country, by one Mr. Crawford, an official of the British empire, in the late 19th century near Bombay with just 3 members including himself. It wound up after a few years.

Coming back to myself, I used to sleep in the nude in my childhood and although my parents knew it I guess, I was not admonished. Social nudism as a concept was never known to me though I have seen male nudists amongst my friends in my childhood and college days. I do remember seeing pictures of German nude beaches in the National Geographic magazine in my school days and frankly found it a bit odd, given my social conditioning where nudism was considered to be shameful.

In between my career, family life, and multiple other things, there was not much time for nudism/ naturism over the years , though I slept nude whenever I was alone (my ex wife was not openminded enough- she wouldn’t have understood it. And the dissociation between nudity and sex was not clear in my mind in those days).

After my dad’s death, loss of my job and divorce proceedings in 2017, I got a bit of time for myself, and chanced upon the site Truenudists, where I first came to know there was actually something called Nudism/ Naturism. It was a bit of a revelation for me. Through this site, I met many people- men, women and couples on the site and have some good friends till this day, though I have not met any of them. From them, I came to know about the Social Nudist/ Naturist lifestyle.

Thus began the second phase of Nudism/ Naturism. I stayed nude in my house, slept on the terrace nude, and completely did away with bedtime clothes. I did skinnydipping in my local swimming pool, which is easy if you keep a watch and don’t come out of the water nude in public view. I used to pull my swimming trunks down in water and do the dog paddle or other steps which wouldn’t expose me. Yes, even in the midst of other people while chatting with them, without offending them by exposing my nudity. I even chatted with our instructor normally without her or anyone else know I was nude in the water.

So I reached some kind of social normalization about nudity, and when I would travel for business trips, I would skinnydip in the swimming pool – again, with precautions. I also did a bit of nude hiking , and nude driving at night. Nude Yoga, which I learnt from videos after having been trained in normal clothed Yoga at several places, was something I picked up and practice regularly till this day. It gives me happiness and peace, and is extremely relaxing.

My partner at that time was also open enough to join me in my nudist activities, and we used to sleep nude together. We have done nude yoga together.

My current house has a garden and I mostly get up early in the morning when no one is around, have my morning tea while enjoying the cool air. I do nude yoga and nude exercises regularly ( I was trained in yoga at multiple places). I work nude whenever I can, and I always sleep nude. I worship at times in the nude, because there is nothing to be ashamed of before God. I skinnydip when I can.

The third phase of Nudism/ Naturism in my life is the social phase, when I visited Thailand in September this year (2022). I was in touch with Barefeet, Chan and Dragonfly resorts quite sometime in advance, and fixed up with them before visiting as a day visitor. I was happy to see the warmth from Gregers and others at Barefeet and Jaa at Chan. I enjoyed magical times skinnydipping in the pool, doing nude exercises and nude yoga and getting a nude massage which was amazing. I dined nude and did my work on my computer nude. I talked with people – men, women and couples, most of whom were courteous and friendly. As in my normal social interactions, I did not cross any lines, mindful of social etiquette. It was nice to see even couples with young children laughing and enjoying the warm embrace of naturism. So healthy, so natural.

It was but natural to become a member of the Naturist Association Thailand.

The big question- Nudism and Sex, are they interrelated? I do enjoy sex, but not in the nudist/naturist context. I have a healthy sexual life and am careful to dissociate it from my nudist/ naturist activities. In fact, nudism/naturism is a good counterbalance to hypersexuality and I can vouch for this that being a nudist/naturist protects you from being a pervert desperate for sex. Sex and Nudism/ naturism are both important, but separately. I love nudism /naturism for the sheer freedom and comfort that textiles would never give. I am careful not to be an exhibitionist, because while I have a right to be nude, people have a right not to see me nude and get offended if they don’t appreciate the concept.

While I do understand that textiles have a role in our society, and I do like dressing for occasions appropriately, nudism is important for those who enjoy it, and I will be happy to continue in this lifestyle for as long as I can. I would especially like to work on nude yoga, nude exercise, and the spiritual aspect of nudism. Probably, someday in my lifetime, India will be as open as other countries in embracing nudism, and I look forward to that day. Even if it doesn’t, I am happy with my lifestyle as I have developed it.

Like in all things in life, and like the Buddha said many millennia back, the middle path is the ideal path, and equanimity is the road to peace.

I will be happy to connect with likeminded people here and learn more from there. Good friends are always appreciated. Love and regards from Kolkata, India.