3 reasons to be nude more often
Of course, there are other ways to feel good besides getting naked! But, instead of dressing in more clothing to protect yourself the next time you feel disconnected, give your body a chance to breathe by taking some off. Notice the subtle changes in temperature, flow, and pressure of the sun against your naked skin, and let in some light where it doesn’t usually shine.
When was the last time you enjoyed being naked? What was it that made you feel so great? Perhaps it was the sensation of a cool breeze brushing against your legs, or the warmth of the sun caressing your behind. Or maybe it was the tingly feeling of water dribbling over every inch of your body…
Many gay men have difficulty getting naked outside or around others, mainly because of shame and poor body image. However, there are some good reasons why shedding your clothes and enjoying the skin you are in can help you feel better.
Nudity and sex are not the same thing.
You may recall being young and running around naked, and the utter pleasure of being free.
Sadly, our society has eroticized nudity. Many of us don’t feel fully comfortable being naked anywhere outside the bedroom (or even in the bedroom!) because there’s often a lot of shame associated with sex.
All nudists are aware that being nude with others in a non-sexual context is a great leveler, and that everybody's body is remarkably distinct. It is important to be able to enjoy your body for what it is rather than what it represents, by separating being naked from being sexual.
Wear less and feel more.
There are millions of nerve endings - touch receptors - in your skin, linking directly to your brain. Sensation (anything from touch to temperature) stimulates these nerve endings, which then connect to your brain directly. Nerve endings, however, respond best to a range of sensations. Your brain gets bored easily, and if the same nerve receptors are stimulated in the same way for too long, the sensation you feel from them will actually begin to fade.
When you first don a pair of jeans, they are noticeable against your skin, but after a while, you become oblivious to them because your nerve endings get overexcited and stop functioning.
Clothing covers most of the skin, and over time, deadens all the sensory receptors the clothes come into contact with.
Having skin-to-skin contact can make you feel secure.
Most of us have become disconnected from that amazing capacity to experience sensation through touch—via those millions of nerve endings—to a greater or lesser extent. Cultural or social conditioning, shame, or trauma are just a few of the reasons why many people become disconnected from sensation and touch early in life.
Your nervous system can be regulated through skin-to-skin contact thanks to the chemicals released in your body. Just 30 seconds of skin-to-skin contact can make you feel good, because you are releasing oxytocin, a hormone that makes you feel good and bond with others. It is often referred to as the 'love' hormone because of this connection. Your skin being uncovered is what gives you the greatest chance of experiencing this feel-good hormone boost. However, the effect is not the same through clothing, so the more you uncover your skin, the more chance there is for this feel-good hormone boost to happen.
Let your skin breathe a little.