While we're on the subject.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
While we're on the subject.....
4
Wed, 08-04-2004 - 5:52pm
For those of you who have been to a nude beach, what was it like the first time you got naked in front of a *lot* of strangers? How did it feel to be surrounded by strange nudes? (lol)

I've always had a curiosity about it. I can be exhibitionist **to an extent** (ie, belly dancing) but that's not nude. I'm ok with my body as long as I'm clothed, unless it's naked with DH! I'm not ashamed of my body, I'm just not in the habit of appearing in my birthday suit in front of a crowd of strangers! I assume the first time is the hardest. Did you just make up your mind you were going to do it and plunged in? Did it take you some time to feel comfy, did you have to do it in stages? I imagine everyone is different in their approach, but how hard was it for you? Was it a one time thing only (maybe a vacation resort) or something you do/would do on a regular basis? How long did it take you to feel perfectly ok with it?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2003
Wed, 08-04-2004 - 7:54pm

>>For those of you who have been to a nude beach, what was it like the first time you got naked in front of a *lot* of strangers? How did it feel to be surrounded by strange nudes? (lol) <<


LIBERATING!


I don't know how *modesty* works, but when it was being handed out, I must have been absent.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2001
Wed, 08-04-2004 - 10:04pm
A bunch of us (guys and girls) went to one once when we were in out late teens/early twenties and on a beach holiday in the area.

It was embarrassing at first, especially in the changing rooms area. A couple of the girls stripped down without a problem, a couple removed their tops but retained their g-strings, and the natural thing for a young guy happened to several of us. However, a few minutes of embarrassment and a cold shower helped.

After that it was OK. Surreal at first but OK. Walking around in public with no clothes is kinda like one of those bad dreams. Once we were outside amongst people it wasn't a big deal. In fact, it was kinda disconcerting to see so many older people that definitely didn't look like they'd stepped out of the pages of a magazine. "Saggy" is the word that comes to mind, and 'sexy' was notably absent.

Us guys didn't have so much of a problem but the girls didn't stay long. Obviously the camp wasn't used to nude teenager girls because the girls got freaked out with all the old guys staring at them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2004
Wed, 08-04-2004 - 11:46pm
I've never been to a nude beach, but I've always thought that would be a hoot. The closest I've ever gotten to that was a few months ago, when I participated in a Spencer Tunick "installation", one of 2800 people who posed nude for him. I wasn't sure I could do it, but decided to try anyway. I could always change my mind and walk away! I think it might be somewhat different to stroll onto a beach where everyone was already naked. In this situation, everyone took off their clothes at the same time. For some strange reason, there was nothing embarassing about it, and in this case, the worst part was that it was cold! Westridge mentioned that some of the bodies he saw were "saggy", and at this event, there were people of all ages, colors, and body shapes. I think that one of the things you have to keep in mind is that it has nothing to do with sex, it has to do with liberation from clothing. (His "artistic" theme is the juxtaposition of cold architecture with soft curved bodies!) Let's face it, on a beach, some of the bikinis worn by men and women leave nothing to the imagination anyway. After my first "exposure" to being nude in a crowd, if I had a chance, I'd probably go to a nude beach, or maybe even a nudist camp. Not likely that either would happen, but if it came up, I don't think I'd hesitate.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 3:50am
I know it's not about sex (read all my other posts on the subject, on the other thread), I'm just wondering about the mentality part of it and getting past the mental taboo, lol!

PS, His pics are cool. I've seen several in magazines, awhile ago.