Mark Haskell Smith

One man’s year as a nudist

Most people wouldn’t feel comfortable removing all their clothes in public, but for some it’s a way of life. American writer Mark Haskell Smith overcame his nerves and spent a year immersing himself in the world of nudism. “If you’re at the airport, you don’t make jokes about bombs. When you’re with nudists you don’t make jokes about breasts. And God forbid, don’t get an … Continue reading One man’s year as a nudist

What nudists do during a lockdown

On an average weekday, you might find Parisian Laurent Luft enjoying a swim at the city’s Roger Le Gall swim center. Like many of us, Luft’s currently missing his laps in the pool, which is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and France’s lockdown rules. But unlike many of us, Luft usually swims in the nude. He’s the president of the Association des Naturistes de … Continue reading What nudists do during a lockdown

The Stigma of Social Nudity in the Age of Casual Sex… Please explain this to me!

This is sort of a slow starter, so I hope you will “bare with me” until I get to the twist! I was chatting with my millennial friend Addie the other day about outing oneself as a naturist through social media, noting that we both work in education related fields that frequently involves working with minors, and a well-intended misstep could easy escalate into an … Continue reading The Stigma of Social Nudity in the Age of Casual Sex… Please explain this to me!

I ❤️ Naked Walks: Naturist Treks on European Islands (Part Two)

It’s one thing to find a place for nakation that allows for a leisurely afternoon of nude sunbathing by the pool, but what if you are the restless type who needs to get up and stretch your legs now and again? Such was the topic of my previous installment called I ❤️ Naked Walks, focusing on a few of our favorite places in Croatia and … Continue reading I ❤️ Naked Walks: Naturist Treks on European Islands (Part Two)

I ❤️ Naked Walks: Our favorite places for naturist trekking (Part One)

Seems simple enough. Take off your clothes… and walk! As it happens, neither of us have ever considered ourselves even remotely athletic. In fact, one could argue that a big part of what drew us into naturism in the first place was simply coming to terms with our own bodies. Neither of us had the talent nor the desire for championship skiing or body-builder weight-lifting, … Continue reading I ❤️ Naked Walks: Our favorite places for naturist trekking (Part One)

Naked meditation is bliss!

Meditating has many benefits. If you meditate regularly you get a sharper mind, sleep better and benefit from an increased awareness of situations. With meditation, you drop anxiety and decrease the feeling of being overwhelmed. I’ve added naked meditation to my morning routine some years ago now and have since then been meditating almost everyday wearing nothing. Scientific studies have demonstrated the many benefits of … Continue reading Naked meditation is bliss!

Inaugural World Naked Sailing Day

It all started with the World Naked Bike Ride, which continues to gain momentum. The annual bike ride led to World Naked Gardening Day, an event that immediately appealed to Buffalonians (see why). It soon became apparent that the idea of being outside and naked was something that gravitated to Buffalonians. It was after conducting a photo shoot for World Naked Gardening Day that a couple … Continue reading Inaugural World Naked Sailing Day

What Hanlan’s Nude Beach Means to Toronto’s Queer Community

The beach will re-open on July 31 after being closed to the public since May due to extensive flooding. Toronto Island Park, including Hanlan’s Point, will reopen Monday. In his announcement, Mayor John Tory said, “For many Torontonians summer isn’t complete without a visit to the Toronto Islands.” But for the LGBTQ community, this is an understatement. Hanlan’s Point is an historic LGBTQ site and, for … Continue reading What Hanlan’s Nude Beach Means to Toronto’s Queer Community

For single nudists, pool-side meet-up is a chance to connect

LAND O’LAKES — At 66 years old, Al Purdy has never been in a relationship with a nudist. But he would like to be, at least in the casual sense. It was only a decade ago that he adopted the nudist lifestyle. A friend took him to a clothing-optional resort, and something clicked. He felt liberated, suddenly less conservative. Now, Purdy, a flight attendant, likes … Continue reading For single nudists, pool-side meet-up is a chance to connect

Real Talk: Is Nudism Sexual?

One of the most common misconceptions about naturism, nudism or clothing-optional environments is that they’re sexually-charged environments. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Does Nudity Equal Sex? It depends on the context. If I’m stripping down in my bedroom in front of my husband after coming home from a date night, you bet your buns that nudity in that situation … Continue reading Real Talk: Is Nudism Sexual?