Hot Nude Yoga

[Daniel]

The title says it all: gay men practicing yoga together in the altogether.

This past weekend, after something of a dare from myself and Soulforce's resident Yogini Zerbie, I went and took a 10 AM Saturday class at HNY.

http://www.hotnudeyoga.com/

While at first blush (and those who have issues with being nude is public may blush) one would think that HNY has little to do with Soulforce and its aims.

I beg to differ.

But allow me to backtrack before I address this matter: my husband grew up in San Diego and introduced me to Black's Beach (clothing optional) after we first met and we journeyed to visit his family. One reaches Black's Beach either by climbing down steep cliffs or walking from the North for several miles: it is the perfect place to swim as one was born in peace and tranquility.

It was a liberating and fun experience: splashing around and playing in the water with my honey with nary a stitch of clothes on made be feel like a child of 8- which reduced me to laugher and much grinning. Then I sat on the sand and watched humanity walk by: the skinny, the mature, the beautiful, the young, the plump- all together in the altogether- one with themselves and Everything Else that Is.

So- here I am on my first morning class at HNY.

I arrived at a modest studio space on 23rd Street, was greated warmly by the instructor who showed me where to put my stuff- that is my clothes- and then proceeded to lay out my yoga mat, water bottle and a towel, with 10 other men ranging in age from 20 something to 50 something.

The class was in two parts. First one practices poses solo, and then later, one practices with a partner. The poses which we practiced were progressively challenging- and while I had some difficulty with them (It's been a while since I took class), I was able to keep up, even though my heart was pounding and my breath somewhat somewhat akilter.

It was after about 10 minutes that I realized that this was serious stuff- as sweat beaded on my forehead and ran down my back: one exactly doesn't have time to check out the guy across the room when one is balancing on one leg with the other leg stretched to the sky and one's arms are reaching reaching reaching for the endless horizon.

Warrior Pose. Downward Dog. One-Legged-Downward-Facing-Dog. Sun Salutation. Flying Crane. Plow. Boat Pose. Cobra. Forward Bend. Child's Pose- and on and on and on.

My partner for the second part of class was a warm and lovely Asian man named Andrew who happened to be sitting next to me. And this is where the practice got interesting and intimate: here you are touching and helping another man, practicing poses that demand trust and strength as well and vigor and tenderness.

And this is when it all come together for me: the heat and expansion that was engendered in the solo practice was tranformed into something else entirely in the partner work: connection. Yes- it was sensual and intimate, but it was more than that: it was- at least for me anyway- the melding of head, heart and groin, of spirit and matter, and all that matters- joy and love, passion and peace, openess and trust.

I spent the rest of the day feeling vibrant and alive- connected to parts of myself that went untouched for too long- while at the same time open to the world, love and life, in a subtle, yet profound way. A grin on my face, I walked about town thinking that All Was Indeed Well.

My Lesson learned on this Saturday morning:

Stripping everything away, besides one's clothes, one finds that there is both Beauty and Being. As we connect to ourselves, we connect with others. And as we are at peace with ourselves, so we experience peace in the world.

Being in class taught me that the barriers that we place between each other can be taken away- both in the mind as well as the heart.

And if that isn't nonviolence, I don't know what is.

So- I'm showing up for myself next Saturday, with the intent to deepen the practice that we are involved in here, each in our own way, with or without clothes.

[Vanessa White]

What a beautiful experience.

There is something to be said for being that vulnerable, yet free with others; at first thought, it seems so intimidating and almost unheard of, but then when I read how you describe it, what a connection to have with one's self and other humans; to just embrace the energy that is an integral part of the moment, and moments that were created there.

And I agree; something that you deserve to give yourself freely on many a Saturday morning. What a way, in my mind, to bring everything back to basics. :love:

[Zerbie]

:love::love::love::love::love::love:

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. :)

You found a good class. :)
:love::love::love::love::love::love:

[scott snedeker]

Daniel, you may be openly Gay but I think you have been a closet Radical Faerie all this time!!!!!!:lol::lol::lol:

Breaking down all personal boundaries and defenses is probably the best common denominator of Radical faeries.

I'm so glad yoou found this new avenue!!! Sounds like the first time I went skinny-dipping as a kid!

:love::love:

[Daniel]

Daniel, you may be openly Gay but I think you have been a closet Radical Faerie all this time!!!!!!:lol::lol::lol:

Breaking down all personal boundaries and defenses is probably the best common denominator of Radical faeries.

I'm so glad you found this new avenue!!! Sounds like the first time I went skinny-dipping as a kid!

:love::love:

You are probably right.

My inner Faerie is showing- like a slip under a dress. Though, of course, that's an odd analogy seeing that HNY is about undressing.

And that leads me to an interesting thought: being undressed without being 'dressed down'. As in- judged- humiliated- shamed.

There is so much shame with being in the altogether- even- I believe - for gay men (since we're talking about HNY). But you know what? When you have a practice like yoga to keep your mind busy you get the gift of getting over yourself.

[Zerbie]

Our Danny and our Scotty are kindred spirits.

***

The wonderful thing about yoga is it keeps the mind occupied so that it has much less chance of taking you for a ride someplace you don't need to be. ;)

I find the practice erodes body shame quite thoroughly, and that's practicing clothed. All in all, it is the single healthiest and most important thing I've ever found.

[Daniel]

Our Danny and our Scotty are kindred spirits.

***

The wonderful thing about yoga is it keeps the mind occupied so that it has much less chance of taking you for a ride someplace you don't need to be. ;)

I find the practice erodes body shame quite thoroughly, and that's practicing clothed. All in all, it is the single healthiest and most important thing I've ever found.

And if so, please ignore, but I got into yoga via a wonderful friend who, unfortunately, died of an aggressive brain cancer- my dear beloved David.

David was my dresser at the opera- he was also an actor and acting teacher- and when I injured myself by repeatedly running across the front of the stage (at the director's suggestion) at the beginning of the third act of Carmen, I felt a sharp pain in my knee when I stopped in the wings, that is, off-stage during the last performance. The pain was intense and unrelenting. Being younger- and frankly- a but stupid about my body, I had been stopping too fast- thus creating a great deal of pressure on my knee. The 'stopping short' in the wings was simply the result of ignorance on my part and biomechanics.

I injured a cruciate ligament.

David, who was also certified to teach restorative yoga made me go see my doctor, who, informed me that those who are are long-limbed - such as myself- and the over-weight are prone to knee problems, and that, barring surgery, the best thing I could do for myself was yoga, seeing that if I was operated on I would have scar tissue and there was no guarantee of success.

David also introduced me to his yoga teacher who showed me poses that I did religiously for a year: it took me three months to be able to walk up stairs with two feet, another three months before I could walk quickly, and then another 6 months before I could jog much less run.

But the injury did heal. It took a long time- and I had to work at it daily, but it did heal. Yoga gave me that.

David gave me his friendship, counsel and love, for which I am ever grateful: I miss him terribly. Oh....the fun we had. And the conversations: quick-witted and prescient, David had a knack for giving one nuggets of wisdom when least expected but always needed.

He read passages from Gibran at our wedding in Saratoga Springs.

I honor him with love and gatitude.

[paul]

Okay, I like it.

At first my thought is this is very sensual. I am not very familiar with yoga. As I look at it, it is a very difficult "exercise" and doing it naked presents some interesting opportunities. To be so engaged in the yoga that the person doesn't have a chance, really, to turn things sexual is an great opportunity. It's almost tantric without the sex.

There is something about being healthy and whole, which is a goal of yoga. In shape and in plane sight, uncovered as it were, with no other motive than to 'exercise.' Not saying this well. What strikes me is we have this genereal rule in our culture that we only get naked with another person to have sex, which is kind of weakening, certainly, limiting. This seems a technique of learning yet more self control, which is very freeing vs. controling environment because we don't no how to control our 'self.'

[keltic63]

on the practical side: I'd love to do this, but I have no experience with yoga, save the 2 or 3 dvd's that I have. I can't keep up with them. I can't do the poses, and I can't watch the screen and do the poses at the same time. I'd gladly do it with a bunch of naked men, but only if I could be in a beginners class!


Paul: Scott and I tend to spend a good amount of time naked and not engaged in sexual activity. Sometimes, it's just a way of saving on clothes; shower, but not time to get dressed, or not time for bed, so why put on something? we also sleep in the nude so getting up in the morning is another time we might be found running around the house without a stitch of clothes. As long as the house isn't chilly, it's not a problem. There's also the fun of being caught naked with a blind open! but that's just the exhibitionist in us!

[Daniel]

This morning an come upon Film in Review in the Friday Arts Section, and what do I see? A click about gay men and once of the scenes in the film was shot at HNY.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/movies/28four.html?scp=1&sq=a+four+letter+word&st=nyt

Called A Four Letter Word, the reviewer (a woman) notes that..

Airily directed by Casper Andreas (who wrote the script with Mr. Archer), “A Four Letter Word” coasts on a good-natured raunchiness — a nude yoga class is particularly diverting — that’s explicit but never sleazy. Spinning off characters from his gloriously titled “Slutty Summer,” Mr. Andreas integrates subplots involving a gay, biracial couple and a bicurious bride-to-be (an excellent Virginia Bryan).

Though unlikely to appeal much beyond gay audiences, the movie has something to say about hypocrisy and the dangers of snap judgments. As for the male nudity, well, you won’t hear any complaints from me.

Thank you girlfirend!

And isn't this boy cute? Looks like his warrior asana form is pretty good. And I bet Aaron Star ( the founder of NHY) was there to adust things.

My next class is tomorrow! And I already have an outing planned afterwards with a fine gentlemen I met at my first class who is into flea-marketing like I am- which is a block away from the studio.

New friends. New poses. New frame of mind. I'm thinking of all of this as Easter in action: getting moving, opening up and living more fully!

Resurrection or Erection- they do happen in class by the way :eek: :D - things are looking up. :lol:

(Ok....that was to make you laugh)

[keltic63]

Resurrection or Erection- they do happen in class by the way :eek: :D - things are looking up. :lol:

(Ok....that was to make you laugh)

I once played a monk in a local production of the show Monky Business. at one point in the show, the monks argue about which of Jesus' miracles are his best. One of the other actors flubbed his line about the Resurrection of Jesus: the greatest miracle has to be the erection of Jesus! :eek::lol::eek:

[Daniel]

I once played a monk in a local production of the show Monky Business. at one point in the show, the monks argue about which of Jesus' miracles are his best. One of the other actors flubbed his line about the Resurrection of Jesus: the greatest miracle has to be the erection of Jesus! :eek::lol::eek:

This is just too much! What did everyone do? Turn upstage (this is theatre lingo) and try not to laugh?

Reminds me of the time I was in a show called "Desert Song' where the leading man flubbed his line and said in a dramatic voice: "Out in the CaraBEEan...there's a CaRIBinan island!"

At which point, everyone's shoulder's starting shaking- and we did- indeed- turn upstage. And the audience laughed along with us.

A fine moment in the Theeeeater.

[sailaway58]

I prefer a line of defense between myself and an untimely breaking of the wind. I looked up nude yoga on line and there are never people shaped like me doing it, (thank God). I did find some interesting pictures but I must go now and repent. :headbang:
This is the kind of thing I would prefer to watch Zerbie do... from across the street... with binoculars...
But I digress. :o

[Daniel]

I prefer a line of defense between myself and an untimely breaking of the wind. I looked up nude yoga on line and there are never people shaped like me doing it, (thank God). I did find some interesting pictures but I must go now and repent. :headbang:
This is the kind of thing I would prefer to watch Zerbie do... from across the street... with binoculars...
But I digress. :o

Re wind: One just avoids beans before class!

You know- the gentleman sitting next to me at my first class was- shall we say- not first class- perhaps 30 pounds overwieght- but so what? One has to start somewhere, right?

Point taken though: I understand exactly why you'd like to have class with Zerbie. I would too. Though perhasp not for the same reasons! :lol:

Repent? For what? My dear Sailaway- surely there is beauty everywhere- in all shapes and sizes- even in your own person- certainly to those who adore you.

And we do.

:love:

[sailaway58]

Repent? For what? My dear Sailaway- surely there is beauty everywhere- in all shapes and sizes- even in your own person- certainly to those who adore you.

And we do.

:love:Well, typing anything with the word nude in it can take you some, lets say, less than appropriate web sites?
And as of your last comment, the feeling in mutual. :)

[paul]

I looked all over the HNY site, several times, and couldn't find Daniels pic.

[Daniel]

I looked all over the HNY site, several times, and couldn't find Daniels pic.

I think you would have to register as a member to read and see my profile. ;)

[Zerbie]

:
This is the kind of thing I would prefer to watch Zerbie do... from across the street... with binoculars...


:eek::eek::eek:
:eek:
:eek:
:p
:p:p
:lol::lol::lol::lol:

:o Suddenly I'm keenly aware of the fact that our yoga room has a window angling somewhat towards the street. :o Now I'm gonna wonder if I have a neighbor with binoculars! :eek:
Oh well, if there is, I guess s/he is learning something about proper form by now.
:p






Point taken though: I understand exactly why you'd like to have class with Zerbie. I would too. Though perhasp not for the same reasons!

:love:

Why, thank ya!! :D:D:D
One does learn something after a decade-plus of practice. And it's amazing how HARD yoga still is, and how VAST the ocean of new stuff to learn every day by doing the practice.

[antonyh]

I think you would have to register as a member to read and see my profile. ;)

Oh my there are profiles?

This Nude Yoga stuff sounds liberating :lol:

[Daniel]

Oh my there are profiles?

This Nude Yoga stuff sounds liberating :lol:

There are profiles. ;)

I'm taking my second class tomorrow: it is liberating.

[Daniel]

While I don't intend - and you probably don't want to hear- a blow by blow (ok...not going there! :lol:) account of my classes, my second one is worth mentioning for the fact that the instructor was the originator of HNY- Aaron Starr.

The pacing, poses and 'feel' of the class, while similar to my first one, was, at the same time, very different.

I got back home afterwards and hubby said my face looked different. "How? " I asked. "Relaxed and younger". Could a vain gay boy ask for anything more?

This class's focus was on integrating breath with form (asana) and the actual feeling of energy flow- a subtle yet very real thing.

And guess what? It's very freeing to practice in the altogether- it really is. Strip away everything and only love remains.


And your very flesh shall be a great poem. - Walt Whitman

[Daniel]

Have been going to class for the past two weeks. Have met some amazing people. And have enjoyed every moment of class, to the poses that have made me ache for days afterwards as well as the partnering work which requires equal amounts of strength and trust: even did a handstand this morning! :weee: (Well.....with some help that is ;))

There is something very healing about being in a room with a bunch of other gay men doing yoga. And being in the altogether becomes...well...not a big deal.

I do know this: Whitman was right. The body is beautiful, whether young or old, overweight or skinny, lean or muscular- there is something that shines through- call is Soul or Spirit or Love. This comes out as practice takes place. You can feel it filling the room. Utterly amazing.

Oh...I signed up: I'm going on a Memorial Day Retreat. Whether it changes my life or not is not the point: I simply decided to show up for myself. Jump into the deep end of the pool. Take the challenge of change.

[tdogg]

Thanks for sharing your experience Daniel. You made me smile at the end of my not-so-wonderful weekend.

We are looking into "Eating right for your blood type." It makes total sense, and actually answers a lot of questions for me, based on how I feel after I eat certain things. It also recommends meditation and relaxing exercises for me, especially yoga. Not sure I'm ready for nude yoga for lesbians, but I really need to break out my mat and do some at home anyway. That and more meditation.

:love: :D

[Zerbie]

Thanks for sharing your experience Daniel. You made me smile at the end of my not-so-wonderful weekend.

We are looking into "Eating right for your blood type." It makes total sense, and actually answers a lot of questions for me, based on how I feel after I eat certain things. It also recommends meditation and relaxing exercises for me, especially yoga. Not sure I'm ready for nude yoga for lesbians, but I really need to break out my mat and do some at home anyway. That and more meditation.

:love: :D

:lol: Oh, dearie-me! My gut reaction was, 'Heck, I'm there!' :eek: :o :p :lol:

I think I WOULD go. Tho, for me, officially I suppose it would have to be a nude, mixed gender class. THAT, I think would put lotsa people off.
:lol:

Ahhh well, I'll stick with clothes then. :p :D

Sorry to hear your weekend was not wonderful. :(:(:( What, if I'm not prying, happened?
:(:love::love::love:

[tdogg]

Well, actually if it's the hot yoga, think I would enjoy that much more nude. It gets very hot, sweaty and confining with work out clothes!

Well, just the bad horse news. It wasn't a totally crappy weekend, but the bit of depression I'm having over this isn't helping. I'm sure when we do the radiographs tomorrow, I'll be in a more practical and positive thinking mode. For now, just trying not to worry too much! :pray:

[Daniel]

Well...here I am writing from Easton Mountain in Upstate NY- attending a HNY Retreat.

So far- I've gotten up at 5AM and sat in meditation, had breakfast, and now am getting ready for 3 hours of yoga. All done with observing silence. And you know ho hard that can be for a bunch of gay boys- but nary a word was said this morning.

Beautiful setting: the stars last night were amazing, as well as the song of the frogs on the pond- singing their delight to be frogs.

And I supposed my body will be singing with delight after some practice. :)

Will tell how it all goes. Going very well so far...

Peace from the hinterlands!

Daniel

[scott snedeker]

I really am impressed with your cultivation of awareness and connection to body! You are on your way to ever evolving cerebral and spiritual manifest!


When I grow up I wanna be just like you!

[Zerbie]

We should have a Soulforce yoga retreat. :D:love:
One rule though: no having it without me there!!

[Daniel]

Now there's a thought! And a good one.

~


Got back from Easton Mountain last night around 6 PM, and frankly, was sad that the weekend was over. It was a transformative experience on many levels, none-the-least of which was the physical level: doing hours and hours of yoga changes one- that is- if one gets a grasp on the principles involved (breathing, gaze, alignment etc) and how to go about practice. I got more of that understanding this weekend. As an example, one teacher there (from Britain) showed me how to 'stand' and use my feet and legs, which changed my practice afterwards- taking me to a deeper place within postures. And of course, the partner work that is done in HNY was wonderful, engaging, challenging and warm-hearted. Funny too. There was a great deal of humor the whole time. How can you get a bunch (75) gay men together doing yoga in the altogether and not have a hilarious time? Humor was the leavening in our daily bread throughout the three and a half days.

Ah.....had a wonderful and intense/meditative Thai massage out on the lawn Sunday afternoon (didn't wear sunblock!) and have the pink skin to show for it! :rolleyes::lol: Oops!

In sum: the theme of the weekend was transcending obstacles, and in some measure I was able to do that: letting go of old pain and embracing the New. A hard thing to describe here, but I have a notebook full of observations, teachings and impressions. I came away with a lot: I made many new friends and feel part of community that is not unlike the one here. There was so much love and light, friendship and caring. And as here, the caring and love was real, deep and wide. It was a profound experience.

Talent Night was a blast! I sang a song from Grey Gardens (Will You). And there were many shining lights that night.

Here's the real deal- the wonderful Christine Ebersole- singing the song in concert, which has now closed. :'(

4PRcoUf3vzo

One example was a group of men from Cleveland who did a choreographed line step. Another was a wonderful yoga teacher who sang 'Love is on the way!'-an outward expression of an insistent inner drumbeat which accompanied the whole experience.

I did my share of releasing and letting go, which manifested in crying- and frankly sobbing- the last morning while we worked on postures that opened the hips and created 'fire' in the navel area: there is so much to the body, and if we listen closely, it has a lot to tell us. Mine told me many things. So I will get out the mat and keep listening.

The Sufi's say that "tears are the beginning of wisdom". And as I told the class that morning: "I hope I have gotten a tiny drop of that."

I've leave my report with these words- the same ones that are said in the yogic tradition and which mean "I bow to the Light within you".

Namaste!

[NathanATX]

A friend of mine in Austin participated in nude yoga (not sure if it was HNY affiliated) after surviving a really bad gay bashing experience... he said the yoga class helped him heal emotionally in very powerful ways.

There is a (clothed) yoga class here at the gay center in Tulsa... I think I need to pay them a visit... and I think I will totally do the HNY when the opportunity presents itself.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. :)

[Zerbie]

(((((((((( Danny! )))))))))))
:D:'(:D
:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::l ove:

I am SO happy for you! :D:D:love::D:D

[paul]

Gee, a three day weekend with 75 naked men. Now that's my idea of a "retreat."

[Daniel]

A friend of mine in Austin participated in nude yoga (not sure if it was HNY affiliated) after surviving a really bad gay bashing experience... he said the yoga class helped him heal emotionally in very powerful ways.

There is a (clothed) yoga class here at the gay center in Tulsa... I think I need to pay them a visit... and I think I will totally do the HNY when the opportunity presents itself.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. :)

There is a healing that can take place between gay men in an environmement where one is nude, but not sexual with other men (yes- it can be very sensual- which can certianly help one get any any sense of body shame....whether the issue is one isn't buff enough or two heavy or whatever...eventually....if you stick with it....one drops all that self-condemnation).

It's an intense experience- that is for sure. At least it has been for me. The fulcrum by which needed change has taken place in my life.

(((((((((( Danny! )))))))))))
:D:'(:D
:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::l ove:

I am SO happy for you! :D:D:love::D:D

Thank you! Perhaps HNLY won't be too far off! :D

Gee, a three day weekend with 75 naked men. Now that's my idea of a "retreat."

It's quite something.

Up at 5:45 and in class at 6 for meditation and teaching, then breakfast at 7 AM which was followed by a three hour class at 8 AM (the first morning class was pretty challenging!), all done in silence until lunch at 11. Then a break (nap time for me, sauna pool or hiking etc for others) until another class/workshop 4PM, dinner at 5:30, then another class at 7PM.

This is the second time that such a large group has attended this retreat at Easton Mountain, which, for those of you who don't know, is a spiritual center: as we were leaving, a group of clergy folk were arriving. ;)

Easton Mountain also presents a camp for gay youth at risk- which needs support. You can find out more about them here:

http://www.eastonmountain.com/index.html

[NathanATX]

Very cool! We have a men's campground close by, up in Missouri... It's called Cactus Canyon.

I emailed the owners about a month ago regarding the possibility of putting a spiritual retreat together for gay men.

Maybe HNY could put their event on at Cactus Canyon?

[Zerbie]

Brilliant! This is wonderful!

Yoga is profoundly healing *Profoundly.* I can think of nothing more affirming than a safely-run yoga class. I recommend yoga to ANYone interested.

There's a community center here that offers a few yoga classes. I LOVE y'all's ideas of retreats, classes geared for certain demographics, etc. If I could rent a male body for a few days, I would totally have gone on that retreat on Easton mountain (or wherever.)

As it stands, what class does a person like me belong in? hnLy? because I'm female, or hny? because I like men (but I'm female so I wouldn't be allowed, or could I just say I'm a pre-transition transman?!:eek: better not tell tales. . .:o) aww heck. . . I guess my classes will have to include everyone. :lol:

As it is, I would love to be teaching yoga. It would seem I need to act on that drive sometime soon - the desire is getting stronger and stronger. Just, the plate's a little full right now. Maybe next year? I don't know, but listening to y'all talk (ahem, reading y'all type. . .) I am sure that is another something I am supposed to be doing.