Recently I joined a gym with a pool featuring a steam room and sauna room in the locker room. To my surprise, the showers were all individual stalls with a curtain. In the main locker area I noticed when many members were dressing, they kept wrapped in a towel. Only a few people were naked in the locker room. Then I observed most of the nude members were approximately over 40 years of age. When I entered the locker room from the pool, I took of my wet bathing suite and took a shower. I exited the shower nude and walked over to my locker to hang up my bathing suite. I then walked over to the steam room with towel in hand and entered the steam room naked. When I entered, there were two other members in there. One wearing shorts and the other wrapped in a towel. I relaxed there for a while feeling a comfortable but wondering why so many people were so covered up. I then exited the steam room after a while and walked across the hall still naked into a hot sauna room. I placed my towel on the bench to sit on and stretched out in the corner and enjoyed the heat. After several minutes alone, one person entered wrapped in a towel and hesitantly greeted me as if he was shocked that I was sitting there naked. A few minutes later another person entered the sauna room much to my shock fully clothed carrying a basketball and sat down. Again, I was the only naked person in the sauna but didn't care. In the main locker room there a few other nude people but they were in the minority. Has locker room nudity changed over the years?
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- JAjamnatOriginal PosterJul 18, 2016This topic really fascinates me how over the span of a generation body acceptance has slid back to a puritan state. I was under the assumption with nudity being readily prevalent in the media and all over the internet, that mere nudity and body acceptance would be more accepted and widespread. The locker room seems to mirror the attitude prevalent in our society. When I was growing up, open room gang showers were commonplace, nudity all over the locker room was very normal, skinny dipping with friends was a pleasurable and fun innocent activity, and nude beaches were more abundant and frequented by more people. I would venture to guess that in the last ten to twenty years views and attitudes towards nudity has stagnated.
As I exited the shower stall naked with towel in hand, the janitor was mopping the floor and stopped for a moment to watch the news on the tv on the locker room wall. Another clothed gym member stopped and watched as well. I turned around facing them to look at the news as well. As I stood there naked, I noticed them looking at me a bit strangely because I was comfortable being naked in front of them and even conversed with them over the news. I then passed by them and splashed some water on my face and hair at the sink. I turned and then walk casually back to my locker completely naked. I finished drying off and quickly lotioned my body openly and then got dressed. The clothed gym member looked away and went to his locker, and the foreign janitor looked at me a nodded in what seemed to be approval as he has seen me regularly nude using the sauna, steam room, and shower. It is all quite fascinating to me.ReactReply - OL
Jul 19, 2016I just don't understand this hang-up about locker room nudity. It's a single-sex environment. I'm totally relaxed being naked. It's no big deal.ReactReply - EX
Aug 15, 2016With further discussion to textiles, with the openness of nudists, and with a little persistence, we can remind ppl nude is natural. I've been a healthy influence on my friends as well as my godson. Nude is comfortable and moreover, brings a level of bonding and self awareness impossible when clothed all of the time. I cannot fathom a generation taught to shower in clothing. How is that healthy??
ReactReply - JAjamnatOriginal PosterOct 31, 2016It has been interesting to observe the locker room behaviors, levels of dress, and comfort with nudity. After a year of attending this gym, my locker room behaviors have not changed and continues to be the same since I was in grade school. Full open nudity was always the norm for my generation and gang shower rooms were the norm. Now individual shower stalls with curtains and changing area seems to be the overwhelming norm which I am sure inhibits open nudity. Although this locker room seems to be setup for comfortable nudity with a sauna and steam room, people mostly cover up in towels, underwear, or fully clothed. The towel dance remains to be prevalent and a source of entertainment for me. As for being clothed at all in the sauna or steam room is just an inigma. Very few atendees go nude and they seem to be my generation or older with few exceptions and still there are very few who still comfortable being naked.
After coming out of the pool or working out, it feels good to get naked and enjoy the locker room ammenities. I always go fully nude in the locker room and enjoy the ammenties nude as well. Many always seem to be suprised to see a naked body in the locker room. At times it almost feels as if I am being an exhibitionist instead of a nudist or simply a person comfortable with their body. Nonetheless, I and a few other die hard faithfuls of the old school locker room style will continue to go nude for others to watch in envy.ReactReply - OLOct 31, 2016The French, Germans and Austrians have it right. Nudity is common, or even required, in saunas, steam rooms etc. And gang showers or public nudity is the norm. Why hide? And they attract younger people who get naked either because it's expected or just for fun.ReactReply
- JAjamnatOriginal PosterJan 23, 2017[quote]Not only in locker room......which I have seen often at local gym.............but now, even at "nude" beach. Gunnison Beach in NJ.........where I have been getting naked for 12 years ...........you see many younger (under 30) visitors almost never removing shorts or bathing suit............even the younger males! I venture (unscientifically) to guesstimate that about 50-percent of the younger females and 30-percent of the younger males will not be fully nude at any given time during summer. ude peopleIt is more and more fascinating............and horrifying...........to w?itness firsthand the power of peer pressure vis~a~vis "social media".........which I submit is fast becoming an overall liability, not a benefit.[/quote] That is such a shame. A few years ago when I visited this beautiful beach the clothing optional area was almost completely nude. Why do people go to this beach? It must be to watch all the beautiful nude people. There are so many other textile beaches on Sandy Hook to attend with a bathing suite. You go to Gunnison to get naked, socialize with fellow nudists, and have clothes free fun without judgements and feeling comfortable with like minded people.ReactReply
- MEMemberJan 24, 2017[quote]Not only in locker room......which I have seen often at local gym.............but now, even at "nude" beach.[/quote] It's quite simple folks, use it or lose it. If nudist / clothing optional beaches stop being used, they'll stop being nudist / clothing optional. It happens. Thankfully, on a beach we visit it's the other way round. It isn't clothing optional, but there seems to be regulars who do it anyway to the point where I haven't seen anyone say anything. Mind, complaining wouldn't be British would it LOLReactReply
- LA
Mar 31, 2017A number of years ago my future wife and I camped outside of Washington DC on the Chesapeake. On the weekend several busses came in from Washington for daytrippers to enjoy the beach. At the end of the day I could not believe it when the men were wearing full length blue jeans in the shower. They would turn their backs from the benches, open the zipper, let a little water in, zip up and try to towel off. I cant imaging a more miserable bus trip back to the city.
ReactReply - BI
Jun 4, 2017Love the gym and the nude settings locker room sauna etc have ALWAYS enjoyed
ReactReply - BIJun 4, 2017
Love the gym and the nude settings locker room sauna etc have ALWAYS enjoyed
ReactReply - JAjamnatOriginal PosterJun 9, 2017
The other day in the chatroom someone asked about nudity in the locker room. I had replied that I was always comfortable with locker room nudity and had always known locker rooms to be an open nude enivornment perticipated by the open gang showers. I had also commented that I am currently comfortable walking around the locker room nude. I was then asked if I was an exhibitionist. I replied that exhibitionism has nothing to do with nudity in the locker room or atleast for me. I stated that I walk nude with towel in hand from my locker to the shower to rinse off and then walk to the steam sauna or dry sauna and enjoy them nude. When I am finished with them, I walk to my locker to grab my soap and shampoo and then walk to the shower. Sometimes I might engage or be engaged in conversation while nude and am comfortable in doing so. If there is something interesting on the locker room tv, I may stand before it and watch for a while with others while being naked. Being a nudist for most of my life, I am aware that I might be more comfortable being nude among other people. However, I would not consider my nudity as exhibitionism.
ReactReply - 44
Jul 13, 2017Sad to say, that is the new PRUDISH AMERICA. I'm with you, nude in the locker room, no towel covering me up
Edward
ReactReply - HL
Aug 6, 2017I've noticed this as well... I just chalked it up to that fact that I'm getting old. HA!
ReactReply - MEMemberAug 7, 2017[quote]I've noticed this as well... I just chalked it up to that fact that I'm getting old. HA![/quote] I think ity has far more to do with conditioning as a child. When I was at school, after rugby, or football we all got naked and we all queued up to use the block of 10 showers. The girls locker room was the same. These days, if they're even allowed to play rugby, they're not even allowed to shower. If children never get used to being socially naked, then as adults they won't either.ReactReply
- GU
Aug 7, 2017Probably the only young in there that's naked. The ones I know who don't like being naked in locker room either have body image problem or are scared of gay guys are going grab them. Again these are guys I know the rest not sure why. Also where am usually naked is in the sauna and it's co-ed but since it's real late never seen no one go in, so always alone and no complaints yet.
ReactReply - MEMemberSep 21, 2017
I was in Junior High and High School during the 70's when showering after gym was mandatory. The P.E. teachers would hand out towels and make sure everyone showered. I remember those years with fondness and believe that experience is what gives me a body positive image today. I have three boys that were and are high school athletes and I doubt they ever showered at school. I think that is the biggest effect on locker room behavior today.
I go to LA Fitness at least three times a week during my lunch hour. After my workout, I strip at my locker, throw my towel over my shoulder and walk to the showers. Usually, I will first visit the sauna and use my towel to cover my genitals, but not much else. About half the sauna users wear their workout clothes, but I have noticed that more are just wearing underwear. I have always used the sauna at hotels and spas naked, and feel that even the towel is too much.
After showering, I remain naked and walk back to the lockers carrying my towel. I stay naked while combing my hair, putting on deodorant and lotion. I sometimes walk to the drinking fountain and check my phone still naked. Although I am still in the minority with my nudity in the locker room, I have lately noticed more and more younger (20's) people being more comfortable with their nudity. I hope it is a trend and we will see an end to the "towel dance/deck change" forever. I think that the more we model normal locker room nudity, the faster we will see others becoming more comfortable.
There does seem to be quite a few lurkers in the locker room. Guys that spend a great deal of time walking through and hanging out to look at those of us that are naked. I just ignore them and feel that if that gives them a thrill, that is just a reflection on their shallow lives. That should not be a reason for us to abandon normal locker room nudity.
Keep modeling normal locker room nudity and maybe we will return to a time when others understand the freedom of body acceptance.ReactReply - OLSep 22, 2017
Back in the 70's men considered themselves safe in an all male environment. The use of gang showers and communal changing rooms at school probably helped. But, dare I say it, there may be another reason. In those days nothing was thought of two men sharing a flat (apartment) or even a bed. Then the idea of male-male sexual attraction was virtually unknown - and illegal. How things have changed! And maybe the prospect of m-m sexual attraction has made some men more cautious, especially when there are lurkers around. I have noticed how more men shun the urinals and lock themselves in a closet when using the public toilet.
ReactReply - MEMemberSep 25, 2017
Hopefully, in a few weeks I will experience the locker room environment for the first time in years.
However, I'm not expecting nudity in the locker room to be an issue as I'm going to my first naked swim :D
ReactReply - MT
Sep 25, 2017My gym has separate showers but men walk around nude pretty frequently and I haven't noticed any difference based on age. The steam room and sauna usually have men who are nude or in towels but rarely in swimsuits or underwear. The hot tub is about 50-50 nude to textile. Not sure it i a big deal and haven't paid it any attention.
ReactReply - MEMemberOct 23, 2017
Yesterday was my first experience of a locker room environment for a very long time, about 15 years.
I didn't see nor did I expect to see any towel dancing as I was attending my first naked swim. However, looking round the (female) changing rooms I did notice that it was mostly open plan, with only 2 enclosed cubicles, presumably for the shy people.
As everyone was using the female changing room, I don't know about the male, but I would guess it's the same.
ReactReply - MEMemberJan 14, 2018
I was at a different public pool recently and it was mostly older men as there had just been a water aerobics class. These guys were not bothered about stripping off and walking around to the showers with just their towel and chatting to a friend. So as a stranger there I was comfortable doing the same although I walk around naked in change rooms anyway. One guy younger than me was there but he too was happy to walk around naked but he was about 40. Maybe it's an age thing, we care less as we age.
Again though the showers were cubicles with a door that had a snib type lock.
ReactReply - JAjamnatOriginal PosterJan 10, 2019
It really amazes me how people can go in the hot sauna fully clothed. The other day while at the gym I showered and then walked to the sauna naked. The sauna was 190 degrees and the heat enveloping my body felt great and started making me sweat after a few minutes. As I sat there enjoying the heat, my entire body was wet with sweat after 15 minutes when two fully clothed guys entered. I could not believe that they were enjoying the experience with their sneakers, socks, long shorts, and t-shirts on listening to music in their earphones as I sat with them fully naked. As the thermostat hovered around 190 degrees, I looked at them and their clothing made me uncomfortable. I just don't get it.
ReactReply - NJ
Jan 11, 2019The proper way to take a sauna is nude. You want yo sweet all the toxins out, not trap them.
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