BY JACKIE McKINNEY
I’ve been practicing yoga as a beginner for years. I remember learning the tree pose in grade school — it was my favorite part of my mom’s “Yoga for Beginners” DVD. As years went by, I practiced that one pose so often that during lunchtime in high school, I would bring my leg all the way up to my inner thigh. Even though I was not a skinny girl, I could do that one pose better than anyone I knew. Through tree pose, I found balance and brief moments of peace as I battled depression and anxiety.
After high school, my mental illnesses started getting worse, so I began going to classes and learning way too many poses to keep track of. Despite having extremely fragile wrists and being technically obese, I was usually able to hold my own in these yoga classes, though I always found myself in the very back corner of every studio. Thanks to studios with wall-to-wall mirrors, at one point during the class I’d always end up facing a mirror — staring down all of my insecurities and putting my fragile self-esteem down a few more pegs. There’s nothing quite like watching your own body tremble and fat jiggle as you attempt to hold harder poses while simultaneously being envious of the other women in class who seem to effortlessly embody perfect yogis.
Where does naked yoga come into this story? Well, with my crippling anxiety and depression, I found myself not really enjoying yoga classes — and walking out of classes feeling embarrassed — because I hated my body so much. And thus, I decided to hide in my room behind locked doors and confront my body head-on. I have found my own bedroom is the best place for naked yoga because not only is walking out of my shower straight to my yoga mat each morning hard to say no to, but it’s much more comforting than any other place in my home.
Aside from the basic poses, I don’t claim to know how to facilitate a full yoga session, so I’ve kept my routine fairly short. But what I have learned that is even 15 to 20 minutes on a yoga mat daily will do, and has done, wonders.
Naked yoga has taught me more about self-love than any amount of inspirational quotes or compliments has ever done for me. If you’re someone with self-esteem issues, then you know that all the good intentions in the world will not change your mind if you don’t like what you see in the mirror. But yoga is all about peace and balance with yourself and the world around you, and when you practice naked you have no other option but to be at peace with your body as well. There are many other benefits to naked yoga. But for me, not hating my body for the first time in my life isn’t such a bad benefit to focus on.
Want to give it a try? Don’t be scared. Just keep it simple. Even if all you do is lie on your back breathing during your first few sessions, that’s a huge step. Once you feel comfortable, begin adding a new pose each day until you have a few steady routines to work with. And don’t feel pressured into practicing your naked yoga routine in front of a mirror; add it when you’re ready. The idea is not to be a yoga master, but simply to love yourself.
And no matter your shape, size or color, you are gorgeous.
~ Have you tried naked yoga? Comment on this story below.
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