This post was last Updated on June 28, 2020

how nudity, nature and spirituality are all linked. We’re pretty sure that the world’s first naturists would have been pretty proud of us if they had the chance to read it. It’s one theory of course and we certainly understand that some nudists or naturists thought that it was all a bunch of nonsense. In the end, naturism would probably not exist if someone took away the nudity. Sometimes it’s just that. The joy of being naked. The comfort of being nude. Only recently we’ve written down our own ideas about. We’re pretty sure that the world’s first naturists would have been pretty proud of us if they had the chance to read it. It’s one theory of course and we certainly understand that some nudists or naturists thought that it was all a bunch of nonsense. In the end, naturism would probably not exist if someone took away the nudity. Sometimes it’s just that. The joy of being naked. The comfort of being nude.

Warning! The following news might be shocking!

because we had received a coupon. Nothing more, nothing less. It was one of those awkward moments that may seem like nothing special at the time but eventually appear to be life changing. Anyway, it was just that. We had the chance to spend a day at a sauna complex for free and the fact that most of the good saunas in Belgium happen to be nude ones just tickled our interest a little more. There was no need to become closer to nature, no body issues we wanted to conquer and we really hadn’t ever thought about removing artificial boundaries between people. We were just going to relax for free. In the nude, with a bunch of nude people we didn’t know. We, Nick & Lins, Naked Wanderings, did not become naturists because of some ideologic idea… Sounds a bit weird, doesn’t it? Two promotors of naturism who claim that there was really no background in their move towards the nude life. In fact, this isn’t really news, we’ve already written about how we became naturists just. Nothing more, nothing less. It was one of those awkward moments that may seem like nothing special at the time but eventually appear to be life changing. Anyway, it was just that. We had the chance to spend a day at a sauna complex for free and the fact that most of the good saunas in Belgium happen to be nude ones just tickled our interest a little more. There was no need to become closer to nature, no body issues we wanted to conquer and we really hadn’t ever thought about removing artificial boundaries between people. We were just going to relax for free. In the nude, with a bunch of nude people we didn’t know.

Were we naturists?

sauna, several others followed. We started to get a taste of social nudity but not a single second we considered ourselves naturists. Or Nudists. Or whatever. We were just two people who enjoyed going to a nude sauna. A couple of years later we had our first “real” naturist experience when we visited a nude camping. Actually it was a textile camping with a nude section but at the time we had no idea about the terminology. What we did know was that the nude part was called “naturist section”. Or something similar. From the moment we entered the gate, apparently we became naturists. We didn’t really care. We had found a quiet part on an otherwise very noisy camping. Because of our previous experiences at the sauna, being naked among others was not completely new to us. And again, just like that first time at the sauna, curiosity might also have been a deciding factor. After our first visit to that, several others followed. We started to get a taste of social nudity but not a single second we considered ourselves naturists. Or Nudists. Or whatever. We were just two people who enjoyed going to a nude sauna. A couple of years later we had our first “real” naturist experience when we. Actually it was a textile camping with a nude section but at the time we had no idea about the terminology. What we did know was that the nude part was called “naturist section”. Or something similar. From the moment we entered the gate, apparently we became naturists. We didn’t really care. We had found a quiet part on an otherwise very noisy camping. Because of our previous experiences at the sauna, being naked among others was not completely new to us. And again, just like that first time at the sauna, curiosity might also have been a deciding factor.

International Naturist Congress in Lisbon we heard a statement that “naturism is a way of life, a mindset. No matter whether you’re clothed or not, you live the naturist lifestyle 24/7”. That weekend in Lisbon we understood what they were talking about (although we don’t 100% agree) because we have been blogging about the subject for several years and basically naturism (or nudism) has become our life. That first time at the naturist camping we had no clue about a naturist lifestyle. We did feel the grass between our toes and a fresh morning wind passing body parts it had never passed before. We did recognise the friendly and relaxed atmosphere. What we remembered most though was the comfort. Many of the burdens that come with camping just disappeared with that morning wind. Trying to keep our clothes and towel dry in a way to small shower cabin, trying to get dressed in a tent which doesn’t even allow you to sit on your knees… All gone. Years later, when we were at thewe heard a statement that “naturism is a way of life, a mindset. No matter whether you’re clothed or not, you live the naturist lifestyle 24/7”. That weekend in Lisbon we understood what they were talking about (although we don’t 100% agree) because we have been blogging about the subject for several years and basically naturism (or nudism) has become our life. That first time at the naturist camping we had no clue about a naturist lifestyle. We did feel the grass between our toes and a fresh morning wind passing body parts it had never passed before. We did recognise theand relaxed atmosphere. What we remembered most though was the comfort. Many of the burdens that come with camping just disappeared with that morning wind. Trying to keep our clothes and towel dry in a way to small shower cabin, trying to get dressed in a tent which doesn’t even allow you to sit on your knees… All gone.

Comfort is king

Today, we dare to say that the comfort of being a naturist, although we had no clue what that name meant at the time, was what pulled us over the line to become one. In the naturist world… or let’s rephrase that to “in a conservative section of the naturist world”, it’s common to look down on the comfortable naturist. They don’t appreciate the values! They don’t know what it means to be naturist! And bla bla bla. Those who just like to sunbathe in the nude or relax without clothes don’t understand what we represent! They are not real naturists!

Warning: The following news might be shocking.

In that case, we, Nick & Lins, Naked Wanderings, were not naturists. Or nudists or whatever. Today, many years later, we understand and agree with most of the “philosophy of naturism”. Although we don’t t feel like every aspect applies to us equally, we do think that naturism can help people in many different ways. Also those who are just looking for a more comfortable way to spend a sunny day.

What’s in a name?

While the terms naturism and nudism have proved a great purpose to define what’s going on at certain campings, clubs or beaches, today they are sometimes casting a shadow over the naked people. All around the world we are seeing people who enjoy social nudity, for many different reasons of which comfort is often a returning one, but who don’t call themselves naturists. Because they don’t feel like they are conform with the whole naturist philosophy. If we had known more about that naturist philosophy before we became naturists, the term might have scared us as well.

A couple of decades ago the only persons who were naked outside of the bathroom and bedroom were naturists. A very select group who followed the same idea. Today, in 2019, only a certain percentage of those who practice social nudity in one way or another identify themselves as “naturists”. Some prefer the name “nudist”. Many prefers no name at all. Like not everyone who enjoys going to the movies now and them call themselves a “movie enthousiast” or “movie watcher”. They are just people who enjoy to spend some time with a bunch of strangers watching a movie on big screen.

Comfort in mind

People go to the movies because they want to see a new movie. But also, whether they realise it or not, because of the comfort of a movie theatre, the large screen, the comfy seats, the surround sound, the (or most of the) cell phones on airplane mode, no dishes to be done and nobody saying “could your please pause it for a second? I have to pee!”. While many aspiring naturists, just like ourselves, immediately recognised the physical advantages of spending time in the nude, the less touchable aspects were also there. Although maybe not immediately clear.

The lack of artificial boundaries with our fellow naked strangers or the more we became confident about ourselves was not something we felt from day one (or two or three). These were not our goals from the beginning to take the first steps into naturism. But eventually those things stuck to us and made us feel more comfortable than those first nude steps into nature could ever have done. We still believe that the physical comfort convinced us after that first visit to the nude sauna and certainly after the first time at the nude camping. Physical comfort got us started into naturism, but without the mental comfort we gained from the other aspects we may not have gotten so stuck to it.