JUMP TO:
The ancient act of taking off all your clothes and getting in some water for a good time. It’s like normal swimming, but better: you get closer to nature and closer to yourself. Simple in theory, and yet it stirs up the muddy bottom of society’s deafening river, clouding the waters with questions such as “What will others think of me?” and “Won’t I turn blue and catch a cold?” and “Will I be arrested?”
Bear with me and I will do my best to answer these questions to clear up some of the taboos and misconceptions around this activity that has the potential to take your relationship with nature to the next level.
A HISTORY OF SKINNY DIPPING
Unsurprisingly, people have been enjoying getting in the water naked for a very long time. There’s the obvious issue that before the age of bikinis and fast-drying nylon, it would be a shame to completely soak your dress/toga/etc when getting in the water. But soggy bottoms aside, throughout the ages there have been other factors at play.
In Roman times, public baths were very popular for hygiene, fitness and socialising; and Britain was no exception. We know that users attended these baths naked, and that this potentially contributed to a temporary breaking down of class barriers. It’s nice to think that even 2,000 years ago, people were more connected when bathing in each other’s presence without any clothes on. In fact, the Romans placed so much emphasis on going to baths that it’s hard to find a record of any of them ‘wild bathing’ at all.
Fast forward about 500 years, and the first evidence of proper British skinny dipping emerges. Here’s an excerpt from a piece by Nick Mayhew-Smith, a writer on both spiritual and natural topics and a keen naturist (person who gets naked outdoors):
"Historical records of Britain and Ireland talk of devout monks and nuns slipping out of their monasteries to plunge into cold water, naked in all innocence before their Creator and quite often breaking the ice to demonstrate their resolve. Conventional wisdom says that early saints were merely trying to dampen their unruly libidos by plunging into the chill, a theory that sounds a little glib to anyone experienced in open-water swimming.
My own theory is that it was part of a missionary strategy, designed to capture the attention of the sceptical, Pagan folk of Britain and Ireland. In a landscape teeming with tales of hostile spirits lurking in the wild, the best way to respond was to strip off and wade in, demonstrating the power of one Creator God to restore harmony between humans and nature. Caves, mountains, islands and wilderness played their part, but it was water that held particular fear, and so into the water the saints plunged.”
I’ll remember that the next time I’m working up the courage to get in cold water!
In the second millennium, the practice of skinny dipping continued. In Bath, people were denounced as unclean ragamuffins for enjoying the warm spring waters without any clothes on; firstly in 1449 by the bishop of Bath, and later in 1737 by the Bath Corporation official dress code. So we know that people liked to publicly bathe naked from at least 650 years ago; and even then they were being narked at by others.
As for swimming in rivers or the sea, there are pictures to confirm it. The Art of Swimming, an illustrated manual on how to swim, was published in 1587 and republished in 1696, when swimming was largely seen as something people only did out of necessity: which gives us the amusing idea that when people swam recreationally they had no idea of all the techniques we take for granted today.
Recreational bathing blossomed in the 17th century when interest in the health-giving properties of mineral waters led to spas flourishing around the country, especially at Bath. For many, it was more feasible to visit the sea than the spa, and so by the 1730s, there were lots of fashionable sea bathing resorts modelling themselves on Bath. People still got in the sea naked, but from this time, a split began to emerge between men, who carried on swimming naked, and women, who increasingly were expected to cover up, using the increasingly provided ‘bathing machines’ to do so.
By Victorian times, sea swimming continued to increase in popularity, alongside increased Christian evangelical pressure on swimmers to cover up their sinful business. In the 1870s, we see from the diary of Francis Kilvert, a clergyman and veteran skinny dipper, a transition from an acceptance of skinny dipping to acceptance of bathing suits, which for men were "a pair of very short red and white striped drawers". Francis also describes "a delicious feeling of freedom in stripping in the open air and running down naked to the sea". We’re on the same page!
But by the time nude swimming had been publically abolished, it did not take long to start creeping back into fashion, partly as an antidote to the sweeping industrialisation that had arguably helped cement a culture of put-your-bits-away in the first place. In the early 20th century, a naturism movement gained popularity in Germany and soon swept across Europe, that saw people taking off their clothes to reconnect with nature. This had an emphasis on organised spaces and clubs, many at seasides, to encourage nude bathing. This movement is still strong today, including on British shores and waterways. To name a few: Studland Bay, Dorset; Pedn Vounder, Cornwall; and Druidge Bay, Northumberland. An estimated 1.3 million Britons embrace the act of going publicly unclothed: roughly on a par with the membership of the Church of England. Combine that with the 4.35 million Britons who say they like wild swimming, and it’s fair to say you will have some crossover!
THE LAW
While skinny dipping retains its popularity around the world, it is unfortunately the case in many countries that public nudity is punishable by jail time or worse. (This seems ridiculous to me as being naked is the most natural thing in the world, but we’ll get to that later.) We are very lucky in the UK that being nude in public is not actually illegal.
In the UK, the law states:
“A person commits an offence of exposure if they intentionally expose their genitals with the intention of someone seeing them and them being alarmed or distressed.”
And:
“Any person who carries out an act of obscene nature in public can also be charged with ‘outraging public decency’. You can outrage public decency if you behave in a lewd, obscene or disgusting nature.”
In reality, ‘lewd, obscene or disgusting’ means a public sexual act, particularly flashing: which is targeted and therefore intentionally distressing. Otherwise, it’s not an immediate crime to be naked in front of other people, but when it comes to the public and the definition of ‘lewd’ it’s a grey area, and context dependent. If the police receive multiple complaints because you got naked in the fountain at Trafalgar Square then you will probably be hearing from them. But if someone complains because they saw your blurry boobs from half a kilometre away, or found you minding your own business in the middle of nowhere, is it really lewd behaviour worth a busy policeman’s time? I don’t think so; and I’m sure the policeman would agree. It’s no coincidence that most of the popular UK nudist beaches are on long stretches of sand with lots of space for people to do as they please without disturbing or being disturbed. Basically, as long as the situation is not wildly inappropriate then I say go for it.
My rule of thumb is that if you arrive at an appropriate swimming location and you’re the first one there, then if someone finds you naked then it’s not really a big deal. However if there are already people there, it is best to be mindful of them before stripping off. In either case, you can usually assess someone’s vibe without having to ask: you can tell if someone looks uncomfortable, in which case that may make you uncomfortable. Although don’t be afraid to hold your ground: is the person really likely to take your details and call 999? Unlikely I think. If you’re not sure how they feel about it, you can always ask them. Personally, I wouldn’t want to upset anyone, and if someone asks me to put my clothes on I will most probably do so. It’s never happened though and in my experience most people actually find it quite funny!
Whatever the situation, it is always best to bring some clothes with you as a backup. One time, me and some friends went for a New Year’s Day swim on Dartmoor to a usually deserted spot, only to find that it was packed, and I had only my jogging bottoms with no pants on. The sun was nearly setting while I waited 10 minutes for everyone to leave, including a family with two young children. I was close to telling them I was terribly sorry but I had no pants and no choice but to get naked right there and then - but fortunately they left and I was able to crack on. Always be prepared!
THE BENEFITS
Now that we’ve dealt with the details, it's time to persuade you to try it for yourself.
Let’s start by reminding ourselves of the benefits of wild swimming:
Boost your immune system
Good for the skin and hair
Manage anxiety, stress and depression
Increase alertness, clarity and energy levels
Release endorphins (happy hormones)
Feelings of euphoria and achievement and a sense of will power
Reconnecting with nature
It’s clear: dipping is good for you. So what about the ‘skinny’ bit? To be sure, being naked gives benefits to your body (more skin exposure equals more vitamin D!) but the most important effects are on mind and soul. Here are a range of views from a superb Guardian article about naturism (well worth reading in full):
“Birds hop closer, squirrels and badgers emerge: you become, and this is the best way to put it, part of nature. It’s a magical experience, and it really comes into its own in times of stress.” - Nick Mayhew-Smith
“There’s a growing body of literature showing naturism has physiological and psychological benefits. From lowered blood pressure to improved self-esteem and lowered stress levels. People think naturism is about exhibitionism, but it’s not. It’s about how amazing it feels to have the sun and breeze on your skin.” - Dr Helen Bowes-Catton
(On using body-positivity discourses to improve mental health and body image): “I can’t be arsed to go to the gym to get a six-pack or whatever, and honestly I really don’t think any of that stuff is healthy. It’s ‘Here I am, with my clothes off, take me as you find me.’” - Beatrice Berry
“I have an all-over tan, I’ve come off antidepressants after a decade and I’m really accepting of other people. Looking back I think I was quite judgmental.” - Helen Berriman
“Naturism improves your emotional wellbeing, definitely, but I wonder whether it’s nudity that’s good for you or, rather, that there’s a widespread complex around the body that’s profoundly damaging to our self-image and that naturism is an inoculation against this.” - Nick Mayhew-Smith
I resonate with that last point in particular. Even with our clothes on there is a persistent feeling of body shame and self-image that sits with us all, even if we’re not conscious of it. And the feeling of being naked is the pinnacle of this. It almost feels electrifying to not wear any clothes - even walking around your own house!
There is something defiant in the act of taking off all your clothes, even if no one is around. There’s a sense of taking back control, which is very much in fashion in this country these days. All the more reason to be present with the feeling, let it go, remember that this is the most natural thing in the world, and send a message to yourself and others that you couldn’t give two shits about what anyone angrily staring at you might think. Are they angry because they are offended by your body? Or are they angry because you’re challenging the familiar societal perceptions of living that makes them feel safe? “If being naked is ok then what’s next?” they might think. Who cares? If you look at someone else’s naked body and get uncomfortable then maybe you need to expand your horizons. Preferably by getting naked.
It is worth mentioning that I am a man and that my experience of getting my bits out in public might be different from that of a woman. So I asked my girlfriend Beth what she thinks, as she loves skinny dipping more than any lady I know:
“For me there are a few things that a woman may be especially conscious of when it comes to skinny dipping. The main thing is the attention you attract: at the least, you are more likely to feel uncomfortable if you are being stared at in an obviously letchy way. And at worst, you might be worried about your safety, especially if you’re alone, in case you attract the attention of someone that ends up following you or accosting you. Plus there is the practical issue that you have more bodily bits to cover up than a man does. And you could also argue that from an early age, girls are made to feel more conscious about their bodies. But in which case, it makes the act of reclaiming your body all the more important!”
So what do I like most about skinny dipping? For me, taking off your clothes is an act of taking off the layers of modern civilisation, making you closer to nature, to our original way of living, and to yourself, as you enjoy your swim more. There’s the ‘delicious freedom’ of exposing yourself to the world, restoring harmony with body image and mental health: and I particularly enjoy the perfect level of ‘naughtiness’ which is like a piquant balsamic vinegar to the healthy green salad of nature immersion. And every now and then, doesn’t feeling naughty feel good?
Hopefully this has given you a taste of the fulsome experience of stripping off, and perhaps an urge to go and try it. What have you got to lose? Nothing that matters. What have you got to gain? Everything that counts.
Comentarios