原文出处：http://www.sunhomo.com/showthread.php?t=77130

Everything you wanted to know about naked yoga -- but were afraid to ask
Practicing yoga has become an important part of many people's lives, for many reasons. Of course, being nice and "bendy" has plenty of benefits; yoga can improve your concentration and self-awareness as well.

In practicing yoga, you focus on the connections between your body, your spirit and the world around you. When you think about it, clothing just gets in the way -- material is simply immaterial. And many people are discovering that doing yoga in the buff can be fun, challenging and even transformative.

Though many people credit Aaron Star of New York's Hot Nude Yoga with starting the gay naked yoga revolution, we're not talking about just Los Angeles and New York. Across the country, gay men are dropping trou and striking a tadasana pose.

To learn more about this hot fitness trend, I talked to three instructors who offer men-only naked yoga classes and workshops: Minneapolis's Kevin Kortan, the creator of Evolutionary Eros; Seattle's Matt Meko, the founder of Mekosun; and San Francisco's Darren Main, the author of "Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic" and "Spiritual Journeys along the Yellow Brick Road." All -- as well as information about naked yoga in a city near you -- are easy to find on the Web.

Why practice yoga naked?
Sure, there are some practical reasons to do yoga naked: You'll no longer need to worry about getting chafed by the waistband of your AussieBum shorts, for one. But more importantly, practicing naked yoga can also be a way to explore your body. Seattle's Matt Meko says, "Being nude gives the whole body a chance to breathe. Naked yoga gives a person that extra edge of themselves to explore."

Naked yoga can also be a path to loving your body. "It seems like everywhere we look, we get messages that say, 'You're not thin enough or not muscular enough,' or that certain body parts are dirty and should be shameful," says San Francisco's Darren Main. "When men come to my class and leave their clothes at the door, a lot of that shame gets left behind as well. Many men have commented on the great freedom they feel physically, emotionally and mentally by practicing yoga naked."

What are the benefits of naked yoga?
For many people in the West, yoga is a means to a purely physical end -- and that's fine and dandy, of course, but yoga has emotional and spiritual aspects as well. Many people find that nakedness enhances and alters that part of the yoga experience.

Darren Main describes it this way: "Some men come because they like the feeling of moving and stretching without the restriction of clothing. Others come because they feel a closer bond with other men when there are no clothes involved. Others simply see the profound beauty in a room full of male bodies moving together in a conscious and mindful way. Initially, it's scary to take off your clothes in front of other people, but after the initial adjustment, most people find a greater freedom that allows them to focus more deeply on their poses and breathing."

According to Matt Meko, some of the people who come to his classes are looking for help with body image, sexuality, and nudity issues, adding "Other participants are curious, maybe having practiced yoga in a variety of styles and geographical locations, but not naked. Still others just like being freely nude."

Is this Tantric yoga?
The word "Tantric" is widely misunderstood in the West. Tantra is not just about sex and Sting's stamina. Very basically and broadly, Tantra is a spiritual school of thought involving meditation and ritualistic practices, some of which have a sexual element. Most naked yoga instructors incorporate elements of Tantra into their classes and workshops.

According to Evolutionary Eros's Kevin Kortan, "A lot of what we receive as yoga is sanitized Tantra. It's really a way of embracing all of existence -- everything is part of the flow of life (or a manifestation of the divine, some would say). You can go into anything and discover your divinity. Overt sexual practices are a small part of Tantric technique."

Do the classes have a sexual vibe? And do I have to have a hot body to join? Most naked yoga instructors acknowledge that their classes do have a sexual or sensual feeling. But most also emphasize that their classes are primarily about doing yoga. Some classes are much "sexier" than others -- for instance, some classes involve partner exercises and touching. And some groups do request that participants be in good physical shape (a couple of them even ask that aspiring participants submit a photograph). Most, however, emphasize that bodies of all types, and students of all skill levels, are welcome.

Darren Main says that in his naked class for men, there is certainly sexual energy in the room. "But it's not a peep show or an opportunity to cruise. The men who come are about building the energy within their own bodies in a way that is fun and liberating. The class feels very sensual without the overt sexual overtones that permeate so much of the rest of gay culture."

What if I get an erection?
In a class full of naked men doing interesting things with their bodies, erections happen -- and they're nothing to be embarrassed about. Kevin Kortan says, "People say they're afraid of erections -- but I think it's a way of people wanting to celebrate showing their bodies. ... Sexual energy can be very powerful."

The Web site for Hot Naked Yoga Los Angeles promises that "Naked Yoga provides a unique atmosphere where erections are totally acceptable and welcome, without any pressure to have one."

Darren Main explains, "Yoga poses move a lot of energy in the body, and sometimes erections happen. This is rarely an issue, but if it does 'come up,' there's nothing to be ashamed of. Further, most of the other guys in the class will be so focused on their own practice that it's doubtful they would even notice."

Is naked yoga purely a "gay thing"?
There are women-only and co-ed naked classes out there, and the instructors I talked to say that men who identify as straight occasionally make their way to men-only naked yoga classes. However, gay men and naked yoga are a natural pairing: Queer people are conditioned to be taboo-busters.

Kevin Kortan believes that queer people are at the forefront of the naked yoga movement because they "don't fit into narrow societal roles -- they have to forge their own paths, so they're born societal leaders."

And experience has surely taught us all that if naked gay men are leading the way, other gay men will surely follow.
（from gay.com)