by Brendan Jones
Founder of Get Naked Australia, helping make social nudity feel a little less intimidating for the past decade.
Thinking about trying naturism for the first time? Chances are, before you've even taken your clothes off, your brain has already imagined about 47 different ways it could go horribly wrong.
What if everyone looks at me? What if they judge my body? What if I get an erection? What if I see someone I know? What if I get there and completely freak out?
All completely understandable fears.
Most of us have spent our entire lives being taught that being seen naked is embarrassing, exposing and generally something to avoid. So deliberately taking your clothes off in front of a bunch of other people can feel absolutely terrifying.
I remember worrying about exactly the same thing before my first naturist experience: I'm going to be naked, everyone's going to look at me, and they're going to judge me.
Then I actually did it.
And I discovered something very quickly: nobody really cared what I looked like.
They were mostly too busy worrying about themselves.
So, if you're naturist-curious but haven't quite worked up the courage yet, here are five things almost everyone worries about before their first time.
1. “What if everyone looks at me?”
This is probably the big one.
You take your clothes off and suddenly become incredibly aware that everyone around you can see… well… everything.
And yes, they can.
But there's a big difference between seeing someone and staring at someone.
Think about having a normal conversation with somebody who's clothed. You can see what they're wearing. You might notice their shirt or their shoes, but you're probably not standing there intensely inspecting every detail.
Nudity becomes much the same surprisingly quickly. People see you. They don't necessarily look at you.
Obviously, staring or deliberately making somebody uncomfortable isn't acceptable in any respectful naturist environment. But noticing another human being exists is unavoidable — and completely different from gawking at their body.
For me, the funniest part is how quickly the panic disappears. The first minute can feel like your brain is screaming: EVERYONE CAN SEE MY BITS.
Then someone starts talking to you. Someone makes a joke. You get into the pool or sauna. And suddenly you realise everyone has now seen your bits…
…and absolutely nothing happened.
No gasp. Nobody pointed. Nobody cared. Life just carried on.
Even after years of naturism, I can still occasionally get that little flicker of nerves if I've been away from it for a while. But you quickly remember the same thing: everyone else is thinking about themselves far more than they're thinking about you.
Get through that first minute and you'd be amazed how quickly it starts feeling normal.
2. “What if I don't have the right body for naturism?”
Good news: there isn't one. In fact, that's kind of the point.
Walk into a mixed naturist environment and you'll see what actual human bodies look like when they haven't been selected for Instagram.
Different ages. Different weights. Body hair. No body hair. Scars. Stretch marks. Bellies. Wrinkles. Different shapes and sizes. Different genitals.
Basically, humans.
And honestly, that can be one of the most powerful things about naturism.
You start to realise that “normal” is an enormous spectrum.
You might see somebody with the same thing you've spent years feeling self-conscious about and suddenly think, Oh. Maybe I'm not actually weird at all.
Of course, different naturist spaces attract different crowds. Some events are younger, some traditional clubs skew older, and there are events and spaces created for particular groups or communities.
But you absolutely do not need some imaginary “naturist body” before you're allowed to participate.
You don't need to lose five kilos first. You don't need to get fitter.
You don't need to wait until you've magically become more confident.
You already have the right body.
3. “What if I get an erection?”
Yep. Let's talk about it.
This is probably one of the biggest fears men have before trying naturism, even if nobody particularly wants to ask the question out loud.
For a lot of people, nudity has been associated almost exclusively with sex their entire lives. So it's understandable to wonder what your body is going to do when you're suddenly surrounded by naked people.
The reality feels very different.
I've been involved in naturist events for around ten years and, despite hearing this concern countless times, I've personally never seen an erection at one.
The social atmosphere just isn't particularly sexual.
You're talking. Swimming. Eating. Sitting around a fire. Playing sport. Going in a sauna. Having completely normal conversations.
You're just doing all of it naked.
And your brain seems to understand that distinction remarkably quickly.
Could an involuntary erection happen? Of course. Bodies occasionally do things without asking permission.
If it does, don't panic and don't turn it into a massive event. Sit down, grab a towel, roll onto your stomach, jump in the water or simply give yourself a minute for it to pass.
The important distinction is between an involuntary physical response and sexual behaviour.
You might notice somebody is attractive. That's human.
That doesn't mean you sexualise them, stare at them or behave sexually towards them.
Naturism is about non-sexual social nudity, and once you're actually in that environment, the difference becomes much clearer than most first-timers expect.
4. “What if I see someone I know?”
Well…
Then you'll see someone you know. All of them. And yes, that moment can be hilarious.
The naturist world is surprisingly interconnected, so occasionally two completely separate parts of your life collide.
There's often a brief: “Oh my God, you're here!” followed immediately by: “YOU'RE HERE TOO!”
Maybe some laughter. Perhaps a slightly awkward naked hug.
But here's the thing: they're in exactly the same position as you.
If you've unexpectedly discovered Dave from accounting is a naturist, Dave from accounting has simultaneously discovered exactly the same thing about you.
Nobody has the upper hand.
Good naturist communities also tend to take privacy seriously. Don't photograph people without consent, don't gossip about who's attending, and if somebody tells you they'd rather their participation wasn't discussed elsewhere, respect that.
Seeing someone you know can feel like your worst nightmare beforehand.
In reality, it often ends up being a funny shared connection.
Although Monday morning at the office may involve slightly more eye contact than usual.
5. “What if I get there and completely freak out?”
It happens. You arrive feeling confident, look around and suddenly your brain goes: Nope. Absolutely not. What the hell am I doing?
That's okay. Take a minute.
Depending on the venue and its rules, keep a towel or sarong around you while you settle in. Sit somewhere comfortable. Grab a drink. Talk to whoever you've come with. Have a chat with the host.
Going with somebody you know and trust can make your first experience enormously easier too. Having one familiar person around gives you a bit of a safety net while everything else feels very unfamiliar.
And a good host understands that first-timers can be nervous.
Nobody should be mocking you, rushing you or deliberately making you feel uncomfortable because you need a moment to adjust. Individual venues may have their own nudity rules, so check those beforehand, but a respectful naturist environment should still treat nervous newcomers like human beings.
You might need five minutes. You might suddenly decide you're ready after thirty seconds. You might decide today isn't the day.
The whole idea is to become more comfortable with your body — not to turn getting naked into another source of pressure.
The Hardest Part Is Usually Before You Get Naked
Here's the strange thing about all these fears: the anticipation is usually much worse than the reality.
You finally take your clothes off. People see you. And then…
Nothing happens. Nobody runs screaming. Nobody produces a scorecard. Nobody particularly cares about that bit of your body you've spent the last ten years worrying about.
Someone asks where you're from. Somebody starts talking about what they did on the weekend. Someone wants to know if you want another drink.
And suddenly you realise you're just a bunch of ordinary people hanging out together. Except nobody remembered to get dressed.
Sometimes the biggest hurdle in trying naturism isn't taking your clothes off. It's everything your brain tells you is going to happen when you do.
What worried you before your first naturist experience?
And was the reality anything like what you'd imagined? Tell us in the comments below — we'd love to hear your first-time story.
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