NAKED
Our human bodies are our vessels for life, interacting with the world through our senses, and with each other through our eyes, words and touch. Although we come into the world naked, we are quickly taught that we should cover up, and that being nude is taboo. As we grew older, most of us received messages of shame about our bodies and sexuality, and critiques about our physiques, leaving us feeling hesitant to allow anyone to see us naked, even in completely appropriate sexual situations. At HAI, we offer in-person workshop spaces that honor your choice to be naked or not in every moment.
Being naked with others in a safe non-sexual environment provides a rare opportunity to quiet the negative voice about our bodies, and stand simultaneously in our vulnerability and in our power, reclaiming for ourselves our own unique beauty and clarity that we are loveable exactly as we are.
Why Be Naked
This nakedness, this baring of one’s insides, this deep looking into eyes, this seeing into hearts of history, this reality, this risk of being nude calls us into ourselves, perhaps like never before.
We look into each other’s eyes and see the truth of a person. We look into our hearts and others’ hearts and we see our human foibles and strengths. We look into our deepest history and see beauty and pain.
We are naked.
We begin to sense that the true freedom of human beingness is “outright exposure” and the cultural shielding of our bodies can become unimportant.
We take off our clothes.
Our hearts may now race at the simple freedom inside the gentle awareness of the truth of how much we are the same. We find a way to stand in awe of the pure beauty of every body. We honor every choice from bare arms to bare bums. The room becomes a different place, much simpler, uncomplicated and surprisingly free. There are those whose nakedness is unfettered and easy and also those who honor themselves by choosing to be covered, instead of being nude.
We honor your choice.
At no time is taking off one's clothing demanded. We hold an unwavering and steadfast commitment to each individual choice.
What Does "Clothing Optional" Mean?
HAI emphasizes choice throughout our work, and the clothing optional aspect of our in-person workshops is no exception. At our Connecting in Love (Level 1) in-person workshop, during a gentle disrobing exercise you will have a choice to remove all of your clothing, some of your clothing, or to keep all of your clothing on. Every choice is honored, and there is no pressure to remove any clothing. Many people do choose to remove their clothing, so you do need to be aware that you will see others naked, regardless of what you choose about your own clothing. Our online workshops are clothing-on.
Many of us find that when we remove the layers of clothing and being nude, we also remove a layer of emotional armor. Being nude gives us more access to our feelings, and can connect more deeply with others on the journey. In HAI we clearly decouple nudity from sexuality, so if you choose to be without your clothing, it is not a prelude to sex, nor an invitation for anyone to touch you.
Come discover how safe and connected you can be in your own skin!