Living Naturist Isn’t a Phenomenon. It’s Actually Quite Normal:

When people hear the word naturist, their reactions often land somewhere between curiosity and disbelief. As if the idea of choosing to live without clothes, whether at home, at a beach, or within a community is some bold countercultural experiment. 

But here’s the truth: living a naturist lifestyle isn’t a phenomenon. It’s not extreme. It’s not even new. It’s just… normal. And for many, it’s been that way all along.

I didn’t grow up a naturist, but I’ve come to understand why those who did often speak of it with such calm, unbothered clarity. For them, there was no grand rebellion, no performative detachment from society. Naturism was simply part of life, a natural relationship with their body, the outdoors, and the people around them.

Just ask my friend and the CTO of the Naturist Business Network, Dan Speers. He grew up a naturist, and for him, living without clothes wasn’t a political statement, it was simply living. Dan often talks about how naturism shaped his sense of self early on. He learned body neutrality before he ever learned body shame. He spent his childhood outdoors, surrounded by people who valued authenticity and self-acceptance over appearances. And because of that, he carries a level of quiet confidence and groundedness that’s rare to come by in today’s world.

In our society, nudity is often loaded with shame, performance, or taboo. But when you grow up a naturist you tend to skip over all that. You see bodies as vessels for life, expression, joy, and movement, not as objects to compare, sexualize, or criticize. And because of that, people who live this way often grow up with a sense of ease and security in who they are.

It’s not about nudity for the sake of being naked. It’s about presence, simplicity, and connection. It’s about feeling the sun on your skin, jumping into a lake without thinking twice, and not judging yourself (or others) for being human. It’s about being free from the hyper-curated version of ourselves we’re so often expected to perform.

What’s ironic is that while naturism is often labeled “alternative,” the principles it’s rooted in like freedom, acceptance, body neutrality, nature are the very things many of us are chasing today. In a world of burnout and perfectionism, naturism is a quiet return to self. A reminder that life doesn’t have to be so dressed up to be meaningful.

No, I didn’t grow up a naturist. But when I imagine what it must’ve been like to move through childhood and adulthood with nothing to hide, to love your body without condition, to see others without judgment, it makes a lot of sense. In fact, it sounds like something we could all benefit from.

So maybe naturism isn’t the outlier. Maybe it’s just normal living, something we’ve forgotten and are finally remembering.