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David Oliphant
Photo Credit: Bill Kaufman
Why would someone want to do yoga without any clothes on? A question many of us might ask.
Last November, David Oliphant began holding yoga classes for men--sans clothing. Earlier this week, this brave teacher, talked about what it’s like to do yoga in the buff.
So, David, why would a person want to do yoga without any clothes on?
I get that question often. It changes from person to person. I think everybody has their reason for wanting to do it. Some really enjoy the freedom of it without the restrictions of clothing. Other people consider themselves nudists, which I don’t necessarily consider myself one, but I understand it. There are a lot of people, too, that it’s a very significant thing to be in an environment like that and actually take their clothes off. That can be a very emotional thing for people, you know, whether they have self-acceptance issues or shame issues or whatever the case may be. As many people that there are in the class, there’re probably that many different reasons why someone has chosen to be there.
One of the reasons I started it is...I’m gay...one of the things I found in the gay community is that a lot of people, if they’re not...for men anyway, if they don’t have the 32” waist, the round biceps and the formed pectoral muscles, sometimes in the gay community they feel like they’re not fitting in. I started it to help people pass some of the shame issues or the self-acceptance issues of their own bodies. That was one of my reasons for doing it. It’s kind of grown into its own and a lot of people are coming for their own reasons.
Photo credit: Bill Kaufman
Why are your classes for men only?
As a woman in a nude yoga class there might be some issues about not feeling as comfortable practicing yoga if people of the opposite sex were also participating. And it’s the same thing for guys. Regardless of the sex of the participants, it’s really more to create a private and more intimate setting where they don’t have to think about those exterior distractions. I just happened to start with men because I’m a man. I have many women requesting a class as well so that’s kind of my next venture. When I have a woman’s class it will be for women only.
Are the classes for gay men only?
I don’t ask someone’s sexual preference, it’s irrelevant really, but from what I can tell I would bet about 30% of my guys are either bi or straight; they don’t identify as gay men. It’s a real mixed class and I have certainly every yoga ability, and every age, color, body type, and ethnicity. It’s an extremely diverse group of guys.
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Photo credit: Bill Kaufman
Has anyone come to your Naked Yoga Class who has never done yoga before?
Sure. Because of that I recommend that they start with the Sunday restorative class so they can get more in tune with or understand what it feels like to find their breath, to sit, to be quiet, be centered before they think about moving their body. If they showed up to my Wednesday night or Friday night class, which is open to all levels but is probably beginning to intermediate, I’d just try to spend as much time with them as I can without distracting the rest of the class. I have beginners all the time.
Are there any poses that you don’t do because they’re just too revealing?
I teach by candlelight...an extremely dimmed classroom or just by candlelight, depending on the location I’m in. The setting itself is already very intimate and subtle, certainly not fluorescent lights beaming down on people. People already feel like it’s kind of private. The room I teach in is a long, narrow room so I usually have two guys facing each other. No one is really set up in a position where they feel like they might be exposing themselves or revealing themselves regardless of the posture so that typically has not been a worry for me. But then again, I think It’s how I intentionally lay the room out so people are facing each other and not in rows behind each other. I do my best to create a really safe environment for people who have chosen to show up.
If you are interested in attending one of Oliphant's nude yoga classes, you can find more information at www.yogawithdavid.com.
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