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Written by Aaron Star
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Hot Nude Yoga with New York-based Aaron Star.
Mon Jul 2, 6-9 pm.
Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St.
$25 pre-registration by Jun 29/$40 thereafter.
604.779.0243.
NAKED YOGA
Skyclad yoga instructor Ron Stewart wonders why nude gym workouts aren't all the rage yet.
"I've always wondered why there wasn't a time when you could practice naked, or do weights naked, or whatever," he says. So once Stewart completed his yoga teacher training, the next logical step was setting up naked yoga classes. It made complete sense, he says, to have a spiritual, physical practice naked.
"It really speaks [to] getting down to the core of humanity, to take away the fabric, the clothes, that in some way creates the veneer that we are willing to present to the world, to strip that away and go into the studio and practice yoga, for that matter any form of physical practice," he explains. "There's also been a long history in yoga of practicing naked or skyclad."
His students run the gamut from complete yoga neophytes to seasoned practitioners, he says, noting that it's a challenge to cater to suit all levels of experience. Then, of course, there's that whole nudity business.
"What people find, and what I found in the first class I taught, is all that disappears once we get going," Stewart observes. "You're too busy practicing yoga to be busy checking people out."
He pauses.
"I'm sure that's going on, on some level," he says with a laugh, "but we're doing a tough practice and people are focused on that."
Still, it doesn't stop apprehensive folks from asking if, in the middle of all the consciousness-raising, they can expect an erection or two.
"You know what? It never happens," Stewart assures. Except sometimes during the relaxation period at the end of class.
"As the guys mention, they're too busy working. The blood's not going there. The blood is going everywhere else."
On the odd chance you do get an erection, Stewart's advice is to go with the flow.
"My feeling is that erections are completely normal, [a part of being] male. Enjoy the sensation. Enjoy the weight. Literally. So that you can have an erection... you can continue to practice yoga and it will dissipate."
The sessions include a range of yoga styles, moving from an initial gentle yin practice, where postures are held for long periods, to a more vigorous form of movement akin to power yoga.
And coming up on Jul 2, decade-long naked yoga practitioner Aaron Star, based out of New York, will be in town to give a three-hour workshop. It will include tantra work, chanting sessions, meditation and partner work.
As more people enter the practice, and more conversations take place around naked yoga, it'll become more accessible to people, Stewart insists.
"When I first put on the class, I think there was just so much 'what is this?' As it comes up again, and it becomes more familiar, it makes it more comfortable for people to say, 'okay, I'm gonna try it.'"
Hot Nude Yoga with New York-based Aaron Star.
Mon Jul 2, 6-9 pm.
Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St.
$25 pre-registration by Jun 29/$40 thereafter.
604.779.0243.
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