Please note: this article contains images of nudity.
A personal trainer has launched the UK’s first ever nude workout class - where you can up your fitness completely naked.
A group of 10 participants cast off their clothes to take part in the first Nude-ercise class in Southampton.
Former recruitment consultant Helen Smith, 35, led the circuits-style workout, which included jumping-jacks, sit-ups, push-ups and partner work.
The hour-long class, which costs £8, is described as “gentle boot-camp style exercise with partner games and teamwork” suitable for all fitness levels.
The first class included people aged between 33 and 70 years old, but Smith welcomes adults of all ages to try the activity.
Smith, who is a member of naturist organisation British Naturism, said: “The main benefit of exercising naked is that you can really see what the instructor is doing in the exercises.
“For example, if you are doing a plank but wearing baggy exercise clothes, it is hard to tell if you have the correct form or not.
“You also don’t have to think about washing sweaty gym clothes after the class, and it’s a great way to celebrate the body.”
While the class is a nude activity, women can wear sports bras for comfort and participants can wear trainers for some exercises if they wish.
Smith, from Basingstoke, Hants, came up with the idea after someone on a forum asked her whether she did nude fitness training.
She said: “I decided to look into it, and I couldn’t find anything else like it.
“I think I’m offering the first classes like this.
“The focus is to allow people to take part in a normal activity, but naked, so people don’t feel they are doing anything unusual.”
She added: “Participants are required to pre-register by emailing me, and to show ID at the beginning of the class, just for everyone’s peace of mind.
“Nothing untoward happens in these classes, and if there was any hint of that then the person responsible would be asked to leave.”
Smith left her job in recruitment two years ago to become a full-time fitness instructor, and she runs various classes and boot-camp workouts.
She was inspired to become a naturist two years ago after visiting a nudist beach in France.
She said: “I was introduced to naturism in the South of France when I was on holiday with my partner.
“We turned up at a beach, and realised in was a naturist beach. I looked at him, and he looked at me, and we thought ‘let’s do it’ and it turned out to be a really enjoyable afternoon.
“I think people are starting to embrace naturism more and more.
“It’s interesting, because in this day and age you have on one hand pop-stars wearing scantily-clad clothing, and that being seen as quite sexual behaviour, and on the other hand you have things like naked bike rides.
“The idea behind naturism is that it is your natural body, and there is nothing sexual about it.”
The Nude-ercise classes take place in Nursling Village Hall, Southampton, at 5pm on the third Saturday of every month.
Other classes will take place in London and across the South-East, including in Bordon, Guildford, Reading and Alton, with details to be announced on the Nude-ercise Facebook page.
