Naturism is booming in the UK, possibly thanks to the pandemic

Not everyone necessarily dreams of walking completely naked in nature. But the Covid-19 pandemic would have helped convince people who were already relatively tempted. This is underlined today on Guardian who interviewed several followers and noticed several key figures.

Naturism explodes in the UK with the Covid pandemic

In the first lockdown in spring 2020, British naturism experienced its fastest growth since it was legalized in 1964. sunbathing naked it would have jumped + 384% on Google during this hot and confined spring.

On social networks, naturists exchange telecommuting tips and tricks in the simplest device and perfect excuses to explain to your boss why you can’t turn on your camera for a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meets meeting.

A mania already observed at the end of the world wars

This enthusiasm comes as no surprise to academician Annebella Pollen, author of Nudism in a cold climate (Nudism in the cold), which actually sees history repeat itself, she explains to Guardian :

“After the First World War and the flu pandemic, there was this huge appetite to find new ways of living, to explore new social structures and to feel free. ”

Naturism has its origins in Germany in 1890 and its ” freikörperkultur “ (free body culture), in reaction to rapid urbanization. Nudism, also called gymnosophy, gradually conquered the rest of Europe, reaching the United Kingdom in the 1920s. At the start of World War II, naturism had 40,000 followers listed among the roast beef.

The mental health benefits of naturism

And this practice would also have beneficial effects for health, explains to the great British newspaper the doctor of social psychology Helen Bowes-Catton (the same naturist):

“There is a growing body of literature showing that naturism has physiological and psychological benefits, from lowering blood pressure to improving self-esteem and lowering stress levels. People think naturism is about exhibitionism, but it’s not. It is so amazing to have the sun and the breeze on your skin. “

Naturism reinvents itself today more inclusive

Perhaps surprisingly, the significant restrictions on freedom caused by the Covid-19 pandemic for everyone’s health have made many people want to enjoy it more fully as soon as the opportunity arises. So much so that naturism tends to diversify, attracting a younger, less masculine, less cisgender and heterosexual audience than we would like the image of Épinal that we commonly have in Europe. At a time when #bodypositive hashtags are multiplying on social networks, even non-sexualized nudity can flourish there.

Including in France, by the way. On the Île du Levant, the Heliopolis naturist resort celebrates its 90th anniversary with a flourish! In addition to attracting an increasingly younger audience e artistic, in addition to talented artists (including members of Cabaret de Poussière and La Bouche Cabaret), Vienne, a young transgender woman, and Quentin, a young gay man, have just been elected Miss and Mister Levant. A first since the creation of the competition in 1946 and which moves up to Var morning. A sign, perhaps, that naturism is really taking a more inclusive turn than ever.

Front page photo credit: pexels-maria-luiza-melo-10841756