“It’s not just about being naked,” Stanley says. “It’s about really peeling off the layers that make it hard for me to experience my most true self.”
Stanley has been at the forefront of body inclusivity in the yoga community since the mid-2010s. As a larger-bodied Black woman, she has worked to shift the narrative that yoga is only for thin white women. This ethos remains at the core of her practice, with the added element of nudity.
Experts In This Article
- Jessamyn Stanley, yoga teacher, body positivity advocate, and writer based in Durham, North Carolina
Most mornings after journaling, Stanley starts her day by practicing naked yoga at home in her personal studio. She also offers naked yoga classes to subscribers on her OnlyFans channel. Initially, she wore compression garments that made her feel “sleek” and “sucked in,” but she eventually found that clothing was hindering her connection with her body.
“What I noticed over time is that clothes actually just made me feel really uncomfortable and that I couldn’t get in touch with my body,” Stanley explains. This led to progressively shedding layers until eventually, she practiced yoga in the nude.
“It’s more like I start wearing clothes and then I just get annoyed with the clothes and I gradually shed them,” Stanley says. “I don’t identify as a nudist. I don’t just want to be naked all the time. It’s very much like this particular article of clothing is driving me crazy, and therefore I have to take it off.”
However, for Stanley, practicing yoga naked goes beyond practicality and has led to a journey of self-acceptance and a deeper understanding of her body. For instance, not wearing compression yoga pants allows her to manually adjust the position of her belly and fat rolls, enabling her to deepen her postures and enhance her spiritual awakening.
How to dip your toe—or fully jump—into doing naked yoga at home
To those interested in exploring naked yoga, Stanley advises paying attention to items of clothing that may be causing discomfort and experimenting with removing them during home practice. This process may initially evoke discomfort related to sweating or noticing different bodily sensations, but using a towel, non-slip mat, and remembering that it’s just you and your body can ease the transition.
“There’s so much shame around the naked body, and being in a space where people don’t have to feel ashamed of themselves is a really beautiful thing,” Stanley shares. For those hesitant to try it alone, she recommends seeking a virtual naked yoga class or an in-person class. However, she personally prefers the intimacy of practicing at home, where she can deeply connect with her body on her own terms.
Ultimately, Stanley encourages people to approach naked yoga with a playful and joyful perspective. “Naked yoga is for everybody,” she emphasizes. “Have fun, enjoy yourself, and love your body through this practice.”
