Disagreeable Experience at the Gym Today — The Mens Room on True Nudists

PaulOriginal Poster

Nov 17, 2021

I was in the steam room -- nude -- naturally. Some guys came and went -- no big deal. Or so I thought.

I got reported before being nude in the steam room and on top of that, for being nude in the shower and not pulling the curtain closed.

I asked what was the problem with being nude in the steam room. I was told it was posted as one of the rules. I said, that must be new because it wasn't there before. I came out of the steam room, put on my swim short, which I had hung on a hook outside the steam room. I then read the rules. There's nothing in the rules about prohibiting nudity in the steam room and nothing about prohibiting nudity in the locker room in general. I was told I should only be nude when I was actually changing clothing.

I said, this is a men's locker room, there cannot possibly be any issue with being nude in a men's locker room. I was told it was indecent. I said, there's nothing indecent about my body and this is a men's locker room. I was told that people had complained about seeing me nude in the steam room and in the shower.

I said the proper response to such a complaint is to state that this is a men's locker room and one should expect to encounter male nudity in a men's locker room. And also that there is no rule prohibiting nudity in locker room and steam room.

I think I'm going to write a letter to the corporate office and express my concerns.

Genesis Health Club. Specifically the south club in Springfield MO.

Oh, I remember having a conversation with a male trainer. Don't know how the subject came up but I remember expressing my amazement that guys pulled the curtain closed when they took showers. I asked, what are they doing that they need that level of privacy while taking a shower in a men's locker room? I continued with, I'm guessing they're jerking off. Why else would they bother with the curtain?

The trainer looked aghast and said he'd be leaving the curtain open from then on and he would not be so concerned about covering up while in the locker room. Don't remember his name. Even so, he was an independent trainer; not an employee.

Anyone else have issues with Genesis Health Club? Is this a new thing? Never been a problem before.

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PaulOriginal Poster
Jan 16, 2022
I believe that if England had had some prohibition on nudity, then nudity would be listed in our constitution as an inalienable right.[quote]And at the time they were written and beyond, the right to bathe naked in the Potomac was not reserved just for the chief executive.[/quote]
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PaulOriginal Poster
Jan 16, 2022
Very interesting -- nice to know what happened.
Thanks for providing the details.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Jan 17, 2022
That sounds amazing.[quote]This morning, when I came back from the shower, Dan had also come back. His locker was two down from mine. I said good morning. He said good morning back. I asked how he like the wild card results. We had a conversation about the packers and prospects. The whole time naked and getting dressed. Our nudity was just happen stance and relaxed and not noted.[/quote]Very much like what I remember from the 80s and 90s (California and Colorado). I've never experienced anything remotely like that in Missouri. Seems like everyone here is homophobic and/or ashamed of their bodies.
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BI
Bill
Jan 18, 2022
I'm often tempted to strike up a conversation with the other guys in the locker room/shower area at my yoga studio after the nude yoga session is over. But I hesitate as we all take showers and then put our (annoying) clothing back on, feeling as though I should stay quiet, hold off on any talking, worried that some of the guys might be in an altered state following the heated nude yoga session, and they are wanting to stay in that head space as long as possible. All I want to do is expound on how wonderfully I feel from the experience and to share my enthusiasm with someone, anyone, and see if they are feeling similarly, looking for some social mental connection. This need to be social at that moment might actually make some people uncomfortable or even put-upon, with them wondering if I'm attempting some sort of come on. At that moment, such thoughts of misinterpreted interaction are probably just my old, clothed mindset coming through, but as far as I know, no one else involved in these yoga sessions lives the nude life I've become so pleasantly accustomed to. Luckily for me, I can usually get my conversational ya yas out right after the session with the two yogis who hang around just outside the hot room and before the wet area, asking us how we felt about the experience.
I wish I could do hot nude yoga more. These two yogis are expert at the teaching and are very forthcoming about how much they love teaching yoga without clothes. If you're ever in Charlottesville, Virginia on a Saturday, I heavily encourage contacting The Elements Yoga studio and join in. They do only one class nude every two weeks at 103 degrees. Sweat out four pounds with us!
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M
Jan 18, 2022
I had to look that one up.. As far as Phobias go, that is one I could deal with.
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Bill
Jan 18, 2022
[quote]Georgie didn't write them bill of rights, Tommy did and he, Ben and several other founding fathers took "air baths" regularly. And at the time they were written and beyond, the right to bathe naked in the Potomac was not reserved just for the chief executive.[/quote] Not to further stir division here (but definitely to nitpick), Thomas Jefferson (this is Tommy in the above quote, yes?) was not involved in the writing of America's Bill of Rights, with him living in France at the time and serving as our minister to France during the contentious discussions on the Bill of Rights. Many men were involved in its drafting, but James Madison is called the Father of our Constitution for good reason, and is considered the main man behind much of the Bill of Rights. Indeed, Madison likely used a lot of George Mason's ideas when he wrote the Constitution. TJ wrote the Declaration of Independence, and that work is from the "Committee of Five", a product of his mind and four other men; John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Jefferson wanted Adams to actually pen the document, but Adams supposedly gave Jefferson some drinks to convince him to be the author. Additionally, in reference to nudity in Spain, Wikipedia says Spanish law does not have any article that prohibits public nudity, so it is therefore always allowed, except in Barcelona where regional laws have changed and nudity or semi-nudity is in fact banned on the streets there since April 2011.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Jan 18, 2022
It's the complete opposite of 70s and 80s.[quote]I have been told by gay guys that when there are promiscuous gays that are cruising and when they are naked, they don't like those guys assuming they are looking for sex. Other gay guys are afraid if they have erections, straight guys will think they are cruising for them. As a consequence some of the more bashful males may be gay.I think some of the straight guys are afraid of being thought of as gay particularly if they have an erection.Unless there is anything new, I will not post more on Dan. He was there again today and it is obvious that he now has the habit of being naked in the locker room and considers it normal.[/quote]Back then, the general opinion was that only a gay man would care whether other men saw him nude -- if you're not gay, you'll have no problem walking around the locker room totally nude.

Now, the general opinion is, only a gay guy would want to be seen nude by other men. If you're not gay, stay covered up.

Of course, both are wrong.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Feb 7, 2022
Again, amazing. Thanks for posting. [quote]This morning where I work out, there was someone on the aisle I have only seen since January. He looks like he is in his 20s and is trying to lose some weight. While he was at his locker and opening it, his towel fell off, and he was standing there naked and with a full erection. He said: "Excuse Me". Dan, who was naked at the time said: "for what?" The guy said: "I don't want to offend you with my boner." Day said: "We are all guys, we all have dicks, and we all understand." No more was said and the new guy did not rush to cover up.[/quote]
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Stone Andy
Feb 7, 2022
[quote]I'm sure this will hurt a lot of feelings, but I for one an]=m sick of being labled 'phobic' simply because I don't live a certain lifestyle. My adult offspring don't live mu nudist lifestyle, yet the aren't laeled 'gymnophobic' and they don't condemn me forbeing a nudist, the accept me and my lifestyle. [/quote] Phobia is to have fear and anxiety about something. If your kids aren't afraid of heights, nudity or crowded places, no one can call them acrophobic, gymnophobic ar agorophobic, but they are concepts. Phobias register deeply and trigger anxieties which are hard to explain. It's good that you're open that you're sick of being labelled something, that you are aware of others' feelings and have gratitude that your adult offspring accept you and your lifestyle. I hope you can feel you are doing the same moving forward as well, trigger free of fears. Good luck.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Feb 10, 2022
I think you're right. [quote]While I am sad they are so afraid of seeing another male naked, I think the second guy has a live and let live approach.[/quote] Seems as if he doesn't like it, but that he recognizes that it's his issue.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Feb 10, 2022
[url][link]https://www.truenudists.com/user/milwaukeew/[/link]milwaukeew[/url] [quote]He would not have objected to your being naked in your first post on this thread. Even though he would not want to see it, he realizes that is appropriate in a locker room.His answer to not wanting to see a naked man in the locker room is to stay out of the locker room. To me, while I disagree with the reason and the choice, his approach is logical and does not interfere with anyone else's expected behavior and does not allow for specious accusation.[/quote] I think we see this in exactly the same light. He doesn't like it, so he stays away.

I'd like the opportunity to suggest some reading material for both of them. [url][link]/link/5185884f89ae7978/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9ncC9wcm9kdWN0LzE0NzE3MDM4MzUv[/link]Uncovering the Image[/url] [url][link]/link/0459427cf1696494/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9ncC9wcm9kdWN0LzE5ODMxMjE3NDYv[/link]Christian Body[/url] [url][link]/link/128eca427dfbb2e3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9ncC9wcm9kdWN0LzE1MzI2NTk4NjUv[/link]Famous Fig Leaf[/url]
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Steve
Feb 16, 2022
I guess it's partially the dynamics of the peer group in operation. Obviously the swimming squad peer group is okay with relatively revealing suits and there may even be unofficial competition withing the squad as to whose suit is the most revealing within the attire policy. But then the same peer group (or the larger one of all boys in that same age group) has set the standard of 'wrap your towel around you to change our of your suit' and so to confirm, that's what one does. Some (or many) may notice the incongruity, especially in a locker room with others less concerned, but are not prepared to step beyond the peer group's norm. That may take a little boldness, including becoming known in the group as the one who did break the norm, which may not sit well with many. I know I've been there in the past, hopefully less inclined to just conform now I'm older.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Feb 18, 2022
Entropy Boy*, [url][link]https://www.truenudists.com/user/BlgDudeMan/[/link]BlgDudeMan[/url], strikes again. [quote] Do you ever overhear a conversation that doesnt [sic] involve dicks? [/quote] *Entropy Boy thinks entropy is a super power. Pretends to be a nudist but never makes a positive contribution to a discussion.
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Zeke
Feb 18, 2022
Unless you've talked with these individuals, we can only 'think' we know what they are up to.
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PaulOriginal Poster
Feb 18, 2022
Absolutely. [quote]Unless you've talked with these individuals, we can only 'think' we know what they are up to.[/quote]
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ecurbaus
Mar 24, 2022
Did you write to the corporation, and if so what was their reply? Hopefully they have not formalised the unwritten rules as a result of this coming to their attention.
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PaulOriginal Poster
May 17, 2022
I didn't. [quote]Did you write to the corporation, and if so what was their reply? Hopefully they have not formalized the unwritten rules as a result of this coming to their attention.[/quote] That was the plan, but since then, I'm only rarely in Springfield MO -- the gym is in Springfield. Not going to make an over 40-mile round trip just to go to the gym. So, haven't been back.
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Jim
May 17, 2022
[quote]Nudistpig, you're saying that social nudity makes the group stronger and more cohesive and reduces conflict. In all social primates. This is a "primate" form and very natural and all inclusive means of homosociality. It makes sense to make this natural way of socializing becomes forbidden in favor of creating fear and rifts between people. What you write, however, makes me realize that this rift is perhaps not an unfortunate consequence but rather an intention from the start. That's what makes a solo naked man so threatening in a locker room. It's not that he's necessarily and imposing beast or a creepy sexual deviant. Rather, he's voting with his pants how to stand up to having others control him. Yes, we need more of that iconoclastic vitality.[/quote] Yes, the social bath and exercise spaces were the last bastions of unity and bonding for males in our culture and they were deliberately removed and will suffer more attacks until the christofascists scourge us from the face of the earth (or we can stop this).
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