Meditation is an exercise of mind, so does removing clothes makes a difference? The best way to find out is to research on people who meditate naked or ask a group of people to meditate naked and notice the difference in their well-being.
Unfortunately, there’s no research data like this that guarantees the benefits!
Still, a lot of people meditate naked and claim it works for them – not to forget the controversial guru – OSHO. His ideologies of nakedness and sex in meditation were blessings for many, while most believed it was a cult.
Opinions for meditating naked
After researching various blogs, conversations, Quora, and Reddit, I could summarize a few positive and negative opinions.
Positive
- It enhances freedom and your connection to nature.
- Improves the awareness of posture and breath.
- Some feel being naked is better to avoid discomfort from tight clothing.
- Some find it more liberating but non-sexual.
Negative
- Nudity distracts because of unfamiliar sensations.
- A user’s cat was more curious to see them while meditating naked.
- Many say meditation is calming the mind – nude or not, it doesn’t matter.
In total, there are varied opinions. Some like to meditate nude, while for others, it’s distracting. For many, especially the pro meditators, it just doesn’t matter.
Cultural significance
In religions like Hinduism, there are naga sadhus who leave their clothes for spiritual reasons. They devote their life to worshipping God and meditating, all while being completely naked.
Also, in Jainism, their spiritual leaders leave clothes to live a minimalist life and worship God.
Basically, nudity in cultures is not a new topic, but it has always been limited to a certain number of people in any culture. Most people in these cultures will actually never support the idea of worshipping naked or meditating naked.
Likewise, in the West, people are more open-minded, and to an extent, nudity is not a big deal. For example, there are naked beaches and more places like this. However, in Asian countries, nudity is almost unacceptable. Despite being a common thing in many religions, nudity is still a big deal.
So, if you come from a place or religion where nudity is not a big deal, naked meditation will not be distracting for you. However, if you have been taught nudity is something you should be ashamed of, nude meditation is not a good idea for you.
The process of meditating naked
There’s actually no guided process or technique to meditate naked. All you can do is follow the regular meditation techniques while being nude. Here is what you can try:
- Find a place where you won’t be disturbed, like a closed room would be perfect.
- Ensure the temperature is ideal, as you’ll be naked.
- If you prefer, set the ambiance with candles, mood lights, etc.
- Slowly undress while paying attention to the sensation on your skin.
- You can sit cross-legged or even lie down for meditation.
- Breathe deeply, focusing as your stomach rises and contracts.
- Notice the air, temperature, and pressure on your body.
- Just observe your thoughts; don’t try to control them.
- As your mind wanders, bring it back to your breath.
- Slowly bring awareness back and open your eyes.
- Stretch a little before winding up the session.
- Start with short sessions but gradually increase with practice.
If you prefer someone to direct you during the process, download a guided meditation app or watch videos on YouTube. You can also try this 10-minute guided naked meditation script PDF.
Are there any benefits of nude meditation?
The topic lacks scientific research and guided techniques, which is why it’s difficult to claim the guaranteed benefits. Still, whichever meditation technique you use will have its own benefits. For particularly being naked, the physical benefits include:
1. Increases awareness:
There will be no obstruction between you and nature. You feel the breeze touching your body and the feet touching the ground. This will make you feel more grounded and connected to nature.
2. Improved circulation
You of course wear loose clothes while meditating but still they can hinder the free flow of blood which sometimes causes distraction. Also, being nude allows your skin to breathe freely, which can improve circulation and promote relaxation.
3. Reduced distraction
Most people have this habit of holding their clothes or playing with their shorts when they can’t focus well, especially with beginners. Being naked removes that possibility and allows you to concentrate well.
4. Deep connection to self
Almost 95% of the time, most parts of our bodies remain covered with clothes. Of course, there are valid reasons for doing so, but one of the reasons is that we want to beautify ourselves and want others to confirm us as part of society.
When you get naked, this hindrance vanishes. You are on your own and can better connect with your authentic self.
Naked meditation vs. Clothed meditation
Clothed meditation is considered ideal for meditation, whereas naked meditation is a concept that only a few people follow. Some other comparisons include:
The Takeaway
Like various other meditation techniques, naked meditation is also a concept. Also, there aren’t any issues associated with meditating naked, and it may offer additional benefits.
The takeaway here is that if the idea seems intriguing and you believe it can bring real benefits in your life – go ahead and try naked meditation. It will be quite an experience!
However, don’t falsely believe that it can bring some miraculous benefits. There is no data to support it.
Additionally, when people notice benefits in one of the techniques, they talk about it, and it gets popularized. However, not many people are really talking about or trying naked meditation. That’s why its benefits are skeptical.
More on meditation
30 Free Meditation Scripts pdf of Various Techniques
How long should you meditate? Beginner to Pro!
How to Reach New Limits While Meditating?
