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People have been naked for most of human history and nudity was considered a natural and normal part of life.
It is relatively only recently that the majority of humans began to be ashamed of their bodies and chose to hide it with clothing.
Naturism began as a self-help reform movement during the nineteenth century. At a time when medicine could neither explain nor cure disease, many people believed that crowded and unsanitary cities, tenement housing, restrictive Victorian clothing, and oppressive working conditions all led to poor health and rampant illness. Some observers concluded that what people needed was exposure to the natural healing elements or fresh air, sunlight, and water-preferably with loose or absent clothing.
Experimental clubs opened in Germany, and later in France and England as places where individuals could practice their natural lifestyle without outside interference (as long as they stayed on private property). Since the early clubs were experiments in natural living, they imposed the full natural regimen on all guests: nudity rain or shine, abstinence, vegetarianism, and mandatory calisthenics.
Many guests decided that the practice was not as attractive as the theory, but while some of them deserted the cause completely, others noticed that the social nudity had a positive psychological effect that they all appreciated. When people removed their cultural body armor they felt freer and less stressed than during their everyday lives. People were who they were, not what they pretended to be behind their textile uniforms, jewelry, and makeup. This relaxed social ambiance became the hallmark of twentieth century social nudism.
Several other trends hastened the transition from naturism to nudism. The
youth generation at the turn of the century embraced the great outdoors, and went off hiking and canoeing around the countryside-often nude, and often in mixed groups. Western society underwent a sort of sexual liberation at this time, and relaxed many of its moral standards.
Naturism is also thought by practitioners to be therapeutic. Many practitioners cite that the lifestyle is not only healthy physically, but emotionally cathartic. Clothes in this regard almost represent not only a physical encumbrance, but a metaphorical burden from which they are being unleashed. From a medical standpoint, many nudism advocates point to the importance of Vitamin D exposure, and how technology dependent lifestyles often cause deficiencies in that regard. Critics contend that overexposure to sun can result in various forms of skin cancer, and stress that exposure should be done in moderation.
Polls taken in the last decade demonstrate increasingly tolerant attitudes toward nudist activities and practitioners. Close to ten percent of the surveyed population indicated they would consider visiting a naturist resort or go skinny-dipping in mixed company. Close to 40% admitted they walk naked in their own homes.
Another growing area in naturism is the sensual massage. Five years ago in central London a new type of massage company was borne, combining all the elements of Tantric massage with the idea that both the masseuse and the customer were naked together. This company is called PEARL London and is now so successful that it has been voted the No1 naturist massage company for the past 4 years.
