On Saturday night I had the privilege of attending my gorgeous friend Rosie’s VIP Nude Yoga Class along with 11 other courageous Perth women. I was in Bali at the time that Rosie asked me to be part of the class, and I think I was too zenned out at the time to realise what I had just signed up for, but I was in.
By Saturday afternoon I could feel all the fears and stories brewing underneath the surface. “What if everyone else’s bodies are perfect?”, “What if I freak out?”, “What if i’m too this, or too that?” and the nerves started kicking in. I flicked Rosie a message and she replied with “This is normal- just trust x”
I head in to the beautiful candle lit, heated space at Twisting Peacock Yoga with just my Kimono on, and with a few giggles, and a few “did you girl’s go get waxes for this?” I soon realised that everyone else was in the same nervous butterflies boat as me. Rosie flows on in, and together we all tune in and ground ourselves into the room. With closed eyes, we are encouraged to melt off our kimonos and take a few deep breaths before starting the Yoga Flow. This is the part I thought I would be freaking out- to my surprise this was the exact moment where I knew my own light had just grown stronger.
You see, stripping the clothes to me is just a metaphor for stripping my own fear of being seen completely in my truth. The walls, the insecurity, the illusions, the stories, the layers, the BS, the masks, the false identities- there is nothing to hide behind anymore- both on and off the mat. Just truth.
“Each layer you shed – your light grows stronger”
The yoga sequence is a mix of Kundalini and Yin postures- each using the power of breath to bust through and clear any old stories. Within minutes, you forget you are even naked, and start to awaken a divine, powerful presence within. The postures were gentle, feminine and heart opening. And no- there were no downward dogs. Rosie’s calming, soothing voice guides you the whole time to stay deeply connected to your body and your breath and to allow yourself to be wonderfully open and vulnerable.
As a life coach, my mission is to encourage people to face fears head on, expand themselves, and to have the courage to let go of the ‘layers’ and ‘stories’ and remember how right and how freeing it is for us to be in our truth – which is exactly why I knew I needed to show up bare butt on that yoga mat.
What I learnt from Nude Yoga;
+ Nude Yoga is not even about being Nude at all. It’s about allowing yourself to be seen in your truth- no layers, no stories, no BS. Just you in your most open, vulnerable, brave, beautiful truth.
+ Women’s bodies (ALL of them) are soo much sexier than we give ourselves credit for. You will look at your body in a completely new way after this class.
+ Women are meant to be soft, and gentle, and flowy, and feminine. Society has made it out of balance with our go-go-go, do-do-do, achieve-achieve-achieve, push-push-push mindset. We need more spaces like this to allow ourselves to be still and calm, and to soak up this beautiful goddess energy that we each have.
+ It is safe to be seen in your truth- and it feels freakin good. After about 3minutes you forget you’re even naked, and you realise how good it feels to just flow unrestricted by anything. It’s nourishing for the mind, body and soul.
+ There is nothing more powerful than the strength, support and love of Sisterhood. We are ALL in this together, and we are all the same. We are meant to empower and lift each other up in our own beauty, not compete or compare. And no-one I know can hold this sacred, feminine space for you to grow, shift, heal, open, expand, awaken and remember, better than Rosie.
+ The class is not about anyone else in the room but you, which is the same as life. Our Ego’s are quick to jump on the comparison train- but the whole focus in inward. It’s about our own journey, our own growth, our own healing. And through focusing on and healing ourselves- we are each healing the World
+ After Nude Yoga, is there anything you can’t do? Seriously…
+ At the end of the class we went around the room and each said a few words that we were feeling- “feminine, soft, comfortable, happy, supported, relaxed, calm, peaceful”, and then one girl shed a tear with us all and declared “My struggles with my self-image and my body issues went on for years, and now I’m free“. Heart goosies, right?
And now, as a result of this class, I commit even more to showing up naked (figuratively) in my truth more and more everyday- as a coach, a writer, a spiritual teacher, a friend, a speaker, a woman – not just for myself, but in the hope that it will inspire, awaken, and allow you to feel safe and empowered to show up in yours.
[line]
Special Shoutouts
+ All my sisters in the room showing up for themselves, and for something even more powerful- the sacred feminine. The space we each held for each other was beyond beautiful and sacred, so celebrate your courage, honour your truth and keep showing up for it you legends- cheers to that!
+ Beautiful Mel from Twisting Peacock Yoga Studio- Thank YOU for being on board Rosie’s mission and to having the courage to do things differently for the greater good of all. And for creating a beautiful, warm, welcoming, supportive space for us! Check out Mel’s studio here
[line]
+ And to my gorgeous friend Rosie- Thank YOU for being an absolute Warrior of the Sacred Feminine and for showing up in your truth and your light to help us remember ours. Your mission to help women release guilt, shame, fear and insecurity from our bodies is so inspiring, so powerful, and soo needed in this World. What you are doing is leaving a powerful imprint on the World far beyond the 4 walls of that class, keep charging ahead!
Rosie is also my Kundalini Yoga teacher and you can read more about her and sign up for her next Nude Yoga Class here.
(P.S- If you turn your nose up at the thought of this, and start making up a story in your head about how gross, shameful, or wrong it is- maybe it’s time for you to get your bare ass to a class and free yourself from the stories first)
To sum up- Nude Yoga won’t make you feel gross, or weird. However you will leave feeling – Free. Connected. Lighter. Peaceful. Feminine. Strong. Empowered. Sexy. Calm. Powerful. Divine. Truth. Fucking Awesome.
Sign up, stretch your self-love muscle, and see for yourself, I dare ya!
magic! I would love to try something like this, would have to work up the courage! your a inspiration! x
Girlllll you TOTALLY can do it! Your mind will let you believe you can’t. but that courage is already there! Put it on the list! X
Wow Trace! Such a beautifully written, soulful, inspiring, real piece of writing here. Absolutely beautiful. I have no doubt you’re going to reach many people with this one as you’ve reached me. You have reminded me that showing up for myself at this level is something I need to do not only for myself but also for my clients and the healing of the collective feminine xxx
Thanks for the kind words gorgeous! Bless ya! Absolutely soo true! We all soo much stronger and more beautiful ‘naked’ in our truths. There is nothing to fear at ALL! Shed the layers and fears, and welcome in even more love X
wow! how ‘interesting’
definitely a once in a life time experience 🙂
I am happy it was amazing for you.
pd: I am not in Perth so i guess that is my excuse for now 😉
Defs Renee! Something I NEVER thought I would do, but it was just so awesome. Not about anyone else but yourself.
P.S- Rosie is doing an Aussie tour in Sept bringing these classes to cities everywhere. So no excuses 😉 hehehe xxx
Tracey, this was such an empowering and beautiful read. I am so inspired by you, your courage and by your willingness to share this experience with us. Thank you.
Oh hugs gorgeous Chloe! Right back at you girl XX thanks for sharing your kind words! And don’t think for a second you aren’t equally courageous! YEOW XX
Epic post girl! Think I definitely need to make it to the Sydney one 😉 xx
OMG YES! Rosie has just announced her tour dates! Totally do it girl. Be ALL IN! XXX
Sounds like an amazing experience to really connect with your body + other women in this way. I’d love to try it! I sometimes do yoga naked at home in the morning, and it’s totally allowed me to feel even more comfortable in my body.
Hey Lauren! Thanks for stopping by! It IS amazing- and you nailed it right there- it;s about CONNECTING to your body. Connecting to that goddess within, that love and that beauty! I reckon this is totally a sign for you to take it up a notch 🙂 Your life will shift in so many awesome ways! It’s not to prove anything to anyone, just for yourself! Rosie has just announced she is doing an Australian Nude Yoga Tour! Check it out at rosierees.com XXX Go girl!
Tracey, this was such a beautiful post and I really felt as though I was with you as you stretched your comfort zone! As someone who has had body image issues since a young kid and in recovery from Anorexia I can only imagine how empowering this would be…and when Rosie comes to Sydney..I’m in! Thank you for stirring something in me! xxo
Hey Jenny! Big Hugs Sista!! Thank you SO much for sharing that! It totally is! And you can totally do it!!! Honesty- it will rock your World in the best of ways :)For no-one else but yourself! Rosie has just announced her Sydney dates!! I can’t want to hear about your experience with it!! XXX
Thanks for this sacred inside scoop on nudie yoga — totally different from what I would have expected and it sounds like a powerful inner experience I would love to have. You are brave woman!
Yes agreed!! SO not what you expect… even BETTER! Hugs X You’re next miss nude camping 😉
Hi beautiful girl!! I have been meaning to pop over and read this post since you posted it. Wow babe! What an incredible experience for you. As someone who has struggled with body image issues my whole life including anorexia and body Dysmorphia I would find this very confronting to do but I think also very liberating. I just love your vulnerability and willingness to show up and be seen. It is the most magnificent metaphor for your life and business and I’m so inspired and filled with raw emotion reading this. I want to do this one day. Thanks so much for sharing sista!! Big love xxxx
I love you woman! Yep- it brings up the crap that’s for sure (in the best of ways!) and clears it righttttt out! Love that it inspires you!! You can TOTALLY DO IT and I can’t wait to hear all about it when you do! Keep showing up and letting the World see more of you- raw and real- it’s all we want XXX
Sounds amazing. I had a similar experience with my photoshoot in terms of having to clear out ALL the crap in my head about my body! Lots of stretching. Yes yes yes! Keep showing up, especially the times I feel like hiding or retreating back into ma little shell! xxxx
This is awesome Tracey, when I saw this the first thing that came to mind was ‘there is no way I could do that!’ after reading your post I want to try it ASAP!
Girllllllll you SO got this. It will be the most empowering experience ever XX And Rosie holds the perfect space for it. Let me know if you give it a go!! FREEDOM awaits on the other side 🙂 XX