This article was submitted by Gill, one of ON/NO’s newest members, who hopes that her positive experience may encourage others – especially women – who have been considering venturing into naturism to give it a try.
I want to share my thoughts with anyone who is considering exploring Naturism. For what it’s worth – I am a single woman in my mid-40s and I was pleasantly surprised by my experiences!
Since my childhood, I have always enjoyed a nice skinny-dip but as an adult it was difficult to indulge in that pleasure. I sought-out nude beaches and other areas where partial nudity was accepted. I recently travelled to an area known for its clothing-optional beaches (Cayo Largo, Cuba), where I spent lots of time skinny-dipping in the turquoise water and reading naked on the beach. It was blissful.
When I returned home, I did a Google-search for “Ottawa Skinny-Dip” and found ON/NO. I decided to email the group to confirm a location for the next swim. Unfortunately, I had dinner plans that night – but I was able to drop by for a few minutes before the swim to sign-up and get a “vibe-check”. Everyone there was very friendly and welcoming, so I returned a few weeks later for a yoga/gym+swim event.
Upon arrival, I learned that the change-rooms are open to all genders. The first person I met appeared to be ‘gender-fluid’, which is welcomed in this community; in fact, a multitude of genders, body types, and abilities were represented on my first visit. The yoga class was great for both beginners and more experienced yogis (though the room was a bit cool – I had a shawl with me, which was nice for the more relaxing moments). After the class, I explored the pool-area but the hot tub was pretty full most of the evening so I spent my time in the sauna where I had great conversations with other members.
I never once felt uncomfortable during the evening and I eagerly returned to the next yoga/gym+swim event. Since then, I have attended a members-meeting and 2 more swim events and I’m looking forward to some special events happening soon!