Naked in Motion - NYC

ATTENTION: Nudity is not an invitation! Naked in Motion has a strict no-cruising policy. If you receive any unwanted messages from someone from our group, please let us know immediately so we can take the appropriate actions. Your privacy will be respected, and your comfort and safety are our priority. Please do not respond to senders of unwanted messages.

Naked in Motion offers Naked! Yoga and Pilates classes in Seattle, Boston, New York City and online to promote body-positivity and offer participants a unique experience of freedom. This meetup is specifically for our NYC classes and events.

We aim to provide safer, inclusive spaces where people can take a collective journey through fear towards self-discovery and empowerment. We’re starting a Naked! movement that challenges the status quo and enforces consent culture and feminist values. We’re challenging a society that views nakedness as shameful; media that celebrates only certain kinds of bodies; and a patriarchal culture that values whiteness, cisnormativity, and heteronormativity. We’re even redefining “nudity” by giving women and trans folk the option to wear bottoms in the name of equity (see our website for details). This isn’t your average nudist club; it’s a rebellious way of moving in the spirit of personal and social change.

Join the movement.

Your body, just as it is right now, is awesome and deserves care and love. Not the body you used to have or the one you hope to achieve, but the one you’re in right this moment. And if you are trying to change parts of your body, that’s okay too, but we think that change will happen most effectively with an attitude of self-compassion, rather than the typical self-judgement we often adopt when trying to meet “fitness goals” in this modern age of exercise fanaticism.

It is our hope that people will find our classes to be liberating experiences where they can shed their clothes, their worries about what they should look like, and the criticisms they face daily and open up their mind to the possibility of self-acceptance. We keep the lights on, literally, to encourage people to observe the body they brought with them to class, accept what they’re working with, and learn to love and appreciate it for all the ways in which it supports them.

NOTE: The RSVP's on Fetlife, Facebook & Meetup DO NOT reflect actual attendance. Most folks just come to class buying the ticket directly (link below) without bothering to RSVP online. To respect your privacy, you are not required to RSVP on any online or social platform. If you have any questions about the class, such as questions about the overall experience, gender ratio, or number of people who attend, please see our FAQ page on our website.

Please read our (updated) Community Rules:
Everyone MUST be an active, willing participant and at least 18 years old.

Philosophy: We use nudity to practice self-compassion and body acceptance while experiencing bodies as they are. Nudity is an essential part of the experience of Naked in Motion, but we acknowledge that nudity is not binary. To support our mission of equity and inclusion, we permit certain clothing and accessory items as described below.

Defining Naked! - Our definition of nudity is flexible in order to increase accessibility. For example, you may wear underwear to manage menstruation. Underwear is not required while menstruating, and it’s okay if tampon strings are visible. Additionally, participants may opt to use items such as underwear, binders, or prosthetics to manage trauma and/or gender dysphoria. These examples are not an exhaustive list, so if you need an accommodation, just talk to us.

Nude spaces tend to have a majority of cisgender men in attendance, so our approach aims to lower barriers to participation for people of marginalized genders. Experiencing sexual harassment and objectification in everyday life can make it understandably more difficult to attend a nude event, and gender dysphoria can further add to this challenge. Accommodations aren’t meant to avoid the discomfort that can come with naked yoga, but to make the practice possible for folks who otherwise would not attend.

While the gender makeup of class is a sensitive issue, we aren’t trying to meet an arbitrary quota. Furthermore, you can’t determine someone’s gender identity by looking at them, and we want to provide a welcoming space for folks at all stages of transition. Experiencing safety in a nude environment amongst others can be life-changing, so your participation and cooperation have value well beyond our classes.

Consent: All physical contact must be consensual. The instructor will place a red card on the floor in front of each person’s mat before class. Leave the card there to silently opt out of physical adjustments during class. Hide the card under your mat to opt in, and the instructor will still ask for verbal consent before offering touch assistance. Know your boundaries! You can change your mind at any time, and anything less than an enthusiastic “yes” means “no.” Our consent policy applies to all situations, including physical contact that may seem appropriate in a clothed setting (e.g., hugs, moving through a crowd), so ask for permission before touching anyone before, during, and after class, even while clothed.

No Cruising: Please maintain the desexualized atmosphere of our classes. Nudity is not an invitation for personal advances. While our classes can build a sense of community, our goal is not to facilitate friendships. It’s okay to be friendly and chat with others, but we will prioritize individual safety over interpersonal relationships. Don’t ask to meet up with students or instructors outside of class or make personal invitations to other events. Also, please do not make comments about anyone’s body or appearance, including compliments that may seem benign (e.g., “your hair looks nice”). We’ll prioritize the experience of the recipient over the intention of a compliment, so err on the side of caution! This applies to live events and online platforms (e.g., Meetup, Patreon). 

Be Respectful: We welcome all adults who abide by our rules and treat others with respect and kindness. Body-shaming or hateful comments of any kind will not be tolerated. Be conscious of your gaze and how it may affect others. Mind the difference between “seeing” and “looking.” It’s inevitable to see other naked bodies, and it’s okay to look around if you get lost during the movement, but avoid intentionally looking at people outside of that.

Cell Phones/Smartwatches: Cell phones are strictly prohibited while clothes are off, so please turn them OFF (not silent) and conceal them until the last person is clothed. You may use smartwatches for health reasons if necessary, but please refrain from texting during class.

The Erection Question: Signs of arousal, such as erections, can be involuntary and not necessarily sexually inspired. If you have an erection during class, just ignore it and keep moving, or take a resting pose if you prefer. If you have an erection after class, please put on clothing before socializing with anyone. Any activities described as illicit, obscene, or sexual in nature are illegal and not permitted in our classes.

No Latecomers: Everyone is expected to be on time to hear the rules (even if you've heard them before). The instructor will lock the entrance and/or place a sign on the door at the start of class. After this point, NO FURTHER ENTRY WILL BE PERMITTED, and we don't refund latecomers. Please do not knock or disrupt class in an attempt to gain late entry.

No Lingering: Following the conclusion of class, please exit the premises in a reasonable amount of time as directed by the instructor. Do not wait to be alone with an instructor or student after class.

Be Sober: Sobriety is mandatory. If you exhibit signs of intoxication, we may ask you to leave.

Mats/Props: Everyone MUST bring their own mat and props (and we recommend a towel). We do not provide mats, and we no longer permit the use of studio mats or props. If you do not bring a suitable yoga/exercise mat, you may be turned away from class. For safety and sanitary reasons, using a towel on the floor is not permitted.

If you experience or witness a rule violation, please notify a member of our team ASAP; you will remain anonymous. While we prefer to be notified in person to help us identify people involved, you can also email us. The instructor reserves the right to ask anyone to leave for any reason, and Naked in Motion management reserves the right to revoke further class privileges.

Want to support the Naked! mission? Check out our Patreon, which has online classes, Naked! yoga instructional videos, and more, and visit our merch store!

Looking for events in Boston? Check out our NiM Boston Meetup group!
Looking for events in Seattle? Check out our NiM Seattle Meetup group!