You know those naked people in the locker room at the gym? I am not one of those. Nor am I the girl running down the beach totally at ease in her bikini. I may have the bikini on but I’ll have my cover-up du jour on for more of the time. When we were in France last summer I was amazed at the women young and my mother’s age, thin and no so thin totally at ease with their physiques and teeny swim suits. I tried to act like I was like that, while we were there, but who am I kidding?
I notice this modesty at yoga. I’ve now been doing yoga for a year and declared 2011 the year of the inversion. This year my body will do upside down. Truth be told, I can do a headstand and even a handstand (at home). What’s holding me back from unveiling my poses in class? It’s the fear of my shirt going upside down with me. I am a thin person, this I know. I wear a small size and work out a bunch. I also know that I don’t love the idea of my “I’ve had 2 kids” abs being on display for all of Pure Yoga to see, upside-down no less.
I tweeted about this to my favorite workout-clothing maker Lululemon. I asked, “is there a way of inverting without exposing?” Lululemon, always responsive, suggested their Power Y, Get Focused or Pure Focus tops. While I’m liking the band at the bottom of the Pure Focus, it’s a little too loose looking, even for an exposure-phobe like me. The owner of Nuttzo (amazingly addictive nut butters) suggested I try Yummie Tummie. Yummie Tummie chimed in and thought I’d like their Skinny Tank. Although the photo looks a little sexy for yoga, they promise it’ll do the drink. I am not usually a fan of “shape wear”. I feel it sucks you in and I end up with a tummy ache from the sucking (not so yummy). We’ll see, I’m willing to test drive these and most likely will.
In yoga this week something happened that may do more for me than any new shirt. We were in class and the teacher led us though a sequence of poses where some people go into headstand and others hang out with their hands and feet on the ground. In this pose I don’t know the name of you are peering through your legs behind you. As the show-offs people worked their way into headstand, something happened. I looked those in headstand. One of these head standers was a girl I’ve been in class with many times. She’s fit and friendly and can pretty much twist her body into any shape imaginable (hate her, sorry that’s not yogi). Anyway, I looked over and her top (neither “yummie” nor “focused”) went over along with her. And you know what? Hanging over her yoga pants was a little extra. Love handles or “hatha” handles call them what you will. It somehow made me feel better like cellulite on supermodels. My reaction wasn’t critical but more of a feeling that we all have something. You’ll never find me at a nudist colony or applying make-up sans clothes but before the end of the year I’ll be going upside down in yoga.
Are you the naked girl in the locker room or an exposure-phobe? Any inversion tips or clothing suggestions? Is there hope I can be a 65-year-old woman prancing down the beach? Do I have to wait that long?
I can totally relate to this post. I learned at an early age in camp how to change in and out of anything without exposing any vital body parts. This has stuck with me through college and to this day in gym locker rooms. I am always in awe of women who can bare all and walk to the shower and apply makeup in the nude. I think it is great that they can be confident enough to do such a thing. I am also the girl on the beach or by the pool that slips on the cover up whenever getting off my towel or lounge chair. Sometimes I do wish I wasn't this way, but I don't see if changing anytime soon. I will check in with you when I am 65.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, locker room nakedness doesn't bother me. I grew up with 3 brothers and privacy was definitely respected, but my best friend came from a family of all girls - and it was a free for all. I spent alot of time there and managed to get over most "naked" issues.
ReplyDeleteBut I can relate to what you are saying. I am so critical of myself, that when I look around at the beach and see someone with "a little extra" in a tiny bikini I'm like, wow, I wish I had the same attitude (as I try to figure out the best way to position myself on my towel to ensure nothing is too saggy, too flabby).
For me it's more about running into someone who shouldn't see you naked (or I shouldn't see them naked) i.e. colleague or supervisor...)I ran into my ex boss in the locker room recently (and no love lost there). There she was, naked. I always thought she had great legs, but have to say, I was more than a little smug when I realized my abs were way better. And then of course, the moment of "Auugh my retinas are burning" set in and I pretended like I didn't see her. The president of my current agency goes to my gym as well, I'm just waiting for that oh so fun moment to occur :)
I'm so nervous about how my body looks in clothes/bathing suit. As you know, I hate working out and so my body reflects that. I was just told that I buy my clothes too big, but I prefer being covered. All that said, we go to a clothing optional spa every year (yay for Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe!), and I'm completely comfortable being nekkid there. I think that it's because everyone is nude, there are all types of bodies, and there is no (obvious) judgment. I did get freaked out once when we watched a very toned (ballet dancer body) gentleman do naked yoga at the spa...way too much info!
ReplyDeleteMelissa seems like we're more alike than we knew. Jen- those interactions seem difficult lol retina burn. And Marie- the big clothes that's an interesting topic. Thousand Waves Scares me, like naked boot camp.
ReplyDeleteTen Thousand Waves is all about naked relaxation...it's the best. Love that place.
ReplyDeleteI don't do the naked locker room thing, but most of the time I don't mind being in my swimsuit - although I do wear swim shorts with it a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteAs for inversions - just go for it. I bet no one is even paying attention. Be proud of your "2 kid" abs. You've done something a lot of people can't say they have.
I used to wear the Nike running tops for yoga and those seemed to stay in place (for the most part.)
Good Luck!!
I can't remember the name, but I have one from Lulu, looks a bit like the scoopneck. ANYHOO, it stays up when I go upside down!
ReplyDeleteJill, you're so right. Nobody (except me to others) is really paying attention to my had-2-kids abs.
ReplyDeleteI'm more of an exposure-phobe at first. But then, eventually I do feel comfortable in my own skin :)
ReplyDeletehttp://ladyonaroof.blogspot.com/
I'm right there with ya! I am an exposure PHOBE! Ask my husband, I can't even be naked around him. I'm just totally insecure! As much as I try and try to love myself, there is always SOMETHING I'm self-conscious about! Like you said, I KNOW I'm thin, especially compared to most people, but it's still not something I feel confident flaunting about!
ReplyDeleteWe are going to hawaii in a month and my GOAL is be uber confident in my bikini! I want to sport my top with shorts and bare my mid-rif with confidence! I'mhoping to write a post about this littler goal when I get back!! Here's hoping Ijust have love for myself! But I do agree, sometimes it's nice to see that not everyone is perfect!
I also have had-2-kids abs. I'd for sure be nervous showing my tummy. Then, I think, "Hey, if my shirt accidentally flies up, oh well. I like dang good for having had two kids." I'm interested to hear what tops work out when you try them.
ReplyDeletei don't understand where women's image insecurities come from, though i have them, and i am completely scared of someone seeing me naked. i am trying to be comfortable with my body for the benefit of my daughter. i don't want her thinking she has to cover her body like i do, whether she is thin or chubby. i ALWAYS look at how some people are so comfortable in their clothes, in their body, in themselves, and i always wish it were me being that comfortable. (but, lauren, for sure no one is going to be looking at your tum if you're doing a yoga inversion. they'll be in awe of your arms.)
ReplyDeleteGreat Commentary. I am also not the woman prancing around the locker room naked, but I really like what Devin said about trying to be comfortable in her body for the benefit of her daughter. My daughter is 9 and as of now, very comfortable in her own skin. I try and be a good example for her as my ,other was with me. No idea about inversion clothing or inversion tips for you, as Im not much of a yogi :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited the South of France I was shocked at how at ease the women on the beach were. Some were even topless! This amazes me seeing as I can't even wear a tankini without feeling self-conscious.
ReplyDeleteI could never walk around a locker room. Period.
I think in america, we are so much more body conscious. It's funny cause I actually am trying to pull my shirt down when I do certain poses in yoga. I guess i feel the same way.
ReplyDeletehehe...in Germany you would very likely come across a group of naked people on the beach. I don't even feel comfortable wearing a swimming suit.
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you with the had 2 kids abs. I find myself sucking in without even thinking about it if anyone is around. And I have NEVER been a naked in the locker room kind of gal. I like the fact that my gym has personal changing rooms. Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteI've spent so many years showering in group-shower-rooms that I have no inhibitions left about locker room nudity. I went to a girls-only summer camp when I was 10 years old where everyone used the same group-shower-room at the same time everyday. That meant that all of the campers ages 8 to 16, the counselors who were around 18 or 19 years old, and even the nurses, had to shower in the nude together daily.
ReplyDeleteThen there were the mandatory showers in Middle School and High School, also in front of each other.
And now at my gym as an adult.
So, yes, I largely do fall into your "Naked girl" category. I do not have any qualms with being nude in locker rooms.
At the same time, I don't spend as much time naked in the locker room as many of the ladies at my gym do.
Some of the things that I've seen many women do completely in the nude in the locker room at my gym are...
Blow-dry their hair, do their makeup, carry-on conversations with both friends and strangers, have cell-phone conversations, paint toe-nails, and stand there watching the TV that's in the lounge area of the locker room.
It doesn't bother me at all if they want to do those things. But I myself don't do those things. With the possible exception of carrying-on a conversation while I towel off after a shower, and get dressed.
Ashley