Is a sauna daring when locals don't go nude?
I currently work overseas and made most of my Saturday downtime (I work shifts in an engineering role) by using the sauna at my accommodation. The pool and sauna were deserted - either too hot or the weekend, so I decided a nude sauna could happen. Of course, I might offend my hosts and other guests by being nude, plus my company pay for me to stay here, but no one was around so it was a calculated risk - one with my towel at the ready. Nobody was in sight. I had a good 15-20 in there :)
Is that daring? What would you have done?
Yeah, I'd probably try that. With a towel at the ready it's probably not much of a risk. Worst case if you're caught and can't move without exposing yourself is to wait until the other party leaves but, even then, surely they would understand that you thought you'd have it to yourself and if you have to fumble with a towel before getting up that's fine.
Usually if I'm nude in a unofficial area, if I can't hide that I'm nude, then I just accept that its obvious to others even if they cant see anything. In the surf today that was the case so I just positioned my body to minimise offence.
I would base my decision on what part of the world you are in. Muslim societies are very prudish about nudity even in all male settings.
Other countries are much more care free. I have discreetly bared all in a couple of Muslim countries just to be able to say that I did.
In Tunisia with my Arab host sitting beside me in a bubbling hot spring cave i slipped my suit off for a while.
My advice is similar to the previous post. Depends on what country (also, where in the country, actually). It sounds like you assessed pretty carefully and used judgment about keeping the towel handy. But don't rule out the possibility that there are cameras in the sauna if it's a co-ed sauna. My gym has one.
On the other hand, I sometimes work out at a university gym that has a men's sauna inside the locker room. For several years most of the guys wore suits or underwear in there, but there were a few of us who determinedly used it nude (a proper way to sauna if it's gender segregated). Now, most of the guys are nude so I think over time we changed the culture. That's a different situation which still fits "if the locals aren't nude". Not allowed vs not the norm but allowed. Maybe bend the situation toward more nude-acceptance..
Here in the Puritanical Midwest, the locals typically don't go nude in saunas, even segregated ones in gym locker rooms. Some gyms specify that appropriate attire must be worn, but don't define that. My beliefs are: 1) follow the rules or risk consequences 2) dare to be bare if permissible and it's comfortable and natural to you and 3) avoid any behavior which could be interpreted as sexual in settings which are defined as non-sexual. In my experience, most men in segregated settings don't care if I'm naked but feel more comfortable following clothed conventions. It seems that many think I must come from another country or something even though I was born and raised locally. Good luck!
On the other hand, I sometimes work out at a university gym that has a men's sauna inside the locker room. For several years most of the guys wore suits or underwear in there, but there were a few of us who determinedly used it nude (a proper way to sauna if it's gender segregated). Now, most of the guys are nude so I think over time we changed the culture. That's a different situation which still fits "if the locals aren't nude". Not allowed vs not the norm but allowed. Maybe bend the situation toward more nude-acceptance..
Similar situation at my gym. The only way to go is to take back the space. SLOWLY.
Agreed. The sauna in my gym is co-ed so no nudity at all. But the ones I went to previously were segregated in the separate locker rooms. Even there, they had signs that said "proper attire" or something to that effect. So I would have my towel to sit on that had enough room that I could sit on one end and put the towel over me if someone asked. Otherwise, I would go naked. I also did it out of sight of the door not to be secretive about it but more of a way to show that I'm not trying to flaunt my nudity but that this is the way that's most comfortable for me.
I'm lucky enough to be back at a gym with the steam and sauna rooms in the men's shower area. Unfortunately, the culture has gone to where they have signs up saying proper attire - meaning at least a towel - "must" be worn. A very few flaunt the rule, but most don't. I generally wear a towel getting into the whirlpool tub and open it when I'm under the water, although I'm not supposed to wear anything but a swimsuit. Isn't that ridiculous?
I had the same experience at the university gym I worked out at for almost 4 years before the current gym. At the start of a semester I and another older staffer or two would often be naked in the steam room surrounded by college guys in swim or gym shorts, then later they'd be more in towels. After a month or so, it'd be one young guy in his gym shorts surrounded by 6 or 8 naked guys. I loved it.
At quiet times in hotel pool suites I remove my swimsuit in the changing room and enter the sauna (which is usually poolside) wrapped in a toweli I sit on one end of it ready to flip it across my lap if modesty is needed.
I see several references to "proper attire required." The co-ed sauna at my gym is in the pool area, and the attire requirement is "No shoes, no gym clothes, sweats, hoodies, long pants, etc." I actually heard the pool lifeguard correct somebody who wanted to use it in street clothes tonight. The appropriate attire is a swimsuit. So at least they're being reasonable, nobody has to smell somebody's sweaty gym clothes.
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