An Argument for Naturism

A recent study has shown that exposure to nature is beneficial to your brain.

The subjects were then run through a battery of psychological tests. People who had walked through the city were in a worse mood and scored significantly lower on a test of attention and working memory, which involved repeating a series of numbers backwards. In fact, just glancing at a photograph of urban scenes led to measurable impairments, at least when compared with pictures of nature.

"We see the picture of the busy street, and we automatically imagine what it's like to be there," says Berman. "And that's when your ability to pay attention starts to suffer."

This also helps explain why, according to several studies, children with attention-deficit disorder have fewer symptoms in natural settings. When surrounded by trees and animals, they are less likely to have behavioral problems and are better able to focus on a particular task.

Even a small patch of nature can help the mind better handle challenges, become easier to focus, strengthen self-control, achieve emotional stability, and to even to help the body maintain a healthier diet. If The Naturist Society and AANR are looking for a strong selling point for nudism and naturism, this is it.

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Barefootin'

When I was a teenager, I read somewhere that walking barefoot in the early morning dewy grass was a great stress-reliever. I started going outdoors barefoot all the time, and continue to do so today, and I never wear shoes (or much else) indoors. It's not surprising that many people consider going barefoot tantamount to a religion.

Chvatal makes mention of the ”underground barefoot running community,“ but it's a community with increasing visibility. Not long ago, runners without shoes were a novelty (remember 1984's 5,000-meter phenom Zola Budd from South Africa?). Today, barefoot runners are present in most marathons and are popping up in longer endurance runs.

Perhaps even more ambitious are hard-core barefoot hikers, who take on all sorts of rugged terrain minus sturdy, protective boots. Various Web sites are devoted to the subject, and there's even a book — The Barefoot Hiker by Richard Frazine, cited as gospel by barefoot aficionados.

It also turns out that going barefoot is probably very good for your health.

Reflexology, according to Kevin Kunz, co-author of Complete Reflexology for Life, ”is the technique of applying pressure to specific reflex points on the hands and feet to stimulate the body's own healing powers.“

Reflexology suggests that certain parts of your feet and hands are directly connected to specific parts of your body. For instance, the lower third of your toes are hot-wired to your brain, your arch and heels to your lower back, the bottom center of your big toe to your pituitary gland. Manipulate the appropriate part of your foot, and you can address a range of woes.

There are several studies out warning about the dangers of wearing shoes. One of the most recent ones shows that wearing flip-flops "can lead to serious sole, heel and ankle problems".

There appears to be no downside to going barefoot (when practical). If going barefoot is so good for you, imagine how happy you'll be if you take off everything.

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