Erections and social nudity… What’s the go?
‘I’m worried I might get an erection…’ As a naked yoga instructor and someone who speaks publicly about normalising non-sexual nudity and a nudist-friendly lifestyle…this is one of the most common concerns males express to me when it comes to considering social nudity. Generally speaking, erections is a topic that I feel is not touched on anywhere near enough…even within the nudist community. It is a topic that I feel deserves a whole lot more understanding and a lot less shame…especially when it comes to social nudity. A topic that I feel is just as important for us women to understand as it is for men. From the physiology of erections all the way through to erection etiquette, I am here today to open up the discussion and speak candidly on a topic that has been a long time coming and is in dire need of clarification and resolution.
Whilst many males express their keen interest to participate in non-sexual social nudity and embody a more body positive and nudist-friendly lifestyle, unfortunately fear of getting an erection is also one of the biggest deterrents that hinders many males from actually getting involved in the first place.
To be honest, when it comes to social nudity, it (erection) doesn’t happen anywhere near as much as you might think as an outsider looking in. Some males I have spoken to have expressed that whilst, yes, this was an initial concern for them, once they stripped down and settled in, they discovered that it wasn’t an issue. When it comes to social nudity…experiencing an erection is something that may or may not happen…and, if it does happen to you, the most important thing is the way in which you approach and handle the situation.
TO CLARIFY WITH ABSOLUTE RESOLUTION…AN ERECTION, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SHAMED, FEARED AND JUDGED…YES, EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO NON-SEXUAL SOCIAL NUDITY.
There is so much misperception, misunderstanding and stigma around erections. All this stigma and taboo comes down to a lack of awareness, conversation and education on the topic. With little to no conversation on the subject, we’re left with presumptuous judgements that have us confused and disillusioned about the topic.
So, let’s go over a few things about erections to help you understand a little more about them…
WHAT IS AN ERECTION?
First and foremost, erections are a very natural physiological phenomena for males.
Simply put, erections are a phenomena whereby the arteries connected to the penis widen and allow for more bloodflow into the penis. The veins which carry the blood back into the body shrink and the penis then swells and stiffens…thus causing an erection.
Erections occur for various reasons…and whilst it is often the result of sexual arousal…not all erections are of a sexual nature. Men can, in fact, experience erections without being sexually aroused in the slightest.
ERECTIONS CAN OCCUR DURING DEEP STATES OF RELAXATION…
Our subconscious (autonomic nervous system) is subdivided into ‘sympathetic’ and ‘parasympathetic’. The sympathetic nervous system governs what is known as the ‘fight or flight response’, like when we perceive an outside threat for example. The parasympathetic nervous system governs what is known as the ‘rest and digest’ response, a state that meditation and yoga often induces…and!
Erections are controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system! So on a physiological level, an erection is actually a relaxation of the blood vessels of the penis, allowing them to fill with blood.
In this sense, it is not so surprising or strange that some men experience erections when in this state of deep relaxation without feeling sexually aroused.
When openly discussing this topic with some of my nude yogis, I had a couple of my male students confirm that they have, in fact, experienced an unexpected and short-lived erection (without feeling aroused) when in a deep state of relaxation in ‘Svasana’…a pose at the end of a yoga practice where you’re merely laying down with your eyes shut. I also raised this topic with my community, and I had countless other males confusedly confirm that, they too, have experienced unexpected erections when in a state of complete relaxation without feeling sexually aroused in the slightest.
There are many males out there who don’t understand the physiology and chemistry of erections, which leaves them feeling confused as to why they may potentially experience an unexpected erection away from sexual stimulation or arousal. This is because we only ever glorify and talk about erections when it comes to sex. Anything outside of that context and it is often considered ‘weird’, ‘inappropriate’, ‘shameful’, or ‘perverted’.
From the hundreds of conversations I have had with men on this topic, the above information provided much relief for many males in my community that had previously experienced unexpected erections for seemingly no reason and had no idea what was going on!
FUN FACTS ABOUT ERECTIONS:
Men can experience several erections during the night whilst they sleep, mostly in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of their sleep cycle, and these erections can last for extended periods of time…hence the reason many guys wake up with ‘morning glory’ even though they’ve not been sexually aroused or stimulated.
Male erections are so natural that male foetuses can actually start experiencing erections in the womb…that’s how early this natural phenomena can start occurring.
In understanding that it can be a normal, natural and a somewhat unexpected occurrence (especially if you’re new to social nudity), and so long as you don’t make anyone else feel uncomfortable about it and conduct yourself respectfully…I believe that erections, in this sense, do not need to be shamed.
We need to stop shaming and fearing erections as if they’re sinful and deviant…because this then creates even more of a complex around something so natural for men.
Remember, it is all in the way in which you approach and handle it.
NORMALISING NUDITY IS A PROCESS…
We need to understand that most of society is still conditioned to equate nudity with sex…this might even include you! This conditioning, though, should not discourage us from exploring non-sexual nudity, nor should it deflate our hopes of becoming discerning in understanding the difference between sex and nudity.
We must also realise that social nudity is not yet a socially-accepted ‘norm’…(I’m working on it!)
Because of this, many people have never really experienced social nudity and are new to the concept and lifestyle. As a result, the concept of non-sexual nudity may be a little challenging to grasp initially.
Given that so many of us may be new to social nudity (and have previously been conditioned to perceive nudity as sexual), I understand that this re-programming is a process. We’re having to completely rewire our neural networks that have been hardwired and firing in the same way for our entire lives! We’re also going against the grain here…but we all have to start somewhere. That’s the beauty about non-sexual social nudity and the naked yoga classes I offer…it gives you the opportunity to grasp, experience and embody this.
The more social nudity you integrate into your life, the more normalised nudity becomes and the less likely you are to be getting erections at the mere sight of a naked person…because we start to understand that nudity, in and of itself, is not necessarily sexual and is, indeed, very natural.
WHAT DO I DO IF I GET AN ERECTION?
Conduct yourself respectfully, don’t make anyone feel uncomfortable and carry on.
It really is that simple!
Majority of the time, an erection will go away on its own, within a few minutes. There is no denying that discretion can be a little more difficult for males, in this sense, when it comes to social nudity. Whilst erections, whether sexual or non-sexual, are completely natural…If this happens to you and you feel a little awkward or embarrassed about it, here are some simple tips to consider to help navigate the situation:
roll over onto your belly if you’re laying down
if you’re at a resort/club/event, head into the bathrooms and give yourself some time to settle and breathe
use a towel to cover up, should you have one handy on you
jump into a body of water if there is one nearby
So, rest assured, there are ways to be discrete about your erection…and to be honest, no one is paying as much attention to your penis as you may think. Whilst I believe that erections should not be something to be ashamed of, I can understand that, due to stigma, this is a little easier said than done. So hopefully some of the above steps can help to mitigate any unease you may have around a potential erection.
What not to do when you have an erection:
do not draw attention to your erection by gesturing
do not leer at others
do not masturbate
do not stimulate your already-erect penis by fondling
do not make sexual advances at others
Should you become erect in a social nude setting, conduct yourself respectfully and mindfully. It is as easy as that!
**If you’re considering specifically coming along to one of my naked yoga classes and would like to read up more about erections in this circumstance, click here.
CONTEXT IS KEY
If you’re going to an event that involves non-sexual nudity…go there with the intent to respect that and act within the boundaries given.
It is about understanding the intention with which a space has been created…context is key!
Should you get an erection, the important thing is that you don’t make anyone else feel uncomfortable about it and conduct yourself respectfully.
Now, all of this isn’t to say that you are bound get an erection. It is just the awareness around knowing what other factors may potentially contribute to getting an erection that are not necessarily sexual. In understanding all of this, hopefully it will help to remove some of the shame associated with erections and will help to ease any anxiety you have around potentially getting an erection in a nude social environment 🙂
When something, such as erections, is considered taboo, we tend to avoid talking about it so as not to create tension and awkwardness. However, without open, honest, authentic and transparent conversation, we’re left with presumptuous and ill-informed judgements that are usually based on disempowering, fear-driven dogma. Erections are not something to be ashamed of but, rather, something to be more deeply understood and aware of.
Males already have so many complexes around their penis, let’s not make erections another one. Don’t let the thought of a potential erection prevent you from getting involved in non-sexual social nudity. We all have to start somewhere…and now you have more information, tools and techniques to navigate this area. Empower yourself by getting informed, cultivating self-awareness and becoming more educated about erections!
Let’s honour all the amazing men in our lives!
With love,
The Nude Blogger
Xx
NEVER HAD IT HAPPEN BUT I WAS INITIALLY CONCERNED – KEVIN, LONG-TIME NUDIST
THERE’S ALWAYS A LITTLE CONCERN AT THE BACK OF MY MIND, BUT IT IS SUCH A NATURAL THING TO HAPPEN THAT IT’S EXPECTED THAT OTHERS AROUND ME DON’T BOTHER WITH IT, AND THE ERECTION WILL GO AWAY – CLAUDIO
WHEN I FIRST STARTED GOING TO NUDE BEACHES WHEN I WAS 18, I DID GET ERECTIONS AT TIMES, BUT JUST TURNED OVER SO NOT TO EXPOSE MYSELF – DARREN, LONG-TIME NUDIST