Naked woman in sauna

[DyslexicScientist]

This just happened, local leisure center a young woman walked into the sauna naked. Someone else immediatly said to her "you can't be in here like that love, its not allowed". She replied I'm German, this is sauna, does this offend you?. The other woman said no, but it is the rules. The naked woman then went on about how she always does it, sauna doesn't work unless your naked and everywhere else in Europe does this.

Some young men opened the sauna door, and closed it immediately when they saw her. She laughed and said back " its OK you can come in". She clearly heard people telling her it wasn't allowed and was enjoying the attention she got.

I kind of see her point about prefering to be naked, but there are rules in place and she was obviously making other people uncomfortable.

Was I bu to tell reception on the way out?

Meh I think you should be naked in a sauna

But if the rules are no nudity then YANBU

Shes right its normal to be naked in the sauna

I would also like to be on the naked side in a sauna. But rulez iz rulez. The point isn't her comfort about being naked in public, it is other people's comfort about being around a naked woman, which is not generally socially acceptable in the UK like it is in Germany & other countries.

I assume there was a sign on the wall or similar saying bathing costumes should be worn at all times? If so YANBU and the leisure centre staff should have a word with her.

Turn the other cheek..........

Are there actual sign posted rules that say no nudity? If not then YABU.

I don't think she was liking the attention. I think she probably found it funny that her nudity was such an issue and shocked others - because in Germany and other countries most wouldn't even bat an eyelid.

YABU, she's right, you're supposed to be naked in a sauna. It's much cleaner that way.

I currently live in Switzerland and I'm reasonably certain that nakedness is compulsory at most saunas around here - female only as well as mixed. Never bothered me - it's kind of like a naked beach: stops being sexy when everyone has everything on show.

I understand why it's nicer not to wear clingy swimwear in the sauna, but local custom is different and her naked presence means other people won't use the sauna at all. That is selfish. When in Rome and all that.

What does everyone think one is supposed to wear in a sauna anyway? A bikini?

Back when I lived in England I only ever went to one marketed as 'traditionally Finnish' and hence naked-friendly?

Yes there are signs up.

She reminded me of someone on holiday wanting to go somewhere where shoulders are not allowed and demanding she should be allowed.

A guy last year was frogmarched and banned for doing the same.

To me I get the impression that it rather offended you - rather than in your OP when you suggested it was other people that you were concerned it offended.

There's a huge stigma attached to the being naked.. You just need to get past the sexualisation of it

Speaking as a nudist German:
She is BU. In Germany most Sauna rules specify that you must be naked and Sauna is a bit of waste of time (as well as icky) if you are in swim wear BUT she wasn't in Germany and made everyone else uncomfortable. You should have complained to pool staff at the time.

The nakedness didn't offend me.

The breaking of rules, because she wanted to and the selfishness of her did annoy me though. Just as the people with their shitty artificial scents that they use in there, even though these are not allowed and often give me a headache.

She was BU and arrogant to think the rules don't apply to her because it's done differently in Germany.

She's a twat
I don't care if you are supposed to be naked in saunas or if people do it in Germany - in the uk we don't do public nudity and I would be pissed off if I saw that.

Huge amount of fuss in the UK about nudity, the whole thing is a bit sad.

But if them's the rules, then they should be observed. When in Rome ...

I don't see how anyone is saying she was in the right. You could argue it's better to be naked, but she was not "right" to be naked when it was against the rules of the sauna. And yy confusing and uncomfortable for other users.

I was in Austria and went into a sauna with my mate and we both had our swimming costumes on. Everyone stared at us and it was obvious we were the only ones NOT naked. We left and came back with no kit on and everyone was happy!

I am never visiting a spa I would combust with awkwardness if I walked in to a sauna full of naked people.

In most of the world in saunas you'd be naked. But the Brits are a strange race.

Swimsuits in saunas v bad idea. You'll get thrush.

YABU why dob someone in for something that doesn't affect you in the slightest?

A public baths with a sauna near me (UK) specifies that 'swimwear must be worn' during mixed sessions, which presumably suggests that nudity is allowed during single sex sessions - I've only been once or twice myself and I do remember seeing a naked woman there.

Being typically British I wouldn't go naked myself or complain about someone else doing so, but I wouldn't be offended or complain about this woman's rule breaking.

I've also been in a spa within a fun pool complex in Scandinavia but that was swimwear on but only after a very public and thorough shower in single sex changing rooms.

Jesus.

No, no, no! This is England, no nudity please.

Fwiw I was once in a sauna in Germany and everyone was nekkid. Guy dropped something on the floor... That was my childhood over!

A question for those of you who are European and have used saunas regularly in the countries mentioned - is everyone relaxed about all nudity?

Are there ever awkward moments if you bump into say, your boss or father in law or DCs head teacher in there?

Love the difference in attitudes between the UK and Germany! After 25 years in Germany I've got to the point where being naked in the sauna feels so totally normal that wearing a costume would simply feel yuck and dirty. On the other hand, since it is a convention in the UK to indulge in such disgusting practices as sweating into your swimming costume, of course we would either conform or not go into the sauna at all. You just need to accept that there are cultural differences and go along with them. I have no problem with being alone in a sauna with a man I don't know, both of us naked, because it's just not a sexual activity. Unless it's a specifically gay sauna, where I believe a lot of eyeing up goes on.

By the way, there is an entire ritual to the sauna in Germany, which goes far beyond simply being naked. There's a cycle of showering beforehand, then sauna 15 mins, then wash it off in cold water (preferably from an overhead bucket), then go for a bracing walk outside or a swim in the lake, then wrap in a towel and relax and read for a while, then begin the whole thing again - there are variations on the theme, but they all follow that sort of scheme. And once an hour there's an Aufguß, where the sauna worker comes in (clothed!), puts water on the sauna oven and whizzes a towel above their head to get the warm air circulating, and if they do it well everyone claps. All most amusing.