To not want to be naked in sauna

[lollypoppy123]

I’m going to a fancy hotel in Germany with an amazing spa but I’ve just found out the spa is textile free which means no clothes whatsoever allowed. I’m really uncomfortable with this as I’ve had a mastectomy and my reconstruction is pretty ugly. Even without that, I’d feel weird being naked with strangers.

If it’s a big spa you will probably get a robe to wear while moving between the different elements. Yes you need to be naked in the actual sauna/ steam room/ pool but you can cover up between them & when lying on a lounger. And you do need to take a towel into the sauna to sit on so could cover up a bit with that if you want (although it would probably draw more attention than if you don’t!)

No one will stare at you…it’s perfectly normal in Germany to be naked in this type of situation. There will be people of all ages and shapes and sizes! I understand your reluctance as we are just not used to it in the UK but I hope you can overcome your anxiety around it and enjoy the experience.

Gosh no wouldn't be my cup of tea at all, sitting where other sweaty arses have sat and now you say the whole thing is naked, nah, I'd change the booking, I don't understand the need for places to have no swimwear and people's bits on show.

Textiles not allowed to be worn in areas such as sauna, but allowed in halls, dining etc versus no textiles at all (aka naturism or FKK).
Textiles will include towels, robes, swimwear etc.
Edit to clarify - you will be allowed, advised, to sit on a towel though.

I agree but got kicked out of one in Austria for keeping a cossie on, its seen as unhygeinic.I was pretty unhappy but with hindsight, its their rules which I knew about upfront, so accepted its my choice. Pretty revolting I thought with some of the sights in there. Different cultures!!!!

The human body isn't revolting. HTH

Either don’t go to a German spa hotel or embrace it. It’s just bodies. Much healthier attitude than silly British prudism imo.

They're allowed for sitting on, not for wearing though.

you only live once op
go for it
you will feel liberated

People sit on towels.
Sweat comes through swimwear to some degree.
It's healthier to be naked.

Why did you book to go there?

It isn't 'prudism' not to want to have to see strangers' genitals or have strangers see ours. 🙄 It's great to be comfortable with one's body but it is just as acceptable to prefer people to cover up.

I'm sorry about your mastectomy. I think the naked spa might actually make you feel better about it because you'll realise that nobody is looking and very few other bodies are the stuff of movieland.

I'm fat and dreaded going but didn't want my self-hatred to stop me doing something and found it quite affirming actually. It's your body that's carried you round all this time and you've been through a tough time together. Nothing to be ashamed of.

Many years ago I got a shock when we stayed in a hotel in Austria finding the rule for the sauna was strictly naked only.
My response was just not to use it, although I was disappointed in myself for making this decision.

Now I'm older I would just use it because I'm pretty confident no one would be interested in my body. They wouldn't have been back then but I didn't look at it like that - I just thought of the embarrassment.

You are aware that most people going to saunas aren't remotely concerned with other people's genitals, no matter how impressive, disappointing or unusual they are? Nobody is forced to go to a German sauna, it's entirely possible to visit Germany without going anywhere near naked bodies. A lot of German people find our fear of the human body quite odd though.

I think you'd probably get away with taking in two and holding the other one against you till you felt comfortable?

Yes indeed

but to declare British prudish as a silly concept is just as silly 😛 it’s ingrained in our culture, just as much as nakedness for swimming in other cultures is ingrained

I think you should go for it OP, I love naked saunas it's much nicer. Absolutely nobody is staring or looking at you, and yes, sitting on a towel is generally protocol.

Textilfrei just means no clothing or swimsuits. Everyone is expected to have a towel to sit on so there are no bare bums on seats in the sauna. If you bring a towel to drape around yourself that would still be allowed but you would stand out a bit. The idea is that swimwear etc is not hygienic in the sauna or steam room. People are more relaxed about nudity in Germany and you really will see all kinds of bodies, young, old, fat, thin, with stretch marks and scars and everything.

Personally I don't want to be naked in a sauna, so if I go to a spa with my friends I stick to the pools where you can have your cossie on and still have a good time. I know it's just bodies and everyone has one, but it's not my thing.

Search 'DW German naked saunas' on Google, and some interesting articles will clme up @lollypoppy123. DW is a reputable German based media source and they produce lots of useful materials, including about the perspective of life in Germany from non-natives. I did have a link for you but the image contained some sitting down backview nakedness, so may have upset some folk.

Call me a prude but sitting naked in a room surrounded by other naked people is just not normal.

As silly as calling the human body 'disgusting' or nakedness 'not normal'?
Brits are prudes when it comes to nakedness, I say that as a Scot.

I'm not sure, tbh, possibly, possibly not.

It's 'normal' if you live somewhere that has naked saunas!

I'd be cancelling. Email them and ask for clarification. It sounds not baturist than just wearing a towel or robe to me.

Naturist that should say