Brooklyn yoga studio runs naked classes for men only

London: A yoga studio in Brooklyn, New York, has taken a step further to help people release stress by asking its patrons to shed their clothes off. But the un-clothed classes hosted by Naked Space in Brooklyn’s Park Slope are open to men only and women are strictly forbidden from entering their sanctuary of bare-boned masculinity. Also, as per written on its website, the class neither targets gay men exclusively nor their straight counterparts, the Daily Mail reported. Rather it considers ‘desire and repulsion’ as ‘equally distracting from the path of self-discovery and enlightenment’ and calls on yogis to get comfortable with the nudity ‘and experience the deep healing of personal acceptance.’ While other naked events that take place at the studio still involve women, these men-only classes incorporate regular poses and breathing exercises while encouraging participants to shed their egos as they shed their clothes. The website explains: “More anatomical information is available to both teacher and student; it feels liberating; the experience of trust and community that exists in a group of naked people can be deeply healing.” One testimonial on the homepage rather consciously focuses on the healing element of the class and gushes: “I’ve never had so much attention paid to my inner body.” Naked Space was established by founder Michael Gates in 2005 as way to prolong co-ed naturist activities and “preserve communities” after the end of summer. As male lovers of garment liberation continued to meet and increase, however, a decision was made to introduce male only sessions of Hatha yoga to the list of practices available. On Tuesday evenings in the South Slope space, intermediate level yogis can pay 20 dollars to enjoy their asanas au naturel knowing that only men will be staring at their crotches in downward dog. Whether that is a comfort to its participants is surely a question of personal preference but a short list of thoughtful FAQ’s tackles at least one awkward question that curious class goers may wonder: What if I get an erection? The website’s response to this concern: “Congratulate yourself for having a healthy reproductive system. Seriously, erections are natural. Some guys will get them, some won’t; either way, it’s not a problem. What you choose to do with your erection is another matter. Be responsible for your actions and aware of the other people sharing the space.” ANI