I am not a naked person. By naked person, Im talking about the Italian friend you had in elementary school whose dad used to answer the door without underwear on. Or the Marxist freegan you dated sophomore year of college who referred to things like pillows as societal constructs. Or the life coach/bartender/video artist your brother dated, who called herself Nectar and had an Egon Schiele portrait on her back, even though she didnt know how to spell Egon Schiele. Im talking about people who, for whatever reason, regardless of the time or place or circumstances, are always totally down to drop trou and party.

I am not one of these people, and I never have been. I did not grow up in a naked house, I didnt have naked parents, and Ive always felt somewhat squeamish about the human body in its natural form. To paraphrase a line from a Seinfeld episode, when people say theyre not ashamed of their bodies, I always think, regardless of what they look like, Thats your problem. Maybe you should be.

So when I heard about Bold and Naked, a yoga studio in New Yorks Chelsea where people practice naked yoga, I had two thoughts. The first was: OMG that sounds horrifying. Dont people know that downward dog is the leading cause of fart induction in the United States? Why would anyone subject themselves to this? Im surprised the propulsion of peoples naked farts hasnt caused the building to detach itself from its foundation and float away into the abyss, never to be seen or heard from again. And my second thought was: OMG I totally have to do this.

The ancient practice of naked yoga (sanskrit nagna yoga) has been around for centuries: In the 1960s, it popped up on various communes, and in recent years naked yoga classes have popped up in the crunchier corners of the United States, like San Francisco and Tempe, Ariz. Yet if you look up naked yoga online, the practice seems to be more aligned with erotic titillation than yogic principles of self-realization, with videos popping up of lithe, big-breasted women undulating to synthesized bass grooves.

On its website, Bold and Naked, which co-founders Monika Werner and Joschi Schwartz founded eight years ago, is adamant in insisting that naked yoga is not supposed to be erotic. While many equate being naked with sex, this couldnt be further from the truth in a naked yoga class, the FAQ section of the website states. Its about being comfortable in your own skin and the amazing confidence that comes with it. Its about knowing, accepting and loving yourself at your core.

Now, I dont accept or love myself, at my core or otherwise. But I do know myself pretty well, and I figured that despite its message of empowerment and self-love, Id probably dismiss Bold and Naked as crunchy granola hipster nonsense, an excuse for 60-something retirees with ponytails to come get an eyeful of a 20-something ladies 32C chakras. Yet despite my reservations, I signed up.

I showed up to a Thursday evening naked yoga womens class (as a Bold and Naked first-timer, I was warned against signing up for the coed class, which is more rigorous than the single-sex classes; as a yoga beginner with the flexibility of an antique oak armoire, I was more than happy to err on the side of caution). With its vaulted ceilings, wooden floors and lavender-and-black walls, the Bold and Naked studio was upscale and inviting; it looked a bit more like a hair salon or a high-end boudoir than a yoga studio.

There were only two other people in my class: Bold and Naked Studio co-owner Monika Werner, a tall and curvaceous German woman with cropped red hair, and Elizabeth (name changed), a pale, oval-faced woman in her early 30s who worked in higher ed. Monika explained that due to the amount of press coverage Bold and Naked had received in the past few weeks, theyd had to change the schedule around, which had resulted in this class being unusually small.

After Monika and B&N co-owner Joschi Schwarz made me sign a waiver and grilled me on my yoga experience I thought theyd be impressed when I told them I did the P90X yoga DVD a few times a week, but they just seemed bemused Monika led Elizabeth and me upstairs to another studio. Before we took our clothes off, we chatted for a bit, and she asked us why we had decided to take the course.

Im a very shy person and I figured doing something like this would help me get rid of my inhibitions and feel more comfortable in my own body, Elizabeth said.

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I loved naked yoga: Maybe I am a naked person!

1. Certified yoga instructor at 12

She is a yoga instructor who has the challenging job of teaching fidgety preschoolers the ancient practice.

But once her charges get going, she says: "They really start to focus and listen."

Jaysea Devoe knows a thing or two about childhood and focus, for she is only 12 years old and just recently became a certified yoga instructor after completing 200 hours of teacher training.

She is believed to be the youngest certified female yoga instructor in the US.

In addition to her pint-size students, aged four to six, Jaysea teaches teenagers and fellow tweens in her California beach town of Encinitas.

But she is not alone in her entrepreneurial zeal, Reuters reported. Her twin brother is a sponsored competitive surfer and works at a surfboard fin manufacturing company.

Her 15-year-old brother is a "professional water man," spear fisherman, rod and reel angler, and surfer, who also teaches and has sponsors.

2. Boy, 5, uncovers Microsoft glitch

Microsoft recently received a tip about a security problem uncovered by an unlikely source - a five-year-old boy.

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Kids in the news

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) April 08, 2014

In this immersion, students will take a refreshing look at the Upanishadic model of the Pancha Maya Kosha and learn how they got to where they are and set the goals of where they began and how to get back there. All journeys eventually are supposed to bring everyone back to who they really are. Free of suffering is not a lofty goal, it is our birthright. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/1lFVG5B.

Human beings begin their journey in life by first forming their personality, quirks and all, then learn how to make decisions, some smart and others not so much. Next they begin forming sensorial likes and dislikes that begin to solidify into their vitality, immunity and radiance or ill health, mental weaknesses and emotional predictability. Finally, humans present who they are as a physical being radiating peace, love and joy or fear, anger and grief.

This then is the journey through the layers of Being: from the simple vibrations of creativity, innocence and joyousness into the blockages in their flow that manifest as emotional response factors, our mental patterns and even the shape humans manifest physically to the world, that they call "ME" Since most humans are a mix somewhere between the ideal and the predictable, each person has their own five model imprint.

Topics That will be discussed:

Foundational aspects of Ayurveda, Yoga and the Pancha Maya.

Exploring the five layers of our Beings for the purposes of integrative healing: unraveling the layers to reveal the Self.

Patterns that disrupt our five layers. Understanding how we got here.

Practical Session that includes movement, breath work, imaging, chanting and contemplation. Video of session will be provided to participants for home practice.

Recommended Reading (All available at the boutique store): Dr. Lad: Ayurveda: Science of Self-Healing

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Yoga, Ayurveda and Tantra - A Course on Healing through the Five Layers: The Pancha Maya Cikitsa at the Sivananda Yoga ...

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Eckhart Tolle on What Happens to Us When We Die - A New Earth - OWN
Subscribe to OWN: http://bit.ly/18Lz0rV It #39;s a question humanity has grappled with for centuries: What happens to us when we die? For spiritual author Eckhart Tolle, it #39;s not a question worth...

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Eckhart Tolle on What Happens to Us When We Die - A New Earth - OWN - Video

Edward Snowden and Laura Poitras Awarded Ridenhour Truth-Telling Prizes

April 8, 2014

Amanda Marie

Awards are chosen annually in four separate categories by Ridenhour Prizes, in recognition of those "who persevere in acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest, promote social justice or illuminate a more just vision of society". The awards are presented by The Nation Institute and The Fertel Foundation in recognition of Ron Ridenhour, who was the Vietnam War veteran that exposed the massacre at My Lai. My Lai was a Vietnam War mass murder which consisted of between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians that took place in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968. Each Prize carries a $10,000 stipend. The Prizes were first awarded in 2004.

The prize categories include: The Ridenhour Courage Prize The Ridenhour Book Prize The Ridenhour Truth-Telling Prize The Ridenhour Documentary Film Prize (since 2011)

In early 2013, Edward Snowden released several classified documents about top-secret government surveillance programs to filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald. The documents revealed that the U.S. government had developed and used programs to systematically collect millions of phone and internet records. Not only was this a startling revelation, it would serve as the beginning for many companies seeking the truth themselves. Due to the truth being revealed, many companies are now providing the general public with the results of their findings in transparency reports, never published or disclosed before as they are being done now.

In reflecting upon its decision, the awards committee said, "We have selected Edward Snowden and Laura Poitras for their work in exposing the NSA's illegal and unconstitutional bulk collection of the communications of millions of people living in the United States. Their act of courage was undertaken at great personal risk and has sparked a critical and transformative debate about mass surveillance in a country where privacy is considered a constitutional right. We particularly wanted to salute the role that Poitras has played in this story, as we feel that her contribution has not been adequately recognized by the American media."

Everyone is encouraged to read the full details provided on the links for Ridenhour in the first paragraph. The awards will be presented on April 30th at the Washington Press Club.

We commend both Snowden and Poitras for their remarkable acts of courage, and we also congratulate them for these well-deserved awards. Together they accomplished something that goes above and beyond what many people would be willing to do. To quote Eckhart Tolle, The past has no power over the present moment.

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Edward Snowden and Laura Poitras Awarded Ridenhour Truth-Telling Prizes

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Free Breakthrough Session! A Live Q A Coaching Event to Support Your Extraordinary LIfe
Come hang out with Noah Hammond Corrin LaCombe of We Thrive Global tonight from 6-7:30PM PST as we coach, answer questions, share content, and empower you ...

By: Noah Hammond

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Free Breakthrough Session! A Live Q&A Coaching Event to Support Your Extraordinary LIfe - Video

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On the road to pursing your dreams there WILL be MANY challenges, but stay focused and stay hungry. It won #39;t be easy but it will be worth it. Here are some t...

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Becoming Confident
Todays Monday Motivator is about learning an effective strategy to make confidence your reality. How would more confidence impact your life?

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Balance Deadlift
Visit http://www.everbodyhealth.com for a full description of this exercise, and a free video viewing center. Always consult your physician before beginning ...

By: Everbody Health and Fitness

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Review
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a fantastic piece of kit - perfect for those who love their media content thanks to the clear and vibrant 5.1 inch display. An advan...

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