More recently, Speers relocated the class to his home studio. Classes are generally small, consisting of as few as two students and as many as nine. Most don’t attend classes regularly, treating it as a “special event”, according to Speers. More men than women participate, which Speers sees as rather odd given that women far outnumber men in the clothed yoga classes he teaches. All the classes are mixed gender: “I’ve never seriously considered making the class for one gender as I don’t really feel it helps with the idea of body acceptance - even though for some people it can be a big step to be nude in mixed company of the same sex”, he explains. Most students are nudists, although not all might refer to themselves as such, Speers confided.
When asked about how he screened students, Speers responded: “I (also) like to know why they are interested in the class and how they think they will benefit from a nude yoga class. People who are not serious typically don’t respond, and if I think someone isn’t serious about it I may either turn them away, or suggest a clothed yoga class”.
As for Kirtan, Speers reveals, “is basically where a leader sings a line of a sacred mantra or chant, and the audience repeats that line”. Modern Kirtan includes contemporary music and singing, and a “naturist Kirtan” obviously adds nudity to the mix, “…which is simply in keeping with my naturist and yogic philosophy of body/self acceptance”, adds Speers.
Speers, whose spiritual name is “Prithu”, along with his wife recently founded “The Au-Natural Health SIG”, a special interest group within the Naturist Society. The main concept behind it is body/self acceptance taken to the next level: “Taking care of yourself in a more holistic and natural way”, he told us.