Nude Awakening

Clothing is not an option at tonight’s Buck Naked Yoga session for men. Even a pair of tighty whiteys will ruin the spirituality of the time-honored stress-buster, says Buck Harris, owner of There’s No Place Like Om. “Doing yoga in the nude seems to take it to a deeper level,” he says. “We use clothes as armor to protect ourselves. People are much more vulnerable and open when they take their clothes off.”

Harris started the program a couple of months ago as a one-night-a-week event. It got so popular, he expanded it to three nights. “We are literally doing this cheek to cheek,” says Harris. “But it’s helped with everybody’s body-shame issues, because not everyone is body beautiful. We are all shapes and sizes.” Up next: women-only classes led by female instructors. But Harris cautions that the sessions should not be construed as “sexual outlets.” “Is it erotic? Of course it is,” he says. “Is it all gay? Of course not. A bit of voyeurism -- maybe exhibitionism -- might be what gets them through the door, but yoga is what keeps them coming back.”
Fridays, 6-7:15 p.m.; Mondays, Wednesdays, 7-8:15 p.m., 2007