As part of February's Naturist Work Month we are delighted to share this interview from Katherine and Andrew who run naturist meditations in person and online as Our Natural Wellbeing Meditations.
ANW believes in safeguarding naturism with a genuine, healthy and respectful approach to social nudity. We also believe that naturism unites us and connects us. Beyond national boundaries, age, gender, religion sexual orientation and culture. ANW interviews members form all over the world as part of this drive to enhance understanding and appreciation of naturism. These interviews show that ANW members and naturists come from all over the world with many different backgrounds primarily connected by our mutual respect and understanding of social nudity.
Would you tell us a little bit about yourselves and your parts of the world?
Andrew: I'm currently in Cambridgeshire in the UK, I've been very lucky enough to live in a few different countries and things, and yeah, very interested in supporting my own well-being and the well-being of others. I work in that space professionally.
It's great to be working with people and helping them live full lives. That's me and what I do.
What about you, Katherine?
Katherine: I live in Wrecsam (Wrexham), Cymru (Wales) and I work lots of different places around Cymru, around England, around different places in Europe , and globally online. I work with holistic health. For me, holistic health is… literally that. It's working at the physical level, the psychological level, the social level, the ecological level, and it contains so many parts of that, and I feel naturism, for many people, is a part of that holistic health and well-being.
Andrew: Yeah, I agree with that. It's so, part of it all.
Katherine: It feels so, for many people at least, you know, for the people that are… are free, you know, and things like body image, being comfortable in yourself, people being on the same level.
Andrew: I think there's a bit of self-care as well. Because it's that self-respect and respect for others, and nature. It's all part of well-being, really, in many ways for me.
Katherine: Yeah, I wonder if there's, like, a research study in, like, you know, before naturism and after naturism, see what benefits, that'd be interesting to do.
Andrew: There are studies, I think? They show that naturists have a healthy attitude to many things, I think, is what they found.
What was your attitude towards nudity and naturism at home for you?
Andrew: me, it was… I grew up in a very, very almost traditional Presbyterian, almost. There wasn't any negative attitudes, there wasn't really any attitudes at all. It wasn't something that was done, really, in my family.
Katherine: For me, it wasn't really done. Well, apart from maybe when I was little, I was allowed to run free a little bit, and then I remember going to Spain where things were more open on the beach, and I was allowed to have that bikini top off. They also took me to Glastonbury Festival. And there were naturists there, and I remember being between 11, 12 and being like, oh, that's interesting. But they reacted fine to them and I did too.
Andrew: Oh, amazing. For me, I think, for me, I always sort of preferred, you know, being naked, I suppose, at home. It was kind of a private thing, really, for many years. But then in the 1970s, there was a BBC program around Naturism in France. Which I thought, oh, this is a thing. Which I thought was really interesting, so that's how I sort of got more interested in finding out more about it, I suppose.
I lived in Germany for a couple of years, where naturism was very normal. I lived in Munich, and lived next door to the English Garden, where there was a Naturist section, which was wonderful to be in. Loads of opportunities to… for naturism in the rivers and places, and even in sports centres, it seemed to me nudity was normal, which was great. You know, absolutely loved it.
Katherine: I can imagine that, because often when I go to naturist places abroad, there's a lot of German people there.
I do remember when I was little, really being into nature, and you know, you get the question, oh, what do you want to be when you grow up? I used to say. I want to be a naturist, and then my parents were like, you mean naturalist? Well, actually. Both fits, as I find out now.
Andrew: I've got a colleague, actually, who mixes the two up, and I haven't asked her, actually, do you really mean naturism?
How did you first get involved in naturism?
Andrew: I think it was really, I suppose, when I was living in Germany. Social nudity became more normal for me there. It was very easy to sort of be in places where, you know, naturism was accepted, which was great. I absolutely love that. And then it was exploring more. We used to go to some naturist clubs as well, back in the day.
Although that was more when we came back to the UK. When we lived in America, it was more difficult to find naturist places at that time.
It was something that grew, and it's always been there for me. Time and weather, permitting, so I'm not sure that really answers the question, but it's… I don't think I ever wasn't into it.
Katherine: I can remember my journey, because mine was quite a… quite a very slow one. I can remember being in Cae Mabon, and people going in the hot tub naturist, me being a bit shy
and, like, you know, putting my bikini on and things. I was really caught up in society's,
oh my goodness, you know, caring what the body looks like, or how it should look … So yeah, really shy, and I remember talking to somebody, and saying I did
want to kind of bring that out a little bit more in my life. Then me and my partner travelled to Thailand, we couchsurfed with a naturist. Then he took us to a naturist beach, and then we went there and was naturist there. Then, our friends - Mobius Loop were playing at the BN’s Windermere Retreat.. And I contacted Mark, and I said - would you like me to come and do ceremonies and meditation there? And he said: that's interesting, I was at a retreat there two months ago, and we spoke about having ceremonies and meditations at BN’s Windermere retreat there! Brilliant timing, so we went and slowly, slowly built up from there, and then…Nudefest - I was doing meditation, ceremony, and massage as well, and again, more building from there. And then, I was asked to do the BN’s online Naked Fitness sessions. It's been really great doing the Liverpool Sun and Air retreats with you, Andrew, as well, the Naturism Wales events too, and the recent ANW online sessions. I'm very appreciative.
Andrew: Oh, yeah, it's been lovely.
Katherine: Yeah, we're really lucky, really, aren't we?
Andrew: really lucky. It's, something I've always wanted to be more involved with, and I think we're doing that through the, our natural wellbeing Meditations, which is a great community that is building.
Katherine: How wonderful that is!
Andrew: Oh, it's brilliant.
How would we best explain naturism to someone new, and what advice would we offer?
Katherine : It depends on the person. You know, maybe one way I would explain, would be that it's a natural way of being.
Andrew: I think you're right, it depends on the person, what their interests are, what the context is … you know, all the above, and feelings everything's okay.
I think, if it's an interest, then I'd invite people to explore, and maybe reach out, talk to somebody, give it a go. Lots of opportunities, I guess.
Katherine: Yeah and that it is a natural way of being, and we're all naturists underneath our clothes. That's an insight that I got from one of the meditations. And we’re all naked at least a couple of times a day. Lots of people are happy to be naked in their house, and
I think it's natural.
I really appreciate everybody that's seen some of the programming we've had in this country that would suggest clothes are needed, and then there's some other countries as well, to be able to find that natural way of being, and how we can be comfortable in our own skin, being comfortable in ourselves. A little bit of freedom, really.
Andrew: Yeah, It's be yourself, and it's okay to be ourselves, isn't it?
In whatever shape and however we are, whatever's going on for us, let's be ourselves.
Katherine: Perfect.
How does your country consider naturism, and how do the laws stand supporting naturism?
Andrew: Well, I think we're very lucky here, it's legal, and mostly accepted, I think, although not accepted by everyone. Living in Germany, it's even more normal, shall we say, if that's the case, but where I lived in America, it was perhaps less so. But it's good to
see naturist communities thriving over in the US …: and amazing that we can offer meditations for folks in the US. We do have people from America in our meditation group. It's so varied all over the world, isn't it? I think we're very lucky here.
Katherine: Yeah, it's great that it’s legal. And for attitudes, it depends where you look. That's with everything, isn't it?
Andrew: Yeah.
Katherine: Hopefully as a society we will keep progressing that understanding, little by little, building, building.
The regular Thursday Mindfulness Meditations
What do you think naturism has taught you about yourself, and do you think it's changed you in anyway?
Andrew: I think it's being more comfortable in my own skin. And the more I've embraced naturism, the more naturist activities I experience that feeling becomes stronger.
You know, we have more regular meditations I think it enables me to lean into that space even more. It's wonderful to be accepting of myself and others. I think that an awful lot. I think that's an ongoing, lifelong learning, isn't it?
There's always greater ways we can find to love ourselves a bit more, and others. And tolerance, I think that's, something that is, perhaps in a little bit short supply at the moment in our world. There's not so much tolerance around, but I think naturism brings tolerance as well.
For me, at least, anyway.
Does that make sense?
Katherine: Yes, that's amazing. Really explains well. I think one thing that it has taught me about myself, it doesn't matter what you look like, really. Not really, to an extent, yeah, but really, at the core of it, what matters is what you do, and so if you can do, you know,
little, little beautiful things in the world, that's the main, way it has changed me.
I was in a textile sauna, and we were talking about naturist saunas. And a woman there was saying I'd love to be so confident when people get to retirement age, they get more confident, and I was thinking, really, I don't know if it's confidence, it is, in a way, because
you're feeling more confident, this is who I am, but really, it's realising it’s not that important how you look, it's who we are. We are what we are, and it's all alright, all beautiful in our own way. They're all miracles, bodies, aren't they, really? All those cells working together in harmony. It's amazing. That's what so many of us find, each time we do a natural wellbeing meditation to connect with the body, we're always: wow, that's amazing and you can really appreciate that.
Andrew: it gives you that opportunity to appreciate even more, as a naturist you're more aware, more connected.
Are certain people better suited to naturism and others are not suited to it?
Andrew: I don't know about that, I think it's who we are, isn't it?
Katherine: Yeah, I think… Ideally, you'd be a person with respect for each other person, respect for women, respect for everybody, really - they're better, better suited. Apart from that, it can be anybody, because you could say, oh, somebody that's shy about their body is not suited, but that may be a programming that can be changed. As I've seen with myself!.
Andrew: Yeah, that's right.
What are the biggest problems that Naturism has been currently facing?
Andrew: I don't know, it's so dependent on where we are, I suppose. There's a social construct there, and our own patterns and things, but, I think accepting difference is key.
Katherine: Yeah, exactly. Some need for education, I suppose, understanding, and as you say, tolerance and acceptance, I think some people have got that programming, and some people have broken free of the programming, and some people never got programmed in the first place - it didn’t affect them and they come to naturism easily, I think that's it, and the media you've got to be careful of. So I think it's important for us to hold narrative a little bit, and put the narrative out there a bit. Not that I tell many people that I’m naturist, unless it comes into conversation - then if it does holding that narrative, and the naturist organisations also hold that narrative.
Andrew: And it's when it's appropriate, isn't it? Because I think it's that respect thing.
Katherine: And I do think we have to be careful for any problems with disrespect, for example towards those presenting as women - though that’s a risk in a community whether you're clothed or unclothed, that is more a wider societal and systematic problem. I've had much more problems with textiles, without a doubt, 99.99999 per cent or even more, with much more severity. It makes me wonder whether if we lived in a more naturist world, those presenting as women would be safer! So, yes, to be aware the need for respect and tolerance which can ripple to us too.
How would you like to see the future Naturism in developing over the next 30 years, and do you think the ideas are achievable?
Andrew: Growing, acceptance and integration with Eco-villages, ecosystems, integrating more fully into the whole natural environment would be amazing.
Katherine: Oh, yeah, I think that would be my ideal. Naturist ecovillages. Many naturist sites are, kind of eco-y. But, I think the actual purposely co-created eco-village in harmony with the land, wild animals, with each other. It does make a lot of sense, because of that connection with nature.
Andrew: Yeah, that would be, that would be my, my hope. Clothing optional policy in most situations
How do you think that would change the way society works?
Andrew: Hopefully be more accepting.
Katherine: Yeah, more accepting.
Andrew: I think the acceptance would drive it, wouldn't it? Clothes often are a signal, aren't they? Or, a symbol for things that's not good or bad.
For me, it all comes down to acceptance.
Katherine: I think that it might even potentially find more respect: Coming from somebody that's had so much trouble with drunk men and one drunk woman overstepping boundaries, and that's while I'm clothed. I think they'd get bored. They'd be like, oh yeah she's naked again. It wouldn't have that kind of novelty factor, so it might even build a bit more respect.
Andrew: hopefully, dispel some patterns and programs that we have. I think or hope it would become normal.
Katherine: Yeah, I hope so, I hope so.
And allow people to freely be themselves, because if they want to have no top on, if people want to have no clothes, and what rulebook did we ever really have when we were born? It's like, they're so obviously made up. And you can see why. Maybe we need protection from mosquitoes, or we need protection from the cold, but that doesn't mean we need clothes all the time. It's so obviously human-engineered. Hopefully more people will realise that more and more. I think more people thinking: wait a minute! I know we were going around Spain, and it was so hot, and we were going to a lovely dolmen and it was so hot, there was no reason why I needed to be wearing clothes around. Years ago, we wouldn't have to wear clothes going down to these sacred sites. How cool would that be? When it's really hot, you haven't got the risk of a mosquito, there's no real reason for you to wear clothes. Why would you make something? So, I think it's possible. I think it's going to be a slow burner, I don't know but who knows?
Are there any aspects of naturism that frustrates you?
Andrew: What do you mean by naturism, I'd say? Because I think different definitions of naturism may create some frustrations for folks, because I think that's that acceptance thing, I can't think of any.
Katherine: Yeah, can't think of anything, really. Maybe that it's not more widely accepted?
Has there ever been a specific day, location, venue, or activity that has left you thinking:this is naturism at its best?
Andrew: Well, I did get those feelings when we ran our retreats at Liverpool Sun and Air, actually.
Katherine: Yeah They were amazing, being out in nature. And so often I get them at our meditations, when we connect together, even though we're online, somehow we're in the same room. And then, when people share what they found in the meditations And then the retreats, and when we did the drum circle in Halkyn Woods, and in Liverpool Sun and Air Retreat when we did the mindfulness walking outside and connected with all our senses. I think all these times the volume was turned up for us being naturist
Andrew: Yeah, yeah.
Do you speak to your friends and family about naturism, and how's that been?
Andrew: It's not a major drive for me to talk to people about me or what I do. When it comes up, I think I'm very happy to, and it's probably come up more as I've got older, actually.
You know, it was really interesting when I told some work colleagues, who then came to the meditation, so, it had a mutual effect, and it's actually nice to see that connection, and being true with ourselves, isn't it? That's wonderful.
Katherine: Definitely, if it comes up, but that's it, really. If it comes… it obviously came up with my partner, but I seem to have corralled him in a little bit. It's like, I don't know if he would describe himself as naturist but he does come along to events like the retreats and Nudefest. There was a really nice moment at Nude Fest, because he was: oh, I'm coming to this for you, da-da-da. And on the first day I finished a massage, and I turned around, and he has finished work there (he is a physiotherapist), and he was there all naturist, looking very comfortable on a chair, and I'm like, yeah, I think you're all right here!
Andrew: Yeah, in my experience, it's usually had a good effect. It's quite good.
What five words would you use to describe naturism that people who haven't tried naturism may not have considered?
Andrew: Acceptance, connection, And living, I think. Maybe that's it… I can only think of three.
Katherine: Yes for me Natural well-being. Our natural wellbeing, I think, is a lovely way. I think it's interesting that the name Our Natural Wellbeing Meditation came from doing the meditation, I got the name. You did a meditation, and you kind of got that same kind of name, didn't you? Our natural wellbeing.
Andrew: Yeah, so natural wellbeing have to be part of the five.
Katherine: Yeah, and a natural way of being as well. Natural well-being, natural way of being.
If you considered naturist as an animal, a color and a food item, what three answers would come to mind?
Andrew: Dark blue. And water.
Katherine: Oh, very nice, I like the water. For that flow, that natural flow, isn't it?
Andrew: Natural flow, natural.
Katherine: Yeah, and all the colours. All the colours, and all the animals, because all other animals are clothes free. All the animals, all the colors. Water. All the elements, really.
Why do you think people should join ANW?
Andrew: what can existing naturists get from it? Being part of a community, isn't it? And a community of like-minded people where hopefully we can sort of generate that acceptance and tolerance around us. I think that that's a great place, and it's a place to
connect, really, isn't it, I think?
Katherine: Yeah, I think, yeah, that community, and that mutual support, and these mutual affirmations, and knowing that there are others like us in the world, and having a having a way to connect with that is beautiful.
Andrew: Yeah, it's always good when you understand that people see the world similar to the way I do, and that starts a conversation, doesn't it, around what's different and what's similar and all is good?
If you could go anywhere in the world now as a naturist where would you go?
Katherine: Everywhere?
Andrew: warmer.
Katherine: Oh yeah, warm would be good, yeah, warmer ideal. Apart from that everywhere that accepts naturists..
Andrew: Anywhere, but warmer, certainly.
Katherine: Near the sea, near the mountains, we'll be happy. Oh, definitely. Near the mountains.
Tell us about Our Natural Wellbeing Meditation.
Andrew: Oh, well, I think it started with small steps, really, didn't it? Because it came from the Naked Fitness Meditations, and then generally, there's a community that formed around that. Let's get together on a regular basis, and you know, a couple of those
were guiding the meditation. You know, other members of the community have done that as well, and I think it's grown from there. It's, a wonderful place of calm… a little oasis of calmness, in our busy lives, and to connect with people through that meditation process is wonderful. I think our philosophy is all one about a natural state of being, and acceptance, and connection with each other, and I think that comes through all the meditations that we've done. You know, for me at least. How's that… does that make sense?
Katherine: Yeah, that's brilliant and with our experience so far, we had so much beautiful feedback about whether it's connection to themselves, connection to nature, amazing connections to wisdom. The wisdom that comes from people that share, it's like, it could be in the Buddha Book of Wisdom, or another wisdom book, because it's so special, and offers so much increased appreciation of the body and nature.. Again, the volume's turned up, of how amazing is the world we live in, and it's this natural world, and how amazing our body is, and how fast you make that connection to yourself, that's so important.
Andrew: Yeah, totally.
What came first in your lives the interest in naturism, or the interest in meditation?
Andrew: For me I think it's probably an interest in naturism first, and then holistic, health and meditation practices sort of built from that.
Katherine: I was probably the opposite. Holistic practices. Apart from when I was little, and then got programmed and everything, but yeah, it was holistic practices, and then naturism gradually grew from that holistic way, and it took me there. Cae Mabon is a retreat center where I facilitated innerwork and meditation, so that took me there to that part of naturism in the hot tub, and at Fire in the Mountain Festival, again, I was working, with innerwork practices, and they had a sauna where there was naturist aspects, and travelling too… it slowly builds, really. To me it is a holistic practice, really, in many ways.
Andrew: Yeah, I think they're both the same, so I don't think one's before the other, I think they are in balance.
Katherine: Yeah, that answers the next question, but we can expand on it.
The regular Sunday Earth Meditations
How important do you feel the connection between wellbeing and naturism is?
Andrew: I think they're integrated. I think, naturism, brings a balance which is essential for our wellbeing. And it's holistic. I think we get an appreciation of ourselves with others in nature, and I think that's so important for our wellbeing.
Katherine: Yeah, it's completely connected, whether it's that body connection, body appreciation, body acceptance, and the nature acceptance, all of that is enhancing well-being.
And the earth meditations, for example, there's been so many studies saying, connecting with nature can really help our well-being: And we can find that even if you're watching through a virtual connection, you know, when we're doing it in meditation, we've got that connection there.
Andrew: Yeah, it's very true. I hadn't thought of that before, but it's so true. We do it every Sunday, connecting nature.
Katherine: And yeah, naturism, ideally, I feel would benefit from incorporating well-being in what we do, because it's good to look after ourselves in this world, especially a world where not everybody understands it. Not everybody's broken through their programming or sees what the basic common sense truth is, in my opinion.
And of course, we want to be in the best health we can be, really, and if that can contribute.
And, while well-being doesn't have to include naturism, but for those that it suits, or for those that really wants to pursue it, it can be a very integral part. I feel those attend that meditations from what people have said, and from what I feel as well, it's an
integral part of this. Of our well-being nature.
How about the future?
Andrew: The future. Yeah. Step by step, see where it takes us.
Katherine: Yes, it kind of went from the windermere retreat to naked fitness to our natural wellbeings to doing the ANW sessions, it's really nice, which led us to do the session in America, with Twin cities. And the Liverpool' Sun and Air retreat, so it's gradually
building, and we're talking about doing a retreat, abroad as well, and at other places, which is gentle growing, so hopefully more of it. What's next? Some more in-person meets and more online, online ones for anyone that would benefit from it, really.
Andrew: Oh, that's exciting, looking forward to that already.
Katherine: It was wonderful when we went to St. Antony’s Well for one group trip. That was really gorgeous.
Andrew: Oh, that was brilliant.
Katherine: Yeah, so more of that would be lovely. Meditation, ceremony, dipping in the well. And then have a nice cup of tea, always very nice.
Any more thoughts to add?
Katherine: That I'am really loving being part of the ANW community, and I'm really happy that I met Anna and Steve that time in Halkyn Woods, which made really lovely connections, and it's really now, thanks for you, Andrew, growing that connection.
Andrew: Yeah.
Katherine: Wherever we are.
Andrew: lovely to be connected with everyone, and it feels like I've got a real sense of community. I was going to say family, maybe families too, but a sense of community in many ways, isn't it? Sort of everybody for each other.
Katherine: Yeah, it's a family-like, isn't it? In our natural wellbeings, when people join, if people miss a week, when they come back, it's like.
Andrew: Yay!
Katherine: It's a really, really lovely way to connect with our family, isn't it? To say hello.
Katherine: Have a little meditate, little connect.
Katherine: Thank you Andrew and for this interview- great questions from ANW
Andrew: Thanks Katherine.
A big thank you to Katherine and Andrew for taking part in this interview. We hope you enjoyed taking part in it as much as we enjoyed reading and sharing it. Visit the Our Natural Wellbeing Meditations page for more information and links to events.
ANW welcomes all who are respectful and interested in naturism and invite all genuine naturist organisations, clubs, events, venues and other opportunities to be part of the ANW community and work with us to encourage the growth and acceptance of naturism around the world. If you have any questions email Anna and Steve at [email protected]
© 2026 Our Natural Wellbeing and www.anaturistworld.com All Rights Reserved
To Join ANW simply click the box below.
- 
