Inked

mikeinked66

#sourcechaudenaturelle #source #lifestyle #life #nature #inked #ink #inkedboy #inkboy #french #france #france🇫🇷 #neige #neige❄️ #montagne #montagnes

Trying to stay ahead of the edge. Very little hot spring news; all the more photographic evidence. Still, all the more text concerning sauna culture.

Though in reality, it's just the one item concerning the latter: sauna with or without?

Basically an ever and never ending item, one that revolves around cultural norms as well as one that fluctuates with societal change. Or not?

So it's off to the Netherlands this time, testing their tolerance? 

Not often does sauna usage makes the national headlines. But leading Dutch newspaper AD found a way to make sauna culture the headline (Apr. 5).

In short: a massive wellness operation is opening up on the outskirts of the central Holland city of Zoetermeer. Its' size matches the mega centers in Germany. Though with one difference: in Zoetermeer it has just the one identity rather than the centers in Germany which have massive swim areas, with a textile free area adjacent with sauna's and sorts.

So ..., besides the high entrance fee (but comparable to that in Germany) the article highlights something they believe newsworthy: not only 65€, but ... everybody has to be naked!

Anyway, translated:

'Paying 65 euros and not even a swimwear day? Shortly after the long-awaited opening of Sweet Lake Wellness (SLW) in Zoetermeer, significant criticism immediately arose regarding one of the largest wellness resorts in Europe. According to the architect, the complaints are far too premature. "I don't know where the idea comes from that we definitely do not want to introduce a swimwear day."

So what's up?

'Social media was flooded with reactions to the opening of SLW . Positive, but mostly a lot of negative commentary. All kinds of stories circulated regarding the choice for full nude recreation at Sweet Lake Wellness'.

The article fails to pinpoint the social media involved.

I did try to find some critique; possibly they revert to an Instagram post (Apr. 1!) by SLW where somebody mentions (translated):

Wow, it looks beautiful! 😍 I'm coming veeeery soon. Do you happen to know yet what the swimwear days are? 💦👙🩴♥️

But all 'n all, the point fails to drag the comments. The post in itself racks 6,400 likes, 670 comments, liberally appointing 20 as insisting on textile days. 

So has this been constructed to titillate the opening here?

The lead article heads further:

'According to Poleij [SLW architect], if there is a high demand for swimwear days, there is no reason to oppose it, but he does add a caveat. "We hear from other saunas that they have had bad experiences with swimwear days. The atmosphere of a nude wellness center is simply different. When everyone makes themselves vulnerable by being naked, there is a sense of equality. With swimwear on, problems with unwanted advances arise more quickly. That might sound strange, but that is how it works. Especially when groups of young men come in."

“We don’t want cannonballs in the pool. Sweet Lake Wellness is too chic for that. I wonder if the criticism comes from wellness-goers, because they are used to nude recreation. In a wellness center, you don’t look at others. People are here to relax.”

...

“All those hundreds of people who are now voicing criticism haven't been here at all yet. We haven't launched any major campaigns yet. It would be nice if critics came to take a look first before voicing their opinions.”

Clothesfree? saunate

Zin in een kleurtje zonder strepen? 🦓

Bij ons kun je zorgeloos zonnen zonder tanning lines! ☀️

Of je nu gaat voor een egaal bruine huid of gewoon heerlijk wilt ontspannen, wij zorgen dat jij stralend de zomer in gaat.✨Het blijft nog de hele week stralend mooi weer! 😎 Dat betekent dus zalig zonnen, afkoelen, relaxen én genieten!💦

#thermensaunate #zonzonderstrepen #egaalbruin #zonnenbijons #stralendehuid #genieten

Besides giving SLW the opportunity to explain itself, (social) media echoes on the headline and tries to put this into perspective. Some snippets:

Oddly, AD's own Facebook site racks up nearly 400 comments, basically everybody thinking "duh, it's a sauna, of course you naked". F.i.:

'I think that “fierce criticism” isn't that bad. Just another small group of loudmouths. And AD is happy to add its woke two cents. How nice that an entrepreneur in the Netherlands can still determine their own business concept. I wish the entrepreneur much success.

The BNNVara Joop social media website (Apr. 6) adds a post on the article. Translated:

'In Zoetermeer, and even beyond, there is uproar and commotion surrounding a new icon of the city: Sweet Lake Wellness. By its own account, it is the largest and most luxurious wellness center in all of Europe. A summary of the criticism: the entrance fee is no less than €65. Yet swimwear is prohibited. Guests are required to go naked. Naked . Completely naked. In their bare bottoms. All of them'.

They go on to explain, that 65€ is not expensive. And naked is not sexual (rather the opposite). Like above, they question the alarmist article; making something private and apolitical the opposite. 70+ comments.

andrealisations

Les Bains Chauds - Documentaire est un hommage à l'énergie créatrice. Merci à @magnetikka_ pour ce moment hors du temp et aussi à @gzmez.martin1 qui a été d'une grande aide le jour du tournage.

Au coeur de la montagne, Magnetikka marche vers des bains chauds naturels. Le froid, le silence, la roche puis l'eau. En s'immergeant dans celle-ci, tous ses sens s'activent. La vapeur se mêle au paysage et la frontière entre elle et la nature s'efface.

Ce court documentaire capte un moment d'abandon total, une expérience physique et sensorielle où le corps rentre en résonance avec la montagne.

Uproar

There are more reactions, in article form. 

The AD contradicts itself? A local affiliate gives the opinion of the owner of Thermen Binnenmaas. Translated:

'Christine Kouman of NFN Open & Bloot, the advocacy group for nude recreation in the Netherlands, supports the position of entrepreneurs like Naaktgeboren.

According to her, the commotion in Zoetermeer is not a good indicator of reality. "A sauna is basically meant to be sat in naked. If you don't want to do that, there is a choice: you don't have to go."

For guests in 's-Gravendeel, it is simple: the clarity of the policy prevents disappointment at the door. Everyone is welcome, but relaxation here takes place without clothing. Regardless of your personal preference.

And for those who find that daunting? "They get used to it faster than you think," says Naaktgeboren, who certainly has a fitting name. "As soon as you are inside, everyone is equal."

The owner (by the name of Naaktgeboren [= Bornnaked]) also posts the above article on his (private) Facebook page, naturally gathering lot's of positive support (nearly 600 ...). Talk about a positive spin.

De Stem (Apr. 7) then, translated:

'It is not uncommon in the wellness world: saunas offering swimwear days for guests who do not want to be seen naked. That was already the case when Spa One opened its doors in Oosterhout, Brabant, in 2017. "But we never went along with that," says owner Bart Veraa. "The interest simply wasn't great enough."

...

Spa One's door policy has never led to controversy or national headlines. How different is the situation at Sweet Lake Wellness in Zoetermeer, where criticism erupted immediately after the opening.

...

But according to Director Christine Kouman of NFN Open & Bloot, the advocacy group for nude recreation in the Netherlands, the uproar over Zoetermeer is not a good indicator of how things really are these days. As many as 2.5 million people regularly engage in nude recreation, and another 1.6 million 'occasionally' take off their clothes for a sauna visit. "A sauna is, in principle, meant to be sat in while naked. If you don't want to do that, there is a choice: you don't have to go." 

She therefore does not expect to see separate nude and clothed establishments happening anytime soon. "In Soesterberg, there was even a sauna for a while with a clothed section and an unclothed section, but that has been completely shut down. People who don't understand what you are supposed to do in a sauna – relax – behaved in the clothed section as if they were in an indoor swimming pool and did cannonballs into the water. Now everyone goes there naked".

Dutch language saunagids even dedicates a special (undated) post: to be naked or not. Translated:

'For many people, it is a hurdle: being naked in the sauna. Yet, more and more sauna visitors are consciously choosing an experience without swimwear, not only because of the physical benefits but also because of the surprisingly positive impact on their mental well-being. Entering the sauna naked proves to be liberating in many cases, resulting in increased self-confidence, self-acceptance, and deep relaxation. In a sauna room where everyone bares all, social masks fall away. Fashion, status, and appearances are temporarily cast aside. This creates an atmosphere of equality. You quickly realize that no one is perfect, and that they don't have to be. This confrontation with yourself and others in their purest form can be daunting at first, but for many people, it leads to a growing sense of acceptance of their own bodies. The critical view of oneself softens and gives way to gentleness. You learn not to judge your body, but to respect it as it is. In the long run, this process strengthens self-image and boosts self-confidence, not only within the walls of the sauna but also outside of them'.

mariegoestospain

Ein paar Tage detoxen in Santa Fee bei den heißen Quellen.

Es regnet immer noch sehr viel, aber die Sonne kommt immer mal wieder raus.

Die Finca Suche ist mühsam, sobald man nach Baugenehmigungen oder sonstigem fragt, melden sich die Besitzer nicht mehr.

Die Suche geht weiter, und sonst mal schauen, der Sommer in Spanien wird sehr heiß, ob ich doch nochmal in den Norden oder sogar nach Österreich/Deutschland fahre und den Sommer dort arbeite und Freunde und Familie besuchen gehe.

Buenas Dias

Marie

#santafe#heissequellen#termasdesantafe

Another two cents from a very recent report (May 5) on a visit to München by Planet Nude:

'The textilfrei section holds thousands of people. The clientele includes mixed genders, ages 16 and up, and all shapes and sizes. The number of people from ages 20 to 40 might make U.S. nudist resorts envious, however'.

Maybe a different discussion?

Meanwhile SLW are having a soft opening. Still, it's creating some negative vibes (Facebook post, Apr. 15): not wheelchair friendly for instance. 

Now (beginning of May), their Facebook page has 30k followers and loads of positive critiques, so all's well that ends well?

My own experience? 

No surprises that I prefer the no-textile as best practice. For virtually all the reasons already mentioned; not much to add. 

Though ..., by now I have discovered that I'm allergic to chlorinated water, but only when swimming / immersing myself. Everyone naked? Then everyone tends to be much cleaner, meaning less chlorine. Swimsuits? Chlorine shoots up and I end up with a sore throat, a runny nose and itches on my hips and ankles. 

So doctor's orders: get naked (and really be free).

Sheer

Now for some other hot spring news.

Hotspringers.net heads to Budapest and reports (Apr. 25) back on Irgalmasok Veli Bej Bath.

It's thermal swimming pool, partially in it's original 15th century building, but enclosed in a medical facility. Get's just the two stars.

Hot spring journeys (Apr. 22) has an extensive post (10 soaks visited) on Tuscan hot springs. With a few from Lazio. On Saturnia:

'The sheer commercial popularity takes away some of its soul'.

The website even has a rating for "being able to be alone". The free options encountered are rated with only 1 or 2 stars, but even those with an entrance fee are not free from a low rate.

Rule of thumb it seems: the more you pay, the more you're able to lose the crowds. Capitalism at it's best.

Hot spring journeys also has an extensive post on the Dutch sauna facilities (Mar. 3). The sell:

'For the spa enthusiast, the "Low Lands" offer some of the most sophisticated wellness retreats in Europe, blending traditional Dutch hospitality with high-tech thermal facilities'.

ayaneidan

and for our next trick, we will be rediscovering Heaven on Earth 🌍 hot springs, waterfalls, spiralling currents, thunderstorms, edible flowers, healing mud, and spring water directly from the cave walls in the womb of Pachamama... and yet no words, no images can convey the feeling of being in God's immanent presence...

🎶 and we die die die again, to be born born born again