‘It’s very organised’: What it’s like inside Berlin’s health-promoting nudist clubs.
With the rise of wild swimming, forest bathing (traditionally known as a walk in the woods) and the sub-zero philosophies of “Iceman” Wim Hof, there is a definite trend to re-establish connections with the natural world across Europe .
And it’s not limited to rural destinations. I’m planning a trip to Berlin in December, so I turned to my local friend, Johan, to find out how I can get on board with the trend.
He suggests we check out the Helios Club, which he likes to visit after work or on weekends to relax. When I asked what it entails, he said it’s a family-friendly community where members eat and drink, play sports and socialize, or just walk around the club’s woods sucking. nature.
I replied in the affirmative, but I could hear a chuckle in Johan’s voice. “You should probably know, being British, that it’s an FKK club.”
I had no idea what that meant, but Johan, a seasoned musician with an urban spirit and a mischievous sense of humor, rarely invokes my nationality unless he wants to imply some cultural deficiency. I gulped before asking what exactly he meant by FKK.
His response sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. “It’s kind of a nudist club.”
FKK that: Inside the German movement for free body culture
Johan explained that FKK, or Freikörperkultur, which translates as Free Body Culture, is a German tradition that dates back to the late 19th century. The movement encourages adherents to shed their clothes and participate in healthy activities to connect with the natural world. It promises a physical and mental boost in a community of like-minded individuals.
Johan only recently joined the Helios Club, at the behest of his daughter after visiting a friend’s family.
“My daughter called me one day after school and said, ‘Oh, you know, we’re in this club and it’s pretty cool. You should come and check it out.’”
When he arrived, he was immediately struck by the place. “It’s fantastic,” says Johan. The club is located within a fenced plot about the size of three football pitches in the middle of the Grunewald, a 3,000-hectare forest in Berlin and the largest green space in the city, meaning children can’t escape and strangers can’t enter.
The club has excellent facilities: in addition to the changing rooms and lockers inside there is a cafeteria and a bar. And then there is the sports area, with six tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, basketball hoops and an athletics area. Johan explained it mostly members don’t do sports naked, but there are some diehards who do.
There are also occasional ones camping weekends where people bring tents and stay overnight. “And then everyone takes a dip in the pool at midnight. These are small fun events where there is also music, dancing and a barbecue,” says Johan.
But this wasn’t Johan’s first naked rodeo. In fact, his FKK the experience began as a child.
“FKK was very popular in the 70s, much more than today. My parents were not FKK clubbers, but when we went on holiday we often visited FKK beaches. I had an early introduction to the concept but lost interest as a teenager.
“A very liberal experience but done in German style”
FKK’s popularity has waxed and waned over the years, but the German Naturism has been part of the national psyche since its inception. This is partly why a nation often seen as conservative has only scant legislation regulating public nudity.
Speaking of regulations, something Johan finds very funny is that, despite the very liberal and hip vibes evoked by the idea of a nudist-friendly community, there are a lot of rules within the club.
“I always joke because, obviously, it’s a club with a board, a secretary, a financier and a sports administrator. It’s very organised. And wherever you go in the club, there will be laminated notes with precise and detailed instructions on where and when you can be naked. A very liberal but done experience German style.”
Johan likes to go to the club after work for a sauna. “It’s great: if I’m lucky, I’m the only one in the sauna.”
He later goes out into the forest for a walk. “Then the bats start flying around stars they shine above and I’m surrounded by nature. I’m there alone in the woods. It’s like I run the place!”
Among the pigeons: Can FKK help me deal with my body problems?
The way my dear friend describes the club and what he likes about it is convincing. It’s not just the mental and physical health benefits that I like. I’m also eager to break free, or at least face my body image issues head on.
I’m not low on confidence, nor am I troubled by low self-esteem but, thanks to a mild case of pectus curatum or pigeon breast, taking my shirt off at the beach is something I try to avoid.
Unless I have major corrective surgery, I will have to learn to be more accepting of my anatomy. Acceptance is a principle of FKK that Johan is keen to highlight.
“Communal nudity is a vital part of FKK,” he tells me. “These days with the pressure to conform to an almost impossible concept of bodily perfectionthe variety of human beings on display in the club is refreshing.
He met people from all walks of life in Helios – including his bank manager – and with all types of body shapes.
“This is something I appreciate more as I approach 50,” says Johan. “I mean, you can become obsessed with seeking what is increasingly unattainable, or you can relax and let it all out, with dignity.”
“I found the experience truly wonderful”
So, I found myself behind a tree in private woodland in Surrey, preparing for my first forest walk, relieved by my modesty, while a confused friend prepared to take a few photos before I set off. Acceptance of my bare behind is a learning curve for both of us.
I found the experience truly wonderful. Walking among the trees deprived of civilization is similar to that first sensation you get when skinny dipping. It’s amazing how removing the last few layers of fabric makes such a difference.
And as the gentle breeze passes by my frame, I feel truly liberated. But it is not a one-sided experience. Yes, I’m connecting with nature, but I believe nature is also connecting with me. They are just another animal that has wandered into the ecosystem, not a predatory human come to ruin the party.
However, this is only the first step. I may have found freedom among the flora and fauna of deepest Surrey, but I’m still nervous about doing it in front of strangers. I have yet to progress beyond the giggling stage (as illustrated by the schoolboy humor in the photos) but hopefully a week spent in the company of some enthusiasts German nudists will help me deal with my discomfort.
Where can you experience German Freikörperkultur?
In general, you must be recommended for Helios Club membership. You can go as a guest of a member up to three times before you are asked to begin the membership process.
There are also open days where people can look around if they don’t know anyone in the club. Before membership is confirmed, applicants must undergo a rigorous assessment process as the club is child-friendly, pass an interview and complete a probationary period.
But freewheeling Berlin it’s full of places where visitors can immerse themselves in Freikörperkultur without all the paperwork.
The city is surrounded by picturesque I swim lakes, many of which have a nudist area or have a liberal approach to clothing: take a look at Teufelssee, Plötzensee and Halensee.
Image:Getty Images
