Last weekend, British Naturism returned to the NEC, Birmingham, to join the Mind Body Spirit Festival. The Mind Body Spirit Festival brings together inspirational, motivational speakers, musicians, artists, and vendors from around the globe. The event showcases spirituality and holistic approaches to wellbeing, including yoga, crystal healing, meditation, healthy living, card and rune reading, and sound and aromatherapy. Much of the focus is on living naturally and connecting to nature, making the connection to Naturism seamless.
Visitors generally immerse themselves in the festival, meaning that conversations are often deep and build relationships, which is very different from most trade shows. Many visitors are looking to add something to their lives and in conversation discover that social nudity may be an option. Visitors are predominantly younger adults and female, demonstrating that there is an appetite in those groups that we need to meet.
Martha and Roy, with their personal commitments to sustainability and fitness led the British Naturism team and forged relationships with both guests and other exhibitors. Those connections to other groups with aspirations sympathetic to British Naturism are as valuable as spreading the word directly because they open opportunities for sharing between groups. The long-term aim is that rather than seeing a Naturist event or a yoga retreat, there are just events where all aspects are seen and welcome so that Naturism becomes truly mainstream.
Hopefully we will return next year, playing an even larger role.