{"id":1447,"date":"2019-01-02T20:42:37","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T18:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.andyleve.com\/?p=1447"},"modified":"2020-03-31T19:39:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-31T17:39:09","slug":"lets-get-naked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andyleve.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/02\/lets-get-naked\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s get naked!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Her: Oh, I must take you to the spa !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: Ah, sounds good to me, I wouldn\u2019t mind a leg massage\nactually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her: It\u2019s not that kind of spa \u2026 It\u2019s a Scandinavian\ntradition <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: *frantically googles \u201cScandinavian Spa\u2019s *\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*** <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Scandinavian Spa or \u201ckallbadhus\u201d<\/em>\nis just one of those places you \u201chave to try\u201d as a foreigner, I was told. It is\na sort of induction into an activity that many partake in, for leisure and\nmental well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The particular kallbadhus<\/em> we went to is Ribersborgs. It is situated along a shingle beach and has  what feels like a never-ending deck leading to the main door. From a distance it seems as though the kallbadhus<\/em> is floating in the middle of the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distant, yet strangely inviting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We walk in and the interior has that \u201chygge<\/em>\u201d feel to it. As I my eyes pan across the the room I notice\nmen and women having coffee, some having and a bite to eat while others walk to\nthe back, which is where we too are headed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Scandinavian \u2018tradition\u2019 is a pastime for men and women\nalike.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pay and make our way to the back area for women. The men\ndisappear into their own part of the \u201ckallis\u201d\n, <\/em>only to be seen again when we leave out of the same main door we all\nentered through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The back is filled with rows of door-less lockers made of wooden\npalettes, and there are bodies scattered all along the floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naked bodies, \u201ckalgat\u201d as they say in Afrikaans. Now the\nname \u201ckallbadhus<\/em>\u201d makes sense, as I\nconnect the linguistic dots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some women are lying on towels; others prefer the touch of\nthe wooden skirting on their bare skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some are reading; others have earphones in while others opt\nto have the sound of the sea as soundtrack, while they break away from the\nworld for a bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time at the kallbadhus<\/em>\nis more about \u2018chilling out \u2018 than having a \u2018vibe\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I like that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kallbadhus<\/em>\nculture has no seasonal bias. Whether it\u2019s throngs of people soaking in the\nsunshine during the long summer days and nights or braving the cold winter for\na dip to kick the endorphins into overdrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is welcome Monday to Sunday and even on holidays.\n(See opening hours here https:\/\/www.ribersborgskallbadhus.se\/sv<\/a>)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As stated, Ribersborg\u2019s Kallbadhus \u2018s saunas are divided into two \u2013 one sauna for men, one for women. However, every first Monday of the month is \u201cQueer Kallis\u201d where these \u2018norms\u2019 and \u2018rules\u2019 are broken. Queer Kallis happens every first Monday of the month. The day is for everyone but especially for members of the LGBTIQA community and they can use the facilities with no discrimination based on heteronormative sexual orientation .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheers to the progressive spaces, and now to make\neveryday a Queer Kallis Day !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this Kallbadhus tradition says about body\npositivity speaks volumes, in a time where women have to look a certain way to\nbe beautiful and comfortable with themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is one thing to be naked in private but to be in your natural state in front of others, without fear of judgement or ridicule, without fear of being attacked physically or otherwise is a massive, necessary plus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ‘tradition’ is an advocate not only of body positivity but of finding proverbial sunshine in some of the greyest skies and coldest of days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So maybe next time I’ll ditch the bikini and do as the locals do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m wincing as I type this but as someone once said “life’s short…play naked” . <\/p>\n\n\n\n