Breaking News: Nudists Work Out at Fitworld

Heteren, Netherlands- Approximately one dozen nudist showed up Fitworld for a nudist Sunday workout. The owner of Fitworld is Patrick DeMan. Patrick DeMan allowed reporters and photographers to come to the gym for the first, ever nudist workout in a Dutch gym. Actually there were more reporters and photographers in the gym on Sunday, than there were gym members.

Around one dozen gym members worked out at Fitworld in the nude while reporters, press and photographers packed the gym. Fitworld is located approximately 60 miles from Amesterdam. This is not the first nude exercise event at the gym. They have previously had nude swims.

Unlike its members, the staff did not appear in the buff. Staff members wore aprons that had nude workout painted on them. Eight women had signed up for nude Sunday but none of the women showed up. Only the male gym patrons were present for the big event.

Patrick DeMan said that he came up with the idea of nude Sunday after a couple of regular gym patrons inquired about separate dressing rooms for men and women. Out of this questioning spawned the idea for nude Sunday. Patrick DeMan plans on continuing naked Sunday as part of the gym's regularly scheduled activities. It will be interesting to see if group aerobics and naked staff are merged into the nude Sunday activities in the future.

Response from the Heteren community and from the nudist community was mixed. It was reported that out of nudists polled, the majority would rather garden and hike in the nude than go to a gym to work out. Community members were concerned about hygiene. Patrick DeMan required that nudists put towels down on the weight machines. Disposable seat covers and disinfecting the equipment were also part of the main event.

Sexual attitudes in the Netherlands are by no means conservative. In designated areas, prostitution is legal. Topless beaches and nude commercials are also common. The councilman that cut the ribbon for the nude Sunday event at Fitman is reported as saying that the event promotes fitness and the community supports the concept.