Embodied culture
Some dotted thoughts from learning the shared saunas and baths…
In Northern Europe, people often go naked together in saunas or public baths. In places like Finland or Germany, this is not seen as strange but as healthy, natural, and part of cultural tradition. Historically, shared baths were about cleansing, relaxation, and community. Going back even further, in ancient Greece, athletes trained and competed completely naked in the Olympics. Nudity was not taboo but rather a celebration of strength, skill, and the human body itself.
By contrast, clothing has been with humanity for far longer than religion. Early humans covered themselves for practical reasons—protection against cold, heat, or rough terrain. Over time, clothing also became decoration, a marker of status, and a form of self-expression. Even today, what we wear says something about our personality, mood, or cultural identity.
That tension between covering and revealing is still visible in modern life. I was surprised the first time I watched Latin dance performances. In salsa, bachata, or samba, dancers often wear very revealing outfits. Part of this comes from the hot climate in many Latin countries, but it is also cultural. Lighter clothing shows off the body’s movements and expresses confidence, passion, and presence. Even in places like North America, where modesty usually shapes everyday dress, dancers often reveal much more in performance. Context matters: in ordinary life, modesty rules dominate, but on the dance floor, the body becomes a canvas for art, expression, and connection.
This stands in sharp contrast to cultures where nudity is avoided or linked to shame, often under the influence of religion. The most vivid image comes from the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In the Garden of Eden, they were naked and felt no shame. But after eating the forbidden fruit, they realized their nakedness and covered themselves. That moment created a deep association between nudity and guilt, as if the body itself were something to hide.
When I reflect on these different traditions, from saunas to dance floors to ancient myths, I wonder if embrace of the body is simply a way of returning to nature, to movement, and to a deeper truth of existence. Perhaps, in small ways, is a way of reclaiming what was lost in that story: the innocence of being fully alive, unhidden, and at ease in our own skin.
