Documentary: Naked on the Inside

Every now and then a documentary comes along and provides brain food for thinkers. "Naked on the Inside" is one of those documentaries. Here is the text from their website:

"Naked on the Inside comes at a time when the Western world has never been more obsessed with body image. This fresh and unnerving feature-length documentary asks a simple, but audacious, question: Beyond our clothes and skin, who are we? And so it begins. Six extra-ordinary people from around the world reveal their bodies and share their secrets in a unique experiment in search of their inner selves."

Naked is currently being shown on the Sundance channel as well as Showtime. I highly recommend viewing it.

Basically it presents it's subjects one by one and slowly reveals their personal issues of body and self acceptance. As they progress in various interviews they finally hit a point where they are to be completely naked. For all of them it is a very serious moment of self-awareness.

Having been in the clothing optional world now since 2000, I've seen some life transformations arise from shedding clothes. I've met people who once naked on the outside, experience a self-transformation on the inside.

Check out a clip from the documentary.

Here at Living Waters Spa we are concerned with the whole being. We are not just a place to be naked (as some nudist / clothing optional facilities). We want the elements (sun, mineral water, air, sky) to do whatever the guests need for them to do to impact their life. Our massages are geared to helping people come back into their being, to look inward, to look outward, to LIVE!

Living Waters Spa: celebrating 5 years of business

Desert Hot Springs, CA - Living Waters Spa opened their doors 5 years ago November 10th. What started as a dream for owners Jeff and Judy Bowman, Living Waters Spa has turned into a top rated boutique spa hotel attracting people from all over the country and Europe. “The American dream is still alive and well” says Jeff Bowman. “We wanted to create a spa that would offer people a chance to get away from their daily life, reconnect with life, and experience a bit of Europe right here in the USA.”

Acquiring a vintage 1960s “spa-tel” originally named the “Kismet Lodge” (named after the famous musical), the Bowmans set out to create something totally unique. Located next to Palm Springs in Desert Hot Springs California, Living Waters Spa is situated above a hot mineral water aquifer that provides the hotel with pure, odorless mineral water that is pumped from the hotel’s own mineral spring well. When they acquired the hotel it was tired and rundown and actually used as low rent apartments. “We hauled out over 30 cubic yards of junk just to get at the core of the building” according to Bowman. “Then once we started renovating we realized that the mid-century modern building was well built and perfectly designed for what we were going to do. It even had the 1960s quality imprimatur ‘live better electrically – medallion homes’ as part of the signage.” Renovation included reviving the hot water well, new pools, new pool decking, all new carpet and furniture, and even a complete overhaul of the old neon sign that proudly lights up “Kismet Lodge” and “Living Waters Spa” underneath.

Their spa has become a favorite having achieved an unprecedented 73% repeat rate of its customers in the 5 years of business. Judy says: “What really sets us apart from other hotels/spas is our customer care, hot mineral water, massages, spa/skincare treatments and the fact that we are a ‘European-style’ clothing optional spa. You don’t have to be a nudist or have a ‘perfect’ body to try skinny-dipping at Living Waters Spa. People from all walks of life are discovering what Europeans have known for centuries that nude is not lewd. We’ve had guests in their 20s to 80s enjoy our amazing hot mineral water naked or au naturel.” Judy herself is a breast cancer survivor and often shares with guests her experience with surgery, chemotherapy, and because of the clothing optional context they can have frank discussions about breast reconstruction.

In this trying economy, Living Waters Spa is the only clothing optional resort to offer discounts for guests under 30 years of age, those who are in active military, or who are survivors of breast cancer. “We are here with a passion to help people,” says Jeff, “and our discounts especially provide these groups the chance to take a break, reconnect with their partner, and restore their soul. On top of that with our winter specials you can stay a week in one of our condos for only $499.00 – an unbeatable offer!”

In this past year Living Waters Spa was:
- Listed as on of the top 10 clothing-optional resorts of the world (TripAdvisor)
- The highest ranked California spa and listed 9th on “Spas of America” top 30 spas
- Awarded the “Hidden Gem” award for the 3rd year in a row (TripAdvisor)
- Featured in articles by: Los Angeles Times; Times UK; Conde Nast Traveler on Concere.com; The Desert Sun; and American Spa

So, if anyone questions whether or not the American dream is still possible, just ask Jeff and Judy Bowman. They’ll tell you if you work hard, and provide your customers a “Lexus” customer experience -- then it is!

For more information see the spa website at: http://www.livingwatersspa.com/.