Painting Of Breast Cancer Survivor Banned

A portrait of a breast cancer survivor banned from an art show in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area created a debate over censorship vs. interpretation. Artist Rhon Drinkwater used a woman who had a mastectomy as a model for the painting. Gallery officials took down the painting, saying it was not family friendly and there was an "unwrittenrule" regarding hanging "G-rated" work appropriate for all ages. Drinkwater says that considering the statistics about breast cancer and how it affects family membersof all ages, it is appropriate for everyone. She hopes her painting generates discussion about breast cancer, beauty and its interpretation and censorship. A poll on theWFAA TV website out of Dallas/Fort Worth showed that the majority of respondents disagreed with the gallery's decision. Read more [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=7w4i84bab.0.f478aacab.pvrzw8bab.255&ts=S0254&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wfaa.com%2Fsharedcontent%2Fdws%2Fwfaa%2Flatestnews%2Fstories%2Fwfaa070502_wz_cancerart.2e129bf9.html], take the poll and view results.

Judy is also a breast cancer survivor. Back in 1992 she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 38. She had our 4 children young, breast feed them all, did not smoke, and has no history of BC in her family, etc. etc. In other words she would have scored a ZERO on the probability test of whether or not she was a cancer risk -- but she got it.

Here at Living Waters Spa we have had many "heros" of Breast Cancer. Some women choose to have reconstruction while others choose to have none. Regardless, all are beautiful and ALIVE.

Sadly, the art gallary which banned Rhon Drinkwater's picture is perpetuating our culture's sexualizing of the breast by hiding it from being seen.

Bart Simpson Goes Full Frontal

The Simpsons are about to make Hollywood history. Not only is the popular series the longest running animated TV show and second-longest running sitcom in U.S. history, the new Simpsons movie will be the first film--animated or not--to have a full-frontal nude scene without being slapped with an R rating. The Simpsons Movie, premiering in July, features Bart skateboarding nude through Springfield on a dare from his father Homer. The nude scene is creating plenty of buzz from major media venues such as Newsweek to college campuses. Although the big-screen exposure is a first for the Simpsons, they are no strangers to nudity. The cover of 1991's The Simpsons's Uncensored Family Album features a nude Bart on a bearskin rug. Bart also appeared nude on the cover of Rolling Stone in a recreation of Nirvana's Nevermind album cover. Plus, the show has aired over 200 differentscenes of implied or pixilated nudity during its nearly two-decade run. Read more at The Simpsons Movie: [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/229085/bart_simpsons_nude_scene.html].

Principal Suspended After Single Nude Photo **UPDATE**

After a nude photo of a Canadian elementary school principal surfaced online, he was put on paid administrative leave while an investigationis being conducted. The photo has been called an"artistic shot" of Principal Mark Classen standing nude on a beach while vacationing in New Zealand. Taken by Classen's wife, the photo was the only nude shot of about 500 travel photosposted on Classen's personal family website. A parent discovered the photo when Classen e-mailed her about a school-related issue and inadvertently attached a link to his personal website. Read more at: [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=jet6k4bab.0.idzqo4bab.pvrzw8bab.255&ts=S0243&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Foffbeat%2Farticles%2F0425nude-principal0425-ON.html].

**UPDATE**
The school district reinstated the Principal! Click here for more. How wonderful that the parents stepped up and supported Principal Classen.

How sad (again) that our society is afraid of the human body. Principal Classen wasn't doing anything wrong, plus these were his PERSONAL pictures... The person had to look at them to find the one picture that had nudity...

Oh well, here at Living Waters Spa we enjoy a clothing optional setting without any hassles or shame. You don't have to be a "nudist" or "naturist" to visit our spa. As we like to say: "All good peoples are welcome."

J & J

Remove a Nude Sculpture - What is with our culture!

Here is the situation: A controversial nude sculpture was removed from a roundabout sculpture park in Loveland,Colorado. Residents were concerned about children viewing the sculpture that depicts two women and one man. Artist Kristin Kokkin wanted the sculpture to be "kind of a wheel so that the energy is flowing from all three of them and it really and truly is how humanity relies on support of people." According to Jim Baldwin, of the Loveland Visual Arts Commission, there has been controversy about every nude that has beenpart of the collection. A poll on cbs4denver.com revealed that 71% of respondentsfelt the statue should not be removed.The 1,200 lb. bronze was moved in a flatbeadtruck across town at a cost of about $8,000. Read the story and watch the video. [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=bnlav5bab.0.juje65bab.pvrzw8bab.255&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fcbs4denver.com%2Ftopstories%2Flocal_story_108074336.html]

What is with our culture!!! If you watch the video there is a young mother who says: "We drive by here every day and I do not want my children to see the nude statue..." Yet I'm sure this mom lets her kids watch "sponge Bob square pants" where cartoon violence, junior high flatulence, and other silliness abounds. Parents allow kids to see such cartoon antics but simple nudity should be banned... I don't get it!

One thing we've noticed at Living Waters Spa is the mental health that simple nudity brings. Most of us in America have been raised by parents like that mom. All the while the media bombards us with sexuality via provocative dress and actions. Normal human bodies are not seen naked. Consequently as we age we develop a negative mental image of our bodies and are frequently ashamed of them. As people come to Living Waters Spa and experience the "joys of skinny-dipping" they at once realize that other people are just like them and their self image is restored.

Give us a call when you are ready to have "more than a vacation" here at Living Waters Spa.

Interesting deveopments in NUDITY in the NEWS

More magazine has covered a variety of topics that deal with the positive aspects of nudity. The April issue features a cover story titled "6 Naked Women Who Love Their Bodies." Photographer Rachel Olson wanted to find out why it takes so long to find our inner beauty without judging ourselves and others by appearances.

Vaseline has entered the nude marketing arena with advertisements for its new Intensive Rescue product line. The ad,Vaseline Sea, is called a celebration of the human skin and features naked men and women enjoying the outdoors.

The Guadalajara Reportersays that nudist and topless beaches are taking off in Mexico. Mexico's nudist tourism niche comprises more than 15 million people each spending $2,000-$6,000 on a week's vacation. U.S. tourists make up 70% of the naturist market in Mexico, followed by Canadians.

Media Images Affect Women's Body Image--But Not Men's

A recent UK poll found that a third of women respondents have such poor body image they think they are too overweight to ever appear naked even in front of their partners. The survey, published in The Daily Telegraph, concluded that "images of stick-thin models and digitally slimmed celebrities are convincing a generation of women to keep their clothes on at all times." Men do not seem to be as affected by media images--two-thirds of those polled said they regularly walk around the house nude. Although 46 percent of the female respondents said they like to do the same, a third of them would never do so when their partner or anyone else could see them.

Each week (if not daily) here at Living Waters Spa people have an "epiphany" about their self image. To see others of all ages, sizes and shapes naked helps undo the brainwashing that the media has done.

Come and experience "more than a vacation" at Living Waters Spa - #1 rated on TripAdvisor.com.

See the full article metioned above here: [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=d4iig5bab.0.7swwm5bab.pvrzw8bab.255&ts=S0243&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fdailytelegraph%2Fstory%2F0%2C22049%2C21463334-5006007%2C00.html

Mark and Brian (KLOS) and Nudity

Here in So. Cal. there is a great morning show hosted by "Mark and Brian" on 95.5 KLOS. These guys are a couple of wacky DJs whose show runs from 6:00am to 10:am Monday thru Friday. The show is syndicated and reaches many distant cities. I LOVE THE SHOW... However,

In typical comedic fashion, they poke fun at being naked. This isn't bad, it is just the typical concept that we Americans have about simple nudity. The other thing they do is associate nudity with sex...

They just concluded a interesting program where they broadcasted from Hedonism in Jamaica.

In typical "girls gone wild" fashion they discussed all the sexual aspects of Hedo (as it is frequently called) and the nudity there. While I'm not against sex, I just find that this association of sex with clothes free vacationing extreemly limited AND it fosters the American belief that nude=sex or nude=lewd.

Imagine if we could get Mark and Brian to do a show here at Living Waters Spa... sure it would be funny with all the stereotypes and all BUT I think we could show them (no pun intended) that simple nudity has much more than sex going for it...

Here is a list of things that we've learned:

§ Deepening of Relationships. A frequent result of a clothing optional experience is that of a deepening relationship with your loved one. Simply trying a new experience together often creates a breakthrough and growth in the relationship -- especially when one or the other has been reluctant. We've also noticed that the reluctant one then becomes the one who can't wait to repeat the Living Waters Spa experience!

§ Body / Self Acceptance. Our culture has been brain washed by the Madison Avenue fashion experts who tell us in picture and words what a “perfect” body is like. How many times have you looked in the mirror and thought disparagingly about your body? Not enough muscle, undefined abs, too little breast, wide hips, or not enough hair, and so it goes. This experience puts you in touch with your body and you see that others are “just like you.” Plus, you realize that the “super models” in life are really not that pretty nude and the magazine “centerfolds” are definitely airbrushed. Bottom line: you realize it doesn’t matter what you look like.

§ Body Demystification. We all have a natural curiosity about the body. In the safe environment of Living Waters Spa the body is allowed to be seen and thus demystified. You see what the clothes are covering. The healthy discovery is made that bodies are similar and at the same time different. People are just like you.

§ People Acceptance. Once people are naked equality takes over. You no longer judge or assess the value of a person by what they wear.

§ Creation Awareness. When we go through life we seldom take “time to smell the roses.” Being in a social nude environment (especially for the first time) causes us to become in touch with the surroundings. People never forget the first time they feel the air and sun on their entire body. The sensation of “being alive” is heightened and the awareness of the world around is enhanced.

§ Communication Expansion. There is something about being in a social setting with other naked people. It might be around the pool, in the hot tub, or even under the sunny sky. But regardless of the context, discussions happen – about all topics too! They occur more frequently and with far more ease than in a clothed environment. You may or may not like to talk to others, but a common exclamation made by those who visit Living Waters Spa is how friendly the others are.

So Mark and Brian -- how about it? Get nekkid and learn more about yourselves than sex! Give us a call and we'll make it happen! 760-329-9988