KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 4, 2025) — As International Women’s Day will soon be celebrated Saturday, March 8, 2025, the American Association for Nude Recreation (aanr.com) is taking this opportunity to share with you the thoughts and insights presented by the leaders within Women in Nude Recreation (WINR), Andee Rodgers and Linda Weber, AANR president.  WINR is a group within the American Association for Nude Recreation and its members celebrate the day (and every day) promoting the achievements of women globally.

To quote Andee, we are a “community of sisters.”  Here’s her story.  It’s one of inspiration that the sisterhood of readers will find timely as we approach this auspicious Day:

It is a magical thing when women gather together.  We inspire and encourage each other. Build each other up. When we gather, we share our experiences and wisdom.  It’s a sisterhood where we can release our ideas and emotions, not suppress them. That concept is at the heart of what Women in Nude Recreation, WINR, is all about.  To encourage women to connect on a one-on-one basis, in a group, or online through several media sources.

It can be a very difficult thing to love yourself or to love your body. I know this because it took me 50 years to achieve it. It wasn’t until I met the amazing women in nude recreation that I was able to accept myself with all my imperfections. My beautiful friend Diane showed me that, yes, we are imperfect by society’s standards. So let’s dump those standards and reclaim the word to mean ImPerfect instead. Making that connection substantially impacted my mental well-being. That led to body acceptance.

Once we achieve those steps, that makes us an unstoppable force for whatever we choose to do.

There are so many other benefits in the nudist community. Finding a circle of women to trust and connect with is among one of the best. In our groups whether it’s just a few women sharing coffee on their deck, a group doing water aerobics, or attending a WINR function, we build each other up through community, connection and camaraderie.

Community

History shows us that, “women have been joining in sacred circles for thousands of years. Gathering together for community, storytelling, and ritual has been an important source of connection for women from many cultures and traditions.” ² Sacred circles are still very much alive and thriving in today’s society. You may already be mirroring what these women started ages ago by simply getting together with the women you know.

Setting time aside to just be together with your circle of friends.  There are also WINR groups operating throughout the U.S. with the same premise these circles have used for all these centuries.  Either way,  it creates a community of women who come together to share joys and struggles. To listen and not judge.  A safe place.

Connection

Spending time together has a myriad of benefits. Women build each other up. What is unique in the nudist world is that we spend time complimenting instead of criticizing. We help each other find talents and strengths we may not see in ourselves.  Sharing our experiences connects us as do the emotions that go along with those experiences. Just by being together we can release any anxiety we might be experiencing. Once released, we can let go of that pressure and just be.  We glean life lessons and form healing bonds through this sisterhood. That is a powerful tool for our mental well-being.

Camaraderie

Getting away from the tasks of our daily lives is key. And, it’s just plain fun.  Whether you’re learning how to craft a gorgeous charcuterie board or wine tasting, my personal favorite, spending time with other women is critical. I encourage you to find your circle of women and spend a dedicated amount of time together.  Set a date once a month or weekly if you can. Do something new for fun or pick a topic to discuss that will deepen your relationships.

Notes Andee, “I would not have the mental well-being and confidence I have today without the support and love of my sisters in nudism. Women from all walks of life and from all over the world; we have connected on so many levels.  This is uniquely possible in the nudist community. Conversation comes easy because it feels like we’ve always known each other.

That is commonplace in the nudist community, but even more so when women get together and share their stories. When the concept of Women In Nude Recreation, WINR, began, having community, connection and camaraderie were the core goals. Today WINR is going strong whether there is a formal group through a nudist club or you have a circle of women you spend time with regularly.   Either way, we are a special community of women encouraging and empowering each other to make a difference in the world.”

Adds AANR president, Linda Weber, “The media has long promoted unrealistic beauty standards, often pressuring women to alter their appearance through cosmetic procedures, restrictive undergarments, and countless beauty products. However, true confidence comes from self-acceptance, not external modifications.

Nudism offers a unique opportunity to embrace your natural self, free from societal expectations. By letting go of artificial beauty standards, you can experience a profound sense of self-acceptance, a healthier mind-body connection, and the joy of genuine camaraderie with like-minded women. Plus, as an added bonus—less laundry!”

CHECK IT OUT

✔Check out the WINR WOW campaigns on the Women In Nude Recreation website.  Enjoy the encouraging and empowering stories of the WOW women.  Another new feature on the website is This Is My Story.  Many women cannot yet join in a club or function but have found hope through the WINR website, on A Naturist Hub or through the AANR Online Meet and Greet opportunity which has a breakout room just for women to talk.

✔Check out the established WINR groups on the website as well.  There are just a few listed currently, but more are being added as we learn about them.  See if there is one near you that you can attend. Or if you are a single woman traveling alone, know that there is a WINR group that you can make a connection with.

✔If you do choose to create an established WINR group, it’s very simple.  Gather your circle of women, give yourselves a name, then set your goals for your group. Do you want to meet every week or is once a month a more realistic goal?  Your group will then be listed on the WINR website so other women can see where you’re located and possibly want to join in your circle.

WINR is always looking for new ideas on how to accomplish these goals.  Have an idea?  Great. Please connect by sending an email to andee.rodgers@aanr.com.