Gym offers naked exercise sessions - Spain

Gym offers naked exercise sessions

A Spanish gym has plummeted to new depths in a bid to attract customers and is now offering users the opportunity to exercise in the nude.

Two naked fitness enthusiasts look to get into shape (Picture: Easy Gym)

The move by the Basque-based Easy Gym has been prompted by a noticeable decline in membership, which the owners believe is the result of the nation's recession.

Whether the initiative will pay off remains to be seen, as sweaty body marks on machines often prove the bane of gym users' lives, even with the presence of clothes.

Speaking to the BBC, gym owner Merche Laseca was keen to stress that the idea had been motivated by a finances, rather than any strongly-held belief that people should be allowed to work out in the buff.

Mr Laseca said: 'I'm not a nudist myself, though I have no problem with it. But this initiative is about the money.'

The idea emerged after gym owners found out two local swimming pools were offering monthly nude bathing sessions, which had proved popular.

While the idea of exercising in the nude is unlikely to be to everyone's taste, evidence suggests that this was the preference among athletes in Ancient Greece.

The original Olympic Games, a tradition which dates back more than 3,000 years, is widely believed to have been performed in the nude, based on written accounts and ancient artistic renderings.

While the reasons remain unclear, some have suggested that this was to prevent women from dressing up and taking part in the exclusively male event.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/861754-gym-offers-naked-exercise-sessions#ixzz1Kp3KCBXx