Despite what it may sound like, there is nothing sexual or "dirty" about nude exercise. Rather, it is merely an additional option for people to stay interested in working out. Certain sports, such as yoga and swimming, are particularly conducive to the practice, given the right conditions. Nude exercise comes with its own set of joys and precautions.

Here are 5 tips for starting your own nude exercise program.

Tip #1: Start at home: If you are like most people, you would never dare set foot in any public place in the buff. Regardless of what the future holds for you, take baby steps into the world of nude exercise by starting at home. The key is preparation. I suggest investing in a low-cost exercise mat in order to protect your exposed knees and elbows. Prepare your workout area by moving aside any potentially dangerous obstructions such as furniture. Also, ready at least two towels: one small personal towel and a large towel for placing on the floor or mats. You can find many excellent and legitimate nude exercise videos to get you started on the right moves.

Tip #2: Be safe: Nude exercise can be a wonderful way to lose extra pounds. You will stay cooler, and the lack of clothing will allow more unrestricted movement. At the same time, be extra cautious with certain movements. Whether you are a man or a woman, certain parts of your body might be more prone to injury than with clothed exercise. I suggest starting out by doing each new exercise very slowly, checking that your movements do not put you at any risk. Be particularly careful if you are using dumbbells or other special equipment.

Tip #3: Be respectful of others: Nudism is only accepted by a tiny portion of the population. Many people find nudism embarrassing, offensive, or even morally wrong. Even if you do not agree with anti-nudist opinions, be sure to remain respectful of the right of others not to see you nude. This includes drawing the blinds before working out and ensuring that others will not be entering your workout space anytime during your workout.

Tip #4: Join a nudist club or resort: Once you have gotten used to working out at home and have decided that nude exercise is right for you, look into joining a nudist resort, club or tour: they are on the rise globally. And, most of them have fully-equipped gyms. So, work up your confidence about being nude around others and branch out into some new territory.

Tip #5: Try a nude public gym: Nude exercise gyms do exist: one Dutch gym has now opened up its doors to nudists and others are sure to follow. Some of the complaints people have when working out in a nude gym include initial self-consciousness and fear of the occasional unseemly view of a fellow workout patron. However, most report that the self-consciousness quickly goes away once one sees that everyone else is nude, too. If you are squeamish about watching other people workout, avoid positioning yourself behind the treadmills or stationary bikes.

Nude exercise is not for everyone. But, for people who have lost the motivation to work out or who just feel restricted by excess clothing and want to try something new, nude exercise can be a viable option. Be sure to be safe, sanitary, and respectful of others and you can have a successful experience working out in the buff.