A HAMPSHIRE exercise class for people in the nude launched its first class on Saturday.

The Nude-ercise session takes place on every third Saturday of the month at Nursling Village Hall in Southampton.

The first class saw ten people follow instructions from personal trainer Helen Smith.

Helen, from Basingstoke, is also a member of naturist group, British Naturism, and runs the hour-long class for a price of £8 from 5pm.

Helen, 35, said: “I think people are starting to embrace naturism more and more. The idea behind it is that it’s your natural body and there’s nothing sexual about it.

“The main benefit of exercising naked is that you can really see what the instructor is doing in the exercises. You also don’t have to think about washing sweaty gym clothes after the class.

“People are required to pre-register by emailing me and to show ID at the beginning, just for everyone’s peace of mind.”

The class featured participants between the ages of 33 and 70 with the activity being described as a gentle boot camp. It included jumping jacks, sit ups and partner work.

Helen left her job as a recruitment consultant two years ago to become a full-time fitness instructor and was inspired to become a naturist after visiting a nude beach in southern France.

Helen said: “I was on holiday with my partner and we turned up at a naturist beach and thought ‘let’s do it’ and it was a really enjoyable afternoon. People are starting to embrace naturism more and more.

“In this day and age you have pop stars wearing scantily-clad clothing and on the other hand you have things like naked bike rides.”

Other classes will take place in London as well as other places including Reading, Guildford and Alton.