Isn't nudity sexual?

Most of the people who visit a naturist club/beach for the first time are surprised by the lack of sexuality. Some expect a sexually-charged atmosphere, since in North America we see others nude in sexual situations such as love scenes in movies, in magazines and in videos. However, the link between nudity and sexuality is arbitrary. In Victorian times, to see a woman's knees was very sexual because they were supposed to be hidden all the time. We expose some parts of our bodies which are as sexual as those which we hide. Our lips, for example, are probably as involved in sexuality as our

genital areas, yet people walk around exposing their lips without causing mass arousal.

You will probably find that suggestively clothed people are more arousing than completely nude people. It can be more sexual to wear a bathing suit which subtly hides and emphasizes certain parts of the body. That nudity implies sexuality is the biggest misconception that naturists have to fight. As a result, you may find them to be over-sensitive to it. This is not to say that naturists are against sexuality. They just believe, like most of society, that there is an appropriate time and place for it. It also means that there is nothing wrong with finding a person attractive, whether he or she is nude or not.
Aren't all naturists/nudists exhibitionists?

Exhibitionists expose themselves primarily to shock others. Exhibitionism does not occur in naturism. Exhibitionists find no thrill in naturist environments because of the lack of overt sexuality and their inability to shock anyone. Naturists just want to be nude. If they like to be with others, it's because humans are social creatures. Is being nude illegal? This varies greatly by jurisdiction. In Germany you will find people legally sunbathing nude in city parks. In Denmark, all but two beaches are clothing-optional (that is to say, nudity is permitted). In most western jurisdictions (including Canada) it is legal to be nude on private property so long as you can't be seen by others outside the property. Consequently, all naturist clubs are legal.

It's the many public, clothing-optional beaches which need further discussion. There are many traditionally clothing-optional beaches in Canada which are not being challenged by the authorities. In Canada, the courts have determined that "mere nude sunbathing is not of sufficient moral turpitude to support a charge for doing an indecent act" (R. v. Beaupré, 1971, British Columbia Supreme Court). General public nudity is illegal under Section 174 of the Criminal Code, but the courts have found that "this offence is not aimed at conduct such as swimming nude at an isolated beach, even where the accused misjudges the loneliness of the beach" (R. v. Benolkin, 1977, Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench).