It's difficult enough to practise downward dog or try a new balance position at the yoga class, but it gets even more difficult when you have to adjust your drooping, too-tight, or uncomfortable yoga attire. For this reason, it's critical to buy clothing that is comfortable, flexible, and breathable.
The type of yoga you intend to practise and your own preferences will play a major role in the clothes you buy for yoga. In summary, however, here's what to wear to yoga (for a more thorough explanation of these fundamentals, see below):
1. Breathable, flexible bottoms, such as shorts or yoga pants
2. A top that fits snugly or narrowly, breathes well, and doesn't hang over your head when you're upside down.
3. A sports bra or integrated shelf bra for women that provides adequate support for the kind of yoga you're doing
4. A cosy, heated top layer for corpse pose at the end of the class or for cooling down afterward.
Features To Consider In Yoga Clothes
Blends of polyester, nylon, and spandex are used in a lot of yoga clothing, and for good reason—they provide the ideal ratio of cosiness, breathability, and flexibility.
1. Comfort
Nothing is worse than doing yoga while wearing uncomfortable attire. You don't want to focus on itchy seams and tags, loose or too tight waistbands, or fabric that chafes and binds while you check in to your body.
2. Capability To Breathe
You may or may not perspire a lot when doing yoga, depending on the style. Wearing breathable and moisture-wicking materials will help you stay cool and comfortable, especially if you perspire a lot. Yoga trousers with mesh pockets, tank tops and shirts with cutouts will all enhance ventilation and breathability. Steer clear of cotton, which retains moisture, makes you feel hot and humid, and increases your risk of chafing or being cold when class ends.
3. Adaptability
Bending, stretching, binding, lunging, reaching, and rolling are all part of yoga. Your clothing will most likely contain at least 15% spandex because it must be able to withstand these movements.
Attire For Yoga Classes
Yoga clothing is part of the "athleisure" trend, which indicates that wearers are more interested in fashion than practicality these days. As a result, yoga clothing is now available with pockets, mesh cutouts, vivid colours, wacky designs, and other features. Even though this is all very enjoyable, keep in mind that function comes first if you intend to wear your clothes to a real yoga class: When trying on clothing, try the garment's flexibility and comfort by performing a few yoga poses in the changing room or at home (high crescent lunge and downward facing dog are fantastic alternatives).
Typical yoga clothing items include:
1. Yoga Pants Or Leggings
There are several types of yoga pants available in different lengths and sizes from yoga apparel brands. Like with other yoga apparel, choose leggings or yoga pants (terms that are fairly interchangeable) that provide a comfortable, flexible, and breathable blend. A fantastic option are trousers made of a blend of nylon, polyester and spandex, which not only wick perspiration but also move with you through postures.
High-waisted leggings or pants may be a smart option if you're worried about coverage when bending and stretching; they're usually less likely to slip during a quick practice or ride down too far during inverted positions like downward dog. The majority of leggings range in length from midcalf to entire leg. For slower-paced yoga courses, such as restorative or yin, loose-fitting trousers can be a good choice. However, as they can restrict movement, they are usually not advised for power vinyasa classes. If you do decide to wear baggy trousers to a strenuous yoga class, search for styles that fit snugly around the ankle.
2. Shorts For Yoga
Men's yoga shorts with integrated liners are produced by certain companies to provide comfort during elongated, bending poses. As an alternative, you can select knee-length yoga shorts that are longer and can help with coverage when performing inversions. Typically designed for women, spandex yoga shorts are problematic since they ride up during practice and don't offer enough coverage for challenging poses. But for others, especially in hot yoga classes when there's a lot of heat and perspiration, they're the most comfortable choice.
Generally speaking, stay away from yoga pants that are made of cotton, sagging (which often happens with low-rise, too-tight trousers), or too thin and see-through. If you practise building up heat, keep in mind that having more fabric covering your legs during arm-balancing poses can assist prevent your legs from slipping off your perspiring arms.
3. Yoga Mats
Most yogis, regardless of style, like to wear tight-fitting T-shirts or tank tops that hug the waist and hips. When bending forward, the shirt fits narrowly, preventing it from going over your head. For sweaty classes, shirts with soft seams and breathable, moisture-wicking materials are an excellent choice. Steer clear of tops that chafe under your armpits and tags that irritate. A lot of yoga tank tops also come with integrated sports bras.
In the dressing room, test your yoga top by leaning forward to touch your toes. Does it fall over your head or gap at the chest? If so, exchange it for a more fitted shirt. As usual, stay away from cotton.
4. Yoga Jackets And Sweaters
You might want a warm, cosy yoga cover-up, such as a jacket, quarter-zip, or sweatshirt, if you have errands to run afterclass. This is particularly useful in the wintertime after a hot class: Wearing extra layers can help you avoid becoming cold right away as you leave the heated area.
5. Bras For Sports
Your needs for coverage and bra size will determine which sports bra is best for you. High-intensity classes, such as power vinyasa, usually call for additional assistance because you'll be twisting and inverting (going upside down). A lesser degree of support is perfectly OK if you intend to participate in a low-intensity session, such as restorative yoga or yin. It's important to note that, in hotter courses, many female yogis just wear sports bras—neither a tank top nor a T-shirt. There are yoga shirts and tanks that already have bras integrated in.
6. Socks For Yoga
To prevent their feet from slipping on the yoga mat, some people choose to wear socks. Yoga toe socks are also available; most have plastic treads on the bottom to keep them from sliding. If you would prefer not to wear socks to class, think about adding a yoga towel to your current mat or purchasing a non-slip yoga mat.
7. Breathable panties
Yoga requires sweating and movement, just like any other sport, therefore you should wear base layers that don't bunch, breathe, and wick moisture. Cotton is not a good option for this. Purchase pants that won't rub against your skin or shift around too much while you perform deep stretches. Some people would rather not wear knickers and instead wear formfitting yoga pants.
How To Maintain Your Yoga Wear?
The majority of yoga clothing will include washing instructions, but generally speaking, it's a good idea to flip your equipment inside out, wash it in cold water, and then tumble dry it for a brief period of time on low heat. If you have the time, hang your equipment to dry rather than using a dryer; this will extend the life of your clothes. In case the colours bleed, wash brightly coloured apparel separately for the first few washes. Also, as cotton fibres stick to yoga clothes, wash your yoga gear separately from cotton goods like towels.
