What to look for in yoga clothing

When choosing yoga attire, there are a few key things you’ll want to look out for. Next time you go shopping, think about these key features so you can feel confident and comfortable on your yoga mat. 

Breathability

When you are quickly transitioning from pose to pose, you are likely to get a little sweaty, especially if you are doing power yoga, Bikram yoga or Ashtanga yoga. To avoid overheating, it is a good idea to opt for materials like lightweight cotton blends, spandex and polyester. If your clothing is made up of a small percentage of nylon, that is fine too. In a lot of cases, you are likely to buy yoga clothing that is a combination of these fabrics. 

Stretchy materials

Flexibility is a biggie when it comes to yoga. Clothing made from stretchy fabrics, such as polyester, spandex and nylon, allows you to move freely from one position to another. The goal is to be able to achieve a full range of motion without worrying about your clothes tearing or ripping at the seams. 

Support

Yoga often involves a lot of upside-down poses such as headstands or downward dog. When gravity is working against you, it is important to wear supportive clothing that holds everything in place. You don’t want a distracting, loose top impairing your vision when you go upside down! 

Comfort

Comfy clothes are essential for yoga, as they allow you to concentrate fully on your yoga practice without distractions. Make sure your yoga clothes fit well without being too tight or restrictive. At the same time, you also won’t want anything too loose that requires you to constantly be pulling it up in the middle of your session. Presence is important in yoga and uncomfortable clothing will only detract from your ability to focus on your body and how it feels. 

What to wear to a hot yoga class

As the name suggests, hot yoga can get very hot and sweaty. For these classes, it is probably worth choosing yoga shorts and a lightweight singlet top or t-shirt made from breathable materials. If you are comfortable showing a little extra skin, you can ditch the top altogether and wear your sports bra on its own. By dressing appropriately for hot yoga, you can prevent yourself from overheating or, worse yet, passing out. 

Should you wear shoes to yoga?

Generally, it is not recommended to wear shoes during yoga, as it can impact your flow of movement. Being barefoot during your yoga practice will help ground you to your yoga mat and improve stability. If you’re not comfortable going barefoot, yoga socks can be a good alternative. Yoga socks offer great grip in comparison to regular socks which could lead to slipping. 

What should you not wear to yoga?

When choosing yoga, it is best to avoid loose, sheer, revealing clothing and opt for comfortable yet functional pieces.  You should also avoid any accessories that will distract you from your yoga flow. Here’s what to avoid: 

• Loose-fitting shorts or short-shorts: If you don’t want to accidentally expose yourself, stay away from extremely short or loose-fitting shorts. They may also make you feel self-conscious and take your mind away from your yoga session.
• A loose-fitting or revealing shirt: Similarly, loose-fitting or overly revealing tops may result in wardrobe mishaps. Stay away from them if possible. 
• Thin leggings: Always opt for a pair of quality leggings that aren’t overly thin. If you’ve had your leggings for a long time and you notice they are starting to get super worn, it may be time to get a new pair. 
• Sneakers: A pair of quality sneakers are great for exercise and everyday wear but not so great for yoga. Lots of jewellery:  Dangly necklaces, bracelets and rings will only get in the way. Plus, a lot of jewellery doesn’t react well to sweat, so take it off beforehand to keep it in good condition. 
  
  

What is the proper attire for yoga

When building your yoga wardrobe, you’ll want to make sure you have a rotation of staple pieces. Here are our top picks:

Tights or yoga pants

Tights or leggings are a popular choice for yogis, as they have a lot of stretch. They provide you with total flexibility to execute each position to the best of your ability. If you are looking for quality tights and leggings, we’ve got some great pairs of Nike leggings, adidas leggings and Lorna Jane leggings with your name on them.

In saying that, not everyone is comfortable in such form-fitting clothes. For something a little less form-fitting, opt for yoga pants which are a little bit looser around the legs. 

Yoga shorts

Yoga shorts are another great option, particularly if you tend to get hot quite easily. When doing yoga practices that cause you to break a sweat, it might pay to pre-empt this with shorts instead of full-length tights or ⅞ tights. Like tights and yoga pants, yoga shorts are super stretchy and allow you to achieve a full range of motion for challenging poses. 

Yoga top

When choosing a yoga top, it can be beneficial to opt for a breathable yet form-fitting style. As mentioned previously, yoga often involves a lot of upside-down moves like downward dog or headstands, so it pays to wear a top that won’t gape or get in the way. A form-fitting top is also more likely to prevent any unwanted outfit malfunctions that result in you showing more skin than you intended. 

Sports bra

A common question that has been circulating the internet is “do I need to wear a bra to practice yoga?” In short, the answer is yes.  Although some yoga classes are low-intensity, like vinyasa or flow yoga, it still pays to wear a supportive sports bra. If you aren’t sure how to find the perfect sports bra, check out our sports bra guide for some extra tips and tricks. To choose the right bra for yoga, it might also be helpful to read our guide on understanding bra tech. 

Must-have yoga accessories

Once you’ve got your yoga clothes sussed, it is time to think about yoga accessories. Check out some of our must-have picks below.