How we dress for yoga, particularly the yoga pants we wear, is an important part of preparing for yoga and committing fully to our practice. This week, we’re sharing a short back to basics guide for how to choose the right yoga pants and explaining why our yoga clothing can be an integral part of a successful and grounded yoga routine.
Start with the type of yoga
The type of yoga that we do should influence the yoga pants that we choose for that yoga style. For example, for hot yoga, a seamless and more breathable yoga pant is needed. For a vinyasa flow, something that is looser and allows seamless transitions between postures is important. Hatha yoga works well with a classic bootcut pant as the poses are slower and more static.
Go for comfort
Wearing yoga pants that are too tight, too low on the waist or aren’t made from the right material can mean we spend less time focusing on our class and more time trying to adjust what we’re wearing. So as not to disrupt our practice, having the right fitting yoga pants and yoga clothing is essential. We don’t want to be clinging, mentally or physically, because of our clothing.
Consider the technical details
Clothing features such as seamless material, a tight cuff or three quarter length are all details we should pay attention to, as they can help (or hinder) depending on the yoga style we’re trying to pursue. For example, holding a crow pose or tougher balance-based postures require yoga pants that don’t slip and don’t get caught. Alternatively, draw string, a high waisted pant is perfect for poses that require an inversion or a downward dog so that the pants stay up when we need them to.
Think about the look
The overall look we’re going for, and other items that we choose to pair with our yoga pants, also require thought. For example, loose pants and a tight vest top for Bikram yoga will keep us cool yet supported, and clothing that has more ‘give’ is great for a flow-based class. As with any yoga style, equilibrium is key, and this should be reflected in what we wear as well as how we show up to our practice.