Yoga outfit
You've found your first yoga class? You are motivated, ready to walk through the door and meet other practitioners. But a question suddenly comes to your mind. What yoga outfit should you wear? Are there clothes to avoid?
I've been thinking about this question for you and I figured that over my years of practice, I've made a few balls about yoga clothing. From the shorts that are a little too loose that you no longer assume in some postures, to the t-shirt that drips on your face in inversion... I decided to put my years of experience to good use to help you choose your future yoga outfit. I promise, you won't make the same mistakes I made with these tips.
Find your yoga outfit
Whether they are close to the body, brightly colored or white, for men or women, your yoga clothing must meet these three criteria:
- Anti-perspirant
- Comfortable
- Ease of movement
You don't really know what that means? Here are a few more detailed explanations...
Anti-perspirant
The first essential point for your yoga clothes is that they must be designed in a technical material. Yes, yoga is a physical practice where you sweat easily. Therefore, it is important to choose clothes designed in a material adapted to sportsmen and women as much as possible. You don't want to feel sweaty from the beginning of the class and be noticed for that reason.
Comfortable
Next, your yoga outfit should be comfortable. This is not the time to think about your back itching at the seams or your brassiere tightening at the chest. Preferably, your ideal yoga clothes will be seamless, made of a soft material that feels soft on the skin and won't be too tight.
But comfort also comes from an outfit that makes you feel good. No question of having a t-shirt that reveals your belly once you're upside down as a dog if you don't like to show it, or a very tight fit if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Prefer yoga outfits in materials and cuts close to what you are used to wearing. Buy the one you have a crush on, but especially the one you feel like yourself in.
In fact, you will surely discover that yoga classes place you in a certain proximity with other practitioners. Their mat is often close to yours, either next to or behind you. Having appropriate yoga clothing will therefore be essential to feel comfortable. Adios outfits that mold too many intimate parts of your body, materials that are too thin and transparent, those that slide to the side and reveal squares of skin that you would prefer to keep dressed. We want to feel good!
Ease of movement
If this is your first class, don't think of a yoga session as a gathering of pretty women in tight outfits, dressed in a simple bra with a plunging neckline. Forget the idea that indoor yoga outfits are inspired by the yogagirl hashtag on Instagram. That's not true... In fact, soft pajamas would probably do the trick when practicing. And between you and me, this is my favorite yoga outfit when I'm at home.
When one speaks about ease of movement, one suspects that the sexy outfits do not really have their place on the mat. To practice yoga is also to be oneself in all simplicity. In fact, if you ever visit an ashram as part of a yoga class, you will see that it is forbidden to wear clothes that are too tight and to reveal one's forms out of respect for the teachers and practitioners. Personally, I have had the same yoga outfits for years. They are the ones where I feel good and where I am free to move as I see fit.
Choose your yoga outfit
This is all well and good, but how do you build a yoga outfit with these elements? Here is to help you, the yoga clothes for women, to privilege during your first yoga class:
• a sports bra.
• a t-shirt or tank top.
• sports leggings.
Yoga underwear
For more comfort, ladies, avoid fine lingerie. Prefer a cotton panty or shorty and a sports bra. The latter does not need to hold the chest firmly, as a running bra would do. Also be aware of the thin straps that could injure your shoulders in some stretches.
Most of the time, yoga is practiced barefoot, to have a better anchorage on the ground. It also allows for better stabilization during balance postures. But in winter, especially at the beginning of the session, it can be complicated to take off your socks. Thus, there are non-slip yoga socks that allow you to easily keep your balance and to feel the support on the ground.
Of course, this is not an obligation during your practice. A pair of classic thin socks can also be a good option to get started. It's up to you to see if it will be useful.
Tee shirt
There is something that still happens to me on a regular basis, as I am in a forward bent posture... Suddenly, my shirt falls in front of my face, depriving me of my sight and concentration. While we say it once and for all, most T-shirts are not suitable for yoga practice.
In fact, if you have high waist pants, you can always slip them inside to avoid this inconvenience. But before having this idea, it will surely tickle your nostrils a few times...
Over the years, I now think it's best to wear a tank top for her yoga practice. Choose it in a material close to the body. This will ensure that it won't come off your stomach when you do inversions.
Among the yoga clothes to avoid as well are hooded sweaters. They fall on your head and block your ears during certain postures. This is a disaster! Similarly, avoid overly sophisticated outfits, open-backed for example, which keep you cold and make you uncomfortable in certain positions.
In winter, you will obviously be able to wear a comfortable sweater, at least for the beginning of the class and for relaxation. The Namasté model from Yoga Searcher has been making my eyes pop for a while. Wearing a sweater is also an excellent choice if you practice Nidra Yoga, a practice in which you will do few movements. Of course, you probably have a comfortable sweater at home. So you don't have to buy one to start yoga.
Shorts or leggings
Yoga leggings are certainly the most suitable and comfortable outfits to feel good during a session. They can be chosen with a knee or ankle length, depending on the season. You will see it in class, originality is common in the models of yoga leggings on sale.
The problem with yoga leggings is that they are tight. It is not necessarily the women's yoga clothing where everyone will feel comfortable. One will be able to thus choose rather a flexible and ample pants for its practice.
In summer, one will be able to practise in shorts. Some are well adapted to yoga. But beware of models that may make you uncomfortable in certain group positions. In the Iyengar yoga, you will see that one often wears typical shorts, whose cut is specific to this practice. This makes it easier to stabilize yourself. For example, in the tree posture, you can put your foot directly on your leg for better balance. The shorts have a functional purpose.
In any case, avoid zippers on the bottom of your yoga outfit. They could be disturbing once you're lying on the mat.
And the hair?
If you're wondering, know that yes, you can do yoga with your hair loose. However, in some styles of yoga, if your hair is long, it may be in the way. For example, when you come upside down as a dog...
A simple ponytail is a good choice, even if it may be uncomfortable when lying on your back. It is however the hairstyle that I have chosen for years, because I didn't know how to do other more technical hairstyles. If you are not like me, you can choose to make a braid. Otherwise, you can always loosen your ponytail every time you lie on your back.
Yoga outfit: what to avoid?
For me, the best yoga outfit is really the one where you feel most comfortable. Personally, I choose it with bright, energizing colors and with a material close to the body. This is what I appreciate because it helps me better understand my alignment. I consider that a looser outfit would prevent me from doing so, but it's a very personal choice.
However, you will have understood that you will have to avoid very beautiful but uncomfortable clothes, big socks that prevent you from feeling your support as well as outfits that are a little too sexy. But that's not all.
The jewels which you wear daily will be to put aside. Watch, necklace will certainly be uncomfortable during your practice. The ticking of your watch could be detrimental to the relaxation of other practitioners and the noise of your bracelets that also rattle. It is therefore better to leave them at home.
Also, avoid wearing perfume just before your session. The scent of perfume is not suitable for everyone and could disturb the other students.
One last thing to remember: when you enter a yoga room, you will often be asked to take off your shoes at the entrance.
That said, apart from certain types of yoga that have specific outfits (such as Kundalini yoga which is practiced in white), there is no need to ask yourself thousands of questions before your yoga class. The world of yoga is open-minded...
How much does a good yoga outfit cost?
It is not always necessary to have a complete yoga outfit purchased as such. Most yoga students, male or female, are already practicing a parallel sport activity. If this is the case for you as well, I think you will probably find a suitable outfit in your closet. However, having at least one pair of yoga pants that is adapted to the postures and comfortable will help you feel comfortable during your sessions. The motivational factor it implies is also not negligible: "Quick, a next yoga session. I will be able to try on my new leggings! "(lived). A yoga leggings is therefore a good first purchase, which could, why not, be the only one for your yoga outfit. Count between 20 and 40 $ depending on the brand.
For the top, between the bra and the tank top, ladies, you will have to count between 20 and 30 $ for women's yoga clothes adapted to your morphology and comfortable. For the men, the necessary should already be at home, a simple tee-shirt a little bit tight can be adapted. Otherwise, count about 10 $ to get one.
Last detail that will make the difference for your comfort ... I think a small towel should always be in your yoga bag, in addition to your water bottle. Indeed, it allows you to avoid slipping in certain postures where you will sweat from your hands. Also, you can wipe yourself with it if you practice Hot Yoga. The microfiber towels, which dry quickly, will be very suitable.
Of course, the yoga mat will be a central element during your sessions. That's why I've devoted an entire article to it to help you choose it.
Now you know how to choose your ideal yoga outfit for practice. That said, it may already be in your dressing room. So avoid unnecessary purchases for your first yoga class and choose a simple outfit, where you're comfortable and don't have to spend a lot of money. I know that, as a woman, you rarely miss an opportunity to buy new clothes... But, what if you took the example of Monsieur for once? I'm sure he hasn't even read the whole paragraph about him, thinking, "Well, after all, I'll put on my soccer shorts and basketball shirt and that'll be fine". We said to the most practical!
