While performing various yoga poses is a challenge on its own, this can become much more challenging if you’re pulling your shorts down or just pausing every moment to adjust your top.
This is where the importance of investing in the proper yoga apparel comes in.
From pants with stretchy fabric to tops that provide the best support, we’ve compiled the wardrobe must-haves for your next yoga class.
What to wear to yoga class
Before diving into the clothes you can wear to yoga class, here are some tips and tricks you can follow when selecting the proper attire:
Make sure your clothes fit properly
Your yoga clothes can help make or break your practice, which makes the process of choosing what you wear to yoga class extremely important.
When you fit your clothes, make sure that they are loose enough so as not to hinder any movements (like stretching and doing different poses) and fit enough so that you won’t have to adjust them or pull them down every time you move.
When it comes to choosing a top, you can opt for stretchy and slightly fitted tees, especially if you are planning on performing inversions like shoulder stands or headstands.
The last thing you want to happen is for your top to fall on your face while you’re upside down and be thrown off balance.
Wear comfortable underwear
When we say invest in quality yoga clothes, this includes your underwear, too. For example, just like your outer clothes, your inner wear should be the right fit for you.
Wearing a loose sports bra might not support your breast tissues well, and wearing underwear that fits too tight won’t give your body the necessary breathing space. Buy innerwear that is true to your body’s size, and if needed, buy new ones as your weight and body change.
Going seamless is also an excellent choice. The bottoms you will be wearing are fitted, and this type of underwear prevents visible lines while offering a comfortable fit.
Aside from that, wearing underwear with a rough fabric can cause rashes and irritation, mainly because you will be sweating and moving a lot during your yoga class.
Also, wear undies with no additional designs like studs or sequins, as this might poke your skin and cause discomfort throughout your yoga session.
Check the fabric
Your yoga clothes should be breathable and support flexibility, which means going for polyester, nylon, or spandex blends. These are moisture-wicking materials and will keep you feeling cool and comfortable for the entire duration of your class.
As much as possible, avoid wearing cotton, as this absorbs and holds moisture and leaves you hot and damp, which might make you feel uncomfortable as your clothes start to get heavy.
Also, check your tops and pants and remove any tags that can cause itchiness and irritation.
Ensure that the waistbands of your pants aren’t too tight to constrict your movements or too saggy that they would fall down every time you stretch.
Avoid clothing with zippers
While it’s alright to wear clothes with zippers on your daily jogging or when doing other forms of sports, it might not be ideal if you are attending your yoga sessions.
Having clothes with a zipper might cause you discomfort if you are lying on your yoga mat while doing some poses, and you might even end up with a small bruise or two.
Be mindful of other people in the class
Remember that you aren’t the only person in your yoga class, so you need to consider other people when choosing what to wear.
For instance, don’t go to class wearing swimwear or underwear. Aside from not having the right support, they also don’t offer the proper coverage, which might leave the people around you feeling uneasy every time you bend or stretch your legs, making them lose focus.
Aside from that, it might also make you feel self-conscious since your body is too exposed.
The last thing you want to happen is for you to lose your focus or be unable to relax because of what you’re wearing.
Clothes you can wear to yoga class
From tops to bottoms, here is a list of the appropriate clothes you can wear to your next yoga class:
Sports Bra
Wearing the appropriate sports bra not only provides the proper coverage for “areas that should be covered” but also gives you the proper support when making yoga poses that require lots of movement.
Choose a yoga bra with soft material (like spandex and polyester) and adjustable straps so you can get the breathability and flexibility you need by customizing your fit as your body changes.
You can opt to wear your sports bra on its own without a t-shirt or tank top, especially in sweatier classes. There are also yoga tops that come with built-in bras.
Yoga Pants or Leggings
If you’re wondering what to wear to yoga and are torn between pants or leggings, here is a simple differentiation between the two: yoga pants typically have higher waistbands, while yoga leggings are basically the same, except they’re thinner and more form-fitting.
So, how should you choose your yoga pants or leggings?
Look for pants with quick-drying fabric (which is usually a nylon, polyester, and spandex blend) that is breathable and stretchable at the same time.
If you want more coverage, you can always opt for high-waist leggings or pants, as these are less likely to slip when you’re stretching or making inverted poses.
Yoga Shorts
If long and fitted yoga pants and leggings aren’t your style, then you can always wear yoga shorts.
If you’re taking hot yoga classes, then spandex yoga shorts are a great option. There are also shorts that reach down to the knees, which can provide you with better coverage when making inverted poses.
Go for yoga shorts with breathable and high-quality fabric, as you don’t want to end up wearing something thin and see-through.
Yoga Jacket or Hoodie
In case you’re planning on running errands after your yoga class, you can use comfortable yoga clothing that can serve as a cover-up, like a jacket or hoodie.
We’re not talking about any jacket or hoodie, too—we’re talking about those that are made from polyester and spandex for a stretchy and comfortable fit.
This can be pretty useful, especially during winter months.
Yoga Tops
Whether you’re looking for cropped tops, sweatshirts, stretchy tees, or tank tops, ensure that you are choosing a yoga top that is lightweight, breathable, and provides a comfortable fit so your movements won’t be restricted in any way.
Avoid tops with itchy tags or those that chafe under the armpits.
When buying a top, you can give it a test run by bending forward and touching your toes. If the top gaps at the chest or falls over your head, then you should exchange it for a top with a tighter fit.
There are also tops with built-in sports bras, so you can feel a little less hot during your practice.
Yoga Socks
Although doing yoga barefoot is ideal, you can still invest in a good-quality pair of yoga socks for some added warmth, especially during wintertime.
When choosing socks, go for thick and stretchy materials that will provide you with the traction and grip needed while giving your feet the space to move freely.
Great quality yoga socks are made with anti-slip fabric (those that have tiny plastic treads on the bottom), so you can practice yoga safely, no matter how tricky or complicated the pose gets.
If you’re not a fan of wearing socks to class, ensure that you are using a non-slip yoga mat, or simply place a towel on top of your yoga mat. For a list of yoga mats we recommend, see our articles on best yoga mats for every type of practitioner.
Yoga Leotard or Bodysuit
As the name suggests, yoga leotards/bodysuits are one-piece clothing (or onesies) that should fit you like a glove from top to bottom.
Most yoga bodysuits don’t have waistbands, which means your midsection can breathe freely and bend with no restrictions.
When choosing a yoga leotard, make sure that it fits you perfectly (like a glove) and that the thicker the straps of your onesie are, the less likely they will slip off your shoulder as you perform different yoga poses.
How to take care of your yoga clothes
Since you will be using your yoga clothing for a long time, it is essential that you take good care of them. Here are some steps you can follow to make your clothes last a long time:
Do not dry clean
Some chemicals used in dry cleaning can be harsh on fabrics used in your yoga clothing. Instead of dropping it over to the dry cleaner, just hand-wash your clothes at home after every session.
Air drying is the best option
While you can tumble-dry your yoga clothing at a low setting, nothing beats the good old-fashioned air drying.
Since these are made from moisture-wicking fabric, they tend to dry very quickly, so there is no need to use a dryer.
Aside from that, the heat from the dryer can also cause your yoga clothing to shrink, which makes air drying the best option to dry your clothes.
Don’t put sweaty yoga clothing in the hamper
If you can’t wash it right away, the best thing to do is to hang it to dry so that it won’t end up stinky.
In case you forgot to get your yoga wear out of your bag and it now stinks, you can try to soak it in a baking soda plus vinegar combination, then proceed to hand wash and air dry it.
As much as possible, wash your yoga clothes and towel immediately after every session to avoid bacteria build-up so you can prolong the life of your clothing.
Don’t use fabric softener
Athleisure clothing has a property called “wicking,” which pulls the moisture from your skin and causes it to evaporate as you are working out.
Fabric softeners can prevent wicking, leaving your sweat trapped between your clothes and your skin, which can leave you feeling uncomfortable or, worse, trap the heat in your body while on the mat.
Wash your yoga clothes alone
Never mix your yoga clothing with your other clothes, especially those made from cotton, since this will cause the formation of small lint balls in your shirts.
Aside from that, washing your yoga clothing with your other underwear (like your underwire bras) might end up destroying your yoga outfit if the hooks of your bras get stuck to its fabric.
It would also be best to wash your pants inside out to ensure that you are getting as much sweat off as possible.
Final Thoughts
Choosing underwear, sports bras, tops, and bottoms for your yoga classes all have one thing in common—they should be lightweight, breathable, and stretchy enough to accommodate your body movements as you stretch and pose.
They should be made from moisture-wicking fabric, too, like polyester, nylon, and spandex, so that they would not retain moisture and you won’t end up with rashes or feeling hot during your practice.
Just like a yoga mat, good quality yoga clothing is an investment you shouldn’t skimp on.
FAQs
What shoes do you wear to yoga?
You can wear any shoes on the way to your yoga class, as you’ll be barefoot in the studio. Just opt for something that is easy to slip on and off, like sneakers, slides, or sandals.
Is it better to do yoga barefoot or in socks?
It is better to attend your yoga class barefoot, as this increases your feet’s strength and improves the efficiency of your leg movements.
While wearing socks is perfectly fine, it may cause some issues with grip since yoga mats are designed to be used barefoot, and you might end up sliding if you wear socks.
Are shorts or leggings better for yoga?
Leggings with thick waistbands are better if you are doing lots of inverted poses.
It is also preferred when doing hot yoga since wearing shorts can make your legs sweaty and slippery, making it complicated to perform leg poses and arm balances.