One of
the major attractions to practicing yoga is how basic the activity
is. Unlike other sports, pricy equipment or apparel is not necessary
to enjoy the holistic, enlightening effects. It’s also not all
about fashion; any type of comfortable clothing is appropriate for
a workout session.
Yoga wear is made to better facilitate the practice of yoga. Usually
made with a breathable and comfortable fabric, yoga bottoms are designed
to be just tight enough to keep the cuffs from sliding up on your
leg (in inverted or standing poses, for example) but loose enough
for quality stretching and range of motion. The best yoga clothing
is light, breathable and does not hinder movement. For these reasons,
sweatshirt, jeans or corduroy are not very conducive to a successful
session.
Yoga wear is by no means required for the practice of yoga. If you’re
comfortable in the tank top and sweatpants in which you sleep, or
don’t have a budget for exercise-specific clothing, any items
of clothing that allow you to freely flow from pose to pose will work.
Capris (3/4 pants) are also a favorite to many students because of
their casual appearance and comfort. Shorts are also very popular
because they don’t constrict as much leg-movement as pants do.
T-shirts and tank tops provide basic comfort and all levels.
Bikram yoga is a variation that requires students to practice postures
in a room heated to 105 degrees. There are many health benefits to
stretching in heat: stretching in high temperatures increases the
elasticity of muscles, allowing for deeper/more difficult stretching
than possible at regular temperatures. Bikram also alleviates symptoms
of arthritis, diabetes and thyroid disorders. Despite all these obvious
health benefits, practicing in heavy clothing can cause excessive
sweating, eventually leading to dizziness, dehydration, and nausea.
Even T-shirts may be too heavy for heated practices; instructors recommend
wearing shorts and a very light tank top.
Clothing made especially for yoga wear includes tops, tees, and bottoms.
Some yoga practitioners prefer to wear tank tops because of the freedom
of movement they allow. Others prefer T-shirts for modesty purposes.
Yoga pants are quite nice to have, though, since they’re specially
designed with the various movements in mind.
Hemp has become a very popular material for yoga students. The material
is more eco-friendly than cotton because it because it is grown without
the aid of chemicals or pesticides, which coincides with the holistic
nature of the sport. Also, the production doesn’t involve as
much farmer/worker-exploitation as other fibers. It’s easy to
clean and will not wear down after repeated washing (unlike cotton).
In fact, it’s one of the only materials to wear in after repeated
use – ensuring a long life for any article of clothing. Besides
being one of the most breathable materials, it also restricts less
body-movement than synthetics or latex-cotton, making it prime for
exercise-use