What To Wear to Your Next Yoga Class

Yoga is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s one of the best ways to keep fit, with moves and poses to work all major muscle groups, while also contributing to mental health and spiritual well-being, too. But, in order to get the best results from your yoga sessions, you have to come prepared, and that means knowing what to wear for yoga.

In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know, explaining why the right attire is so important for yoga enthusiasts, while also providing tips, tricks, and recommendations to help you hone in on the perfect yoga clothing. So, without any further ado, let’s get started and take a closer look at what to wear for yoga.

Why Comfort Matters in Yoga Clothes 

First, let’s look at the “Why?” behind yoga attire. Why does it matter so much? Why can’t you just throw on any old clothes and get the same results from your yoga workouts? 

Well, as every yoga enthusiast knows, yoga poses require a certain level of flexibility. You often have to bend and contort your body into an array of unique shapes and positions. As such, the best yoga clothes need to be flexible. They have to provide a certain freedom of movement, allowing you to bend into those poses without any difficulty.

Yoga, despite being famed as a more relaxing alternative to the likes of intense cardio, HIIT, and weight training, can also be quite an active form of exercise. It’s not uncommon for people to work up a sweat by the end of their sessions. As such, yoga attire also needs to be breathable, letting the skin feel comfortable and cool, even during particularly intensive poses and holds.

If you were to wear any old clothes, or clothes that are restrictive and non-breathable while doing your yoga, you’d quickly find yourself in a state of discomfort. This is why comfort and fabric choice matter so much – the right clothes help you get more out of your yoga sessions, leaning further into your poses and going for longer without feeling sweaty or agitated.

What Fabric to Choose for Yoga 

There’s no singular best fabric to use or wear while doing yoga. A lot of different fabrics can work well, providing the comfort, breathability, and flexibility you need. However, it’s important to ensure you keep those key factors in mind when making your choice, opting for stretchy and cozy materials that help, rather than hinder you, during your workouts.

Here are a few examples of fabrics that work best:

• Organic Cotton: Soft, smooth, and breathable, organic cotton is a terrific choice for yoga, especially relatively light sessions or outdoor yoga where you need a little extra warmth, though it might not be best for more intense or hot yoga workouts.
• Bamboo: Bamboo is an eco-friendly fabric which is famed for its ultra-soft feel and sustainable qualities. It’s great at wicking away moisture, keeping you cool and dry during even the most hardcore yoga poses.
• Spandex: For flexibility and freedom of movement, spandex knows no equal. It’s one of the most stretchy (and therefore one of the best) fabrics to pick for yoga sessions, letting you get deep into your bends and poses without feeling restricted.
• Polyester-Nylon Blends: These synthetic blends can help you maximize your yoga performance. Like many of the other best yoga fabrics, they’re breathable, stretchy, and good at moisture-wicking, while also offering a little more tightness to hug your form.

Pick Supportive Yoga Bras and Moisture Wicking Tops 

For yoga-loving ladies, picking the perfect bra and top is essential when preparing your overall yoga outfit. You have to ensure you have sufficient support for your chest, along with a top that provides good range of motion. 

Prioritize moisture-wicking fabrics for the top and bra, and test the size by leaning forward – a good fitting top should cling to your form, rather than falling loosely forward as you bend.

Cozy and Comfy T Shirts for Summer Sessions 

If you’re planning a yoga session in a studio that should be quite warm and pleasant, you may want to wear a T-shirt. Tees are also handy for yoga sessions outside on sunny summer or spring days.

Again, the key here is to focus on materials that provide the maximum comfort and don’t impede your performance or movement. Look for moisture-wicking fabrics that are breathable, and avoid tees that are too long or baggy, as that’ll make it harder for you to stretch and pose.

Flexible Yoga Leggings for Free and Easy Motion

Leggings are one of the most common options for women who do yoga. They cover your skin, without being too heavy or hot. Plus, leggings offer much more flexibility and movement compared to alternatives, like pants and skirts.

To choose the best leggings, look for stretchy, breathable options, like those made from bamboo or spandex. When you try them on, they should feel fit and snug, but not too tight or compressive around the waist.

Breathable, Stretchy Yoga Shorts for Outdoor Yoga

Instead of leggings (or as well as them, if you’re looking to layer up), you might opt for yoga shorts. These are great for sunny yoga sessions outside, like in the park or at the beach, or for hot yoga studios.

Try to find shorts that are breathable, flexible, and let you move freely. Avoid anything that feels too tight around the waist, and make sure you can twist from side to side and bend forward and back without the shorts getting in your way.

The Right Kind of Yoga Footwear 

Footwear is also important when working out what to wear for yoga. A lot of people like to do their sessions barefoot, but others prefer to cover their feet with socks or shoes. Having footwear is especially important if you're doing yoga outdoors or combining it with other forms of exercise, like Pilates or weight training.

If you want to stick to socks, look for small ones that only cover the soles and don't go any higher than the ankle, to avoid overheating. Try to find socks with good grips on the base that will help you hold poses and move around without slipping.

The same logic applies with footwear. Pick smaller shoes that don’t go too far up your leg and won’t restrict your movement, and focus on breathable materials and good levels of grip on the sole.

Tips for Layering Yoga Wear 

If you’re planning any kind of yoga session in a cool or cold environment, like a studio with heavy AC or somewhere outdoors at a cooler time of year, you may need to layer up your clothes.

This can seem counter-productive. After all, more layers usually means that you feel more restricted and have less freedom of movement. That’s why it’s important to focus on layering using appropriate fabrics, with a breathable and comfy base layer that won’t make you get too hot. Opt for stretchy, wicking leggings and a top to start, then add on a tee and/or shorts for extra warmth.

Tips for Choosing the Right Yoga Attire 

Here are some extra tips to help you select the ideal yoga outfit:

• Think About Conditions: Plan ahead. Think about where and when you’re going to be doing your yoga and choose clothes accordingly.
• Breathability Is Key: Of all the many factors to focus on with yoga clothes, breathability is arguably most important. If you pick non-breathable material, you’ll soon feel stuffy and sweaty.
• Pick Styles and Colors You Like: Colors and styles may not have any impact on how your yoga clothes feel, but they can help you feel more confident while working out.

What Materials to Avoid for Yoga 

We’ve already covered some of the top materials to wear for yoga. Here are a few you’re better off avoiding:

• Stiff Denim: Denim is simply too rigid and inflexible to work for yoga. It’s also rough on the skin and far from breathable.
• Anything Bulky: Bulky fabrics tend to make you feel hot, and they bunch up as you bend, making it hard to get in your favorite yoga poses.
• Silks:  Silk is an elegant and luxurious material, but it’s just not suitable for yoga. In fact, due to its slippery nature, it can even be dangerous.  
• Non-Breathable Synthetics: If your yoga clothes lack breathability, you’ll quickly feel hot, sweaty, and unpleasant during your yoga sessions and get far fewer benefits from them.
• Scratchy Wool: Wool is another no-no fabric for yoga. It’s often itchy, irritating, and super hot, due to its lack of moisture-wicking potential.

What to Avoid Wearing to Yoga 

Along with the above fabrics, it’s best to avoid wearing any clothes while doing yoga that make you feel uncomfortable or impede your movement in any way. That goes for the likes of flowing gowns, bulky sweaters, hot hoodies, shirts, blouses, and so on. Additionally, it’s best to remove accessories, like necklaces and bracelets, which may bother you as you try to pose and stretch.

Why Choose FlexLifeWear for Yoga Clothes?

As a leading name in athletic wear, Flex Life Wear is the perfect choice for all your yoga attire. From flexible yoga leggings to supportive sports bras, and everything in between, we offer a broad selection of only the finest yoga clothes. We use the most breathable, comfortable, and flexible materials to help you get more from every session, with fair pricing and super customer service on top.