Why You Need Yoga Clothing

What you wear to yoga serves very specific needs. While you may get away with wearing loose, flowing tops and gym shorts that are a little too large for you when cycling, rowing, or running, those clothing choices will quickly become problematic for you during yoga. 

Here are some reasons why you’ll want to pick certain fits and fabrics over others for your next yoga session. 

Perhaps the biggest difference between yoga clothes and other workout clothes centers on how it fits you. You’ll need an outfit that is both supportive and flexible. That’s because you’ll be stretching and moving in all sorts of directions during your yoga practice, so you’ll want clothing that allows for a full range of motion. Look for garments with stretchy fabrics and a relaxed fit to ensure you can move freely. But flowy garments don’t really work, either—you need your clothes to move with you as you move through your various yoga poses. 

Hand-in-hand with fit is comfort. What you wear to yoga ultimately should feel comfortable to you. There should be no pinching, itchiness, or tags that can irritate the skin. Breathability is also key to good yoga wear. Choose yoga clothes made from moisture-wicking and breathable fabrics, such as nylon or polyester. These materials will help keep you cool and comfy during your practice, especially if you’re practicing hot yoga or more strenuous forms of yoga, such as power yoga. Avoid cotton, as it tends to hold onto sweat and can quickly become heavy, burdensome, and uncomfortable.