There aren’t many hard and fast rules for the gear that you use while performing yoga - especially if you are practicing solo in your living room. That being said, there are things, like a quality mat and proper yoga attire, that make your practice more productive and enjoyable.
There are postures in yoga, even some that are designed for beginners, that can be very challenging. If you are wearing clothes that are too restrictive or too loose, some postures become more difficult and it becomes impossible to achieve your full range of motion and reap the full benefit of your workout.
Thankfully, the simple addition of the proper yoga attire can make a major difference in your performance on the mat. Below we’ll take a look at 5 ways that wearing the right clothes for practicing yoga can result in a better workout.
Comfort
In order to transition from one difficult posture to the next, successfully for an entire session, you need clothes that feel good during movement. A quality pair of yoga pants won’t ride up, bind or inhibit your ability to move on the mat. Couple those pants with a nice, moisture-wicking fitted tank top and you’ll be able to move through an entire session without ever having to worry that your clothing will get in the way.
Coverage
Baggy shorts or a loose fitting t-shirt might be an outstanding option for lounging around the house, but they can quickly become a nightmare at the studio. Keep in mind that, as you improve, you might be executing movements like downward facing dog, handstands, and headstands. A loose t-shirt can quickly slip up, obscuring your vision and leaving your top half exposed to the entire class.
You run into the same problem with baggy shorts or with bottoms that are too short - stretches and postures that have your legs up or apart can have you sharing far more than you had intended with your fellow students. A quality pair of yoga pants and a fitted tank top with built in support (or a built in sports bra) keeps everything that you want covered, covered and lets you focus on the session without fear of “wardrobe malfunctions”.
Durability
Thin, light colored clothing may look and feel great in the dressing room, but it may not be able to hold up exactly how you need it to during a tough yoga class. Throughout your practice, your knees, legs, back side, stomach and chest will all be in contact with the ground and the material you are wearing will be tested through long, deep stretches and transitions.
Thin or poorly constructed materials can become compromised during a yoga session, splits in pants, shorts or tops can cause a big problem on the mat - leaving you to cut your workout session short or causing an abundance of unnecessary embarrassment. Proper yoga attire is designed to stand up to the rigors of the toughest workouts without any issue at all. If you wear the right clothing to class, you should never have to worry about a busted seam ruining your workout and your day.
Mobility
Yoga practice is all about breaking down limitations. During a regular session you’ll not only work to improve the strength and flexibility of your body, but also your mind. In order to achieve the best possible results, you’ve got to learn to fully open your mind and your body - unfortunately the latter is impossible if you aren’t wearing the proper yoga attire.
Most of the clothes in your closet (even the really comfy ones) are too restrictive in one way or another for your to fully immerse yourself in your yoga practice. A good pair of yoga pants are built to move with your body as you transition from posture to posture. This means that you’ll be able to focus deeply on proper form and proper breathing without any external disruptions, which will result in the best yoga workout possible.
Peace of Mind
A new yoga class can be intimidating, especially for beginners. The movements are challenging, you may have physical or social issues or limitations that you’ll be fighting - the last thing you need is having to deal with wardrobe problems making the entire process more frightening. Using the attire and the gear that are specifically designed for the job minimizes or eliminates many of the fears that a new yogi will face, making the experience more pleasing and much more productive.
A new pair of quality yoga pants and a dark colored, fitted tank top are an additional expense compared to just grabbing some cotton shorts and a t-shirt out of the closet, but what they can bring to your workout is invaluable. You’ll move more freely on the mat, you’ll have the right coverage and support throughout your body and you’ll have the confidence that there won’t be any mishaps during your practice. Quality yoga attire will last for a long time and will undoubtedly improve just about every aspect of your practice - so make sure you’ve got the right gear before you hit the mat for your next session.
