When you decide to start practicing yoga, the first order of business is to get the right clothing. It will help you feel more comfortable during your workout, but it will also help provide the motivation you need to continue exercising. If you feel good and look good, you’ll look forward to working out.
Think your favorite t-shirt is great to wear during yoga class? It may be comfortable but it’s not going to perform like yoga wear. First of all, yoga gear is made with high-performance fabrics that wick moisture away from the body. Special fibers pull wetness to the surface, where it can evaporate faster. This means you’ll stay drier and more comfortable. Some materials also have odor-resistant properties so you’ll smell as fresh at the end of your workout as you did at the beginning. Cotton is most effective at absorbing moisture, but then the material remains wet, which can make you uncomfortable and weigh you down. Cotton doesn’t have the ability to wick moisture away so it can evaporate more quickly.
Your favorite workout outfit may also be loose-fitting and old. Yoga clothing fits snugly to the body to help remove moisture and provide support. A baggy t-shirt can get in the way during yoga poses, and can help retain moisture and heat. Older clothing doesn’t have the moisture-wicking properties that modern, high-tech materials have.
If your favorite pants are saggy and out of shape, consider a pair of form-fitting yoga pants. Even if you’re afraid of showing your shape, these pants gently hug your curves to make the most of them. The fold-over waistband helps streamline your middle because it doesn’t pinch or dig in and cause your shape to become distorted. Instead, it skims over your curves and provides a smooth silhouette. Baggy pants can get in the way of your movements. Yoga pants not only fit, but they flatter, too. They hug your shape and while they stretch, they won’t stretch out. Your yoga wear will retain its shape wear after wear.
Yoga tops provide freedom of movement while providing support in the form of a built-in bra. This makes it more comfortable to practice yoga and you won’t have to worry that your bra strap is showing. These shirts are made with the same high-tech materials in yoga pants. The material is designed for maximum heat transfer so you stay cool and dry.
Yoga wear may look great, but it has features that will improve your yoga experience. Gussets, or diamond-shaped inserts, are placed in areas of stress, such as the crotch or underarm to increase range of motion and mobility. Some shirts have venting systems to improve the flow of air in areas that need it. Stitching is flat so seams won’t rub or chafe. Yoga clothing is designed to keep you cool, in every sense of the word.