What to Wear to Yoga
Styling Tips
You want to be comfortable in yoga class so you can stretch and relax. Here's what to wear to yoga, including recommendations on specific pieces.
Whether you're wondering what to wear to your first yoga class or you're an experienced yoga enthusiast looking for some yoga attire inspiration, you have plenty of options. Much like in yoga class, it's all about finding balance between strength and relaxation.
You don't want yoga clothes that ride up when you're in a Downward-Facing Dog, but you also want to avoid leggings that are so restrictive you can't get into a Tree pose. That's why your outfit needs to be yoga-specific, designed functionally to facilitate your yoga flow.
What to Look for in Yoga Clothes
1.Form-Fitting
In a typical class, you can expect to find yourself in lots of different positions—even upside down. Wearing loose-fitting or baggy yoga clothes can be a hindrance if your top is falling in your face during a forward fold. But form-fitting pieces will stay in place, letting you focus on what matters.
2.Non-Restrictive
While you want something form-fitting, you don't want it tight or restrictive. You need activewear that allows you to flow freely, feeling comfortable and unconstrained. Any restrictive clothes, zips or thick seams are out. Materials that stretch are in.
3.Breathable
Some yoga classes will get your heart rate up more than others. Vinyasa yoga is a style of yoga that connects individual poses (asanas) with your breath. It's a seamless flow that typically takes on a faster pace than other types of yoga, like Hatha, which focuses on holding poses.
In more athletic classes, you can expect to sweat, so you need clothes that let your skin breathe. This is especially important for hot yoga. Wearing thick, cotton pieces can impact your performance as you'll start to feel weighed down by your sweaty clothes.
Light, breathable fabrics that are fast-drying and sweat-wicking should be a vital component of any yoga outfit you wear. Keep reading to get a recommendation on the best fabrics to look for.
4.Supportive
Whatever position you find yourself in during a yoga class, your outfit needs to support your body. This is particularly important for your sports bra. Even if your yoga isn't high-intensity, it's still important that you wear clothes that don't need constant adjusting; clothes that keep your body supported from the beginning to the end of the class. For example, a sports bra with adjustable straps, a thicker material like Dri-FIT and wide coverage will be more supportive than a thinner, pull-over sports bra. Look for activewear with similar features—adjustable straps to fit your body's proportions, form-fitting materials that stay in place and a high waistband.
5.Stylish
Let's not forget the importance of aesthetic appeal. With countless different styles and designs, you'll be able to find yoga wear that suits your personal style and preferences.
Feeling good in your workout gear matters. Not only are you more likely to enjoy your workout and stay consistent, but you'll also be able to express yourself through your clothes. You don't have to compromise on fashion for function. Get yoga clothes that do it all, just like you do.
We've covered the basics, now let's get specific. Here's the breakdown of your yoga outfit and some recommendations.
What to Wear to Yoga Class
1.Sports Bra
Getting a supportive sports bra that offers enough coverage and structure to keep you in place is key. For those with larger chests, choosing a high-support sports bra is recommended. Even though the class might be low-impact, the variety of movements require support.
For those with smaller chests, you can opt for light to medium support depending on the type of yoga you'll be doing. For Vinyasa, Ashtanga or hot yoga, it's better to opt for more support. Smaller-chested individuals in Yin or restorative yoga need less support.
2.Yoga Trousers and Leggings
A staple in any yoga outfit is the yoga trousers. Yoga leggings come in different styles—high-waisted, crops, capris, flared, tights and more. Experiment with these different styles to see if you have a preference.
But go for yoga-specific trousers or leggings. They'll be more flexible, allowing you to move comfortably through a full range of motion due to their stretchy fabric.
3.Yoga Tops
For some folks, a pair of yoga trousers and a sports bra is enough to complete a yoga outfit. But some prefer the extra coverage of yoga tops.
If you're going to a Yin or restorative yoga class that will keep your heart rate and body temperature lower, you may want to wear a long-sleeve T-shirt or hoodie. These can be worn before, during and after your practice, depending on your body temperature and comfort level.
If you're going to sweat but still want the extra coverage, opt for a light, breathable tank top. Look for moisture-wicking fabrics like Nike Dri-FIT. This will move sweat away from your body for quicker evaporation, helping you stay cool without feeling heavy even if you're dripping in sweat.
4.Yoga Socks
Usually, people go sockless during class so that their feet can grip and connect to the mat during poses. But if your feet sweat, you may slip and slide on your yoga mat. If that's the case, you might consider yoga socks.
Nike Technology to Look For in Your Yoga Attire
NikeGrip technology in Nike socks features anti-slip yarns that provide excellent traction underfoot. The yoga sock places NikeGrip in the ball of your foot to help stabilise your step on studio surfaces.
Nike Flyknit
Nike Flyknit technology is used in the Nike FE/NOM Flyknit Bra, which is a high-support, non-padded sports bra. When it was created, engineers and designers put in more than 600 hours of rigorous biometric testing to create bras that were supportive, breathable and cooling in essential zones. This Flyknit process also enabled designers to combine encapsulation (which uses separate cups for each breast) with compression (which holds the breasts close to the body), offering the best of shape, support and comfort without the addition of components like wires, pads, stabilisers and elastics. That's everything you need out of a good yoga bra.
Nike Luxe technology feels like a second skin. Nike Luxe leggings hug you with a sculpting waistband that sits right above your belly button, with a non-sheer design that lets you Downward-Facing Dog with confidence. Luxe fabric gives you a gently compressive feel while keeping you dry as you breathe, stretch and hold your pose.
For extra sweaty yoga classes, you need a breathable, fast-drying fabric. Nike Dri-FIT Yoga clothes are made with Dri-FIT Technology. This innovative polyester fabric is designed to help keep you dry so you can more comfortably work harder, longer. Dri-FIT's unique high-performance microfibre construction supports the body's natural cooling system by wicking away sweat and dispersing it across the fabric's surface to evaporate faster.