Dressing For Yoga In 2020

I can’t believe it was 2015 when I first wrote an article about dressing for yoga! 

Way back then there were only a handful of yoga wear brands and choices were limited but thanks to the emergence of athleisure and the rise of social media yoga wear has exploded on the sportswear scene and we’re now inundated with choices!

It seems that almost everyone, everywhere from the sports giants to celebrities to supermarkets seem to have a yoga wear range so now the question is what do I buy and where?

Buying a piece of clothing for me whether its yoga leggings or that Prada dress starts with an attraction. What catches my eye and why? Is it the colour or the style? Is it the way it feels or how it looks on me? 

Then it’s all about the fabric, how does it feel, is it sustainable, if not sustainable is it fabric that will last or something that will only last a handful of washes. If it’s the latter it doesn’t matter how good it looks it goes back on the rack.

If I’m buying for a particular purpose, like yoga, I ask myself is it comfortable and practical? (Boring I know but very important!) Can I go into Downward Facing Dog without worrying about whether the person behind me will see what colour underwear I’m wearing (this was more of an issue in pre-COVID times as now it’s just me and my laptop), or can I do a headstand without my t-shirt falling to the floor leaving the rest of me exposed!

Let’s take yoga bottoms for example. I love harem pants, I love the lightness and airiness of a harem pant. It gives you a certain sense of freedom until, as I found out to my cost as a beginner, step on a hem or get your foot caught up in all those layers and you go from tree pose into resting crocodile without any warning! That’s why now, more often than not I wear leggings, Not only is it less hazardless (in my case) it’s also easier to check my alignment especially in the hips, legs and knees.

When it comes to tops it’s all about ease of movement so tank tops in stretchable fabric and a good fitting sports bra are my go to. I do wear t-shirts for yoga but only for gentle yoga or relaxation classes, or as a cover up before and after class.

Sports bras on their own are very popular if you don’t mind showing your midriff. As with yoga leggings where it can be easier to check your alignment sports bras also have the added advantage of allowing you to check your positioning in your twists and keeping a check on your shoulder blades and arms to make sure they’re doing what they’re meant to be doing.

There are some instances where sports bras can’t be worn, for example, when wearing strappy tops but I try to steer clear of underwired bras and bras with clasps as these can be quite restrictive and the hooks can dig into your back in reclining poses. I do however like a strappy top so I look for tops with built in support.

So I guess when it comes to yoga wear, I look for pieces that are stylish and edgy that suit my personality and style but are also kind to the planet, either made from sustainable fabrics or fabrics that are made to last.

What do you look for when buying yoga wear?