How to Know What to Wear for Yoga

Co-authored by Susana Jones, C-IAYT and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 7, 2023 Approved

Yoga is intended to be a meditative, relaxing form of exercise. But dressing for yoga can be intimidating for beginning students. Generally, it is important to wear clothing that is both comfortable and made from breathable fabric (like cotton, bamboo or jersey). It will also help to know what type of yoga class you are attending in order to determine the best outfit.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Deciding on a Class

Check the schedule to find out what type of yoga class you're attending. Schedules are generally available on yoga studios’ websites, or posted at the location. While there are many different styles of yoga, you’ll most likely encounter one of the following.

Many beginner-level classes will either be Hatha or Vinyasa. Both are focused on coordinating movement with breath. Vinyasa is a little faster-paced and will involve more intense stretching, leg lifting and inversions. The more advanced these classes, the more they will challenge even a regular yogi.
These classes involve constant movement between poses, making them slightly more challenging.^{[1]
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Many poses will be held for a long time, giving you a chance to find your balance and appreciate the benefit of the stretch. This form of yoga often calls for props such as blocks, blankets, or straps (which are usually on hand at the studio; you won’t need to bring your own).^{[2]
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The rooms are heated to approximately 100 degrees (37ºC) in order to induce sweating, which is thought to be cleansing. The heat also encourages relaxing of muscles, which leads to much deeper stretches.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Choosing Your Top

A good shirt to wear to yoga is one that is form-fitting without being tight or binding. Whatever shirt you chose, try practicing a range of motion in it before you leave the house. This will ensure you can move freely and that you’re not exposing more of your body than you are comfortable with during a certain pose.^{[3]
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Wear a tank top to yoga. Some of the most basic yoga poses involve lots of arm movement. If you don’t have any sleeves, you won’t have to worry about constantly pushing them out of your way and can focus instead on your poses.
- Chose one that doesn’t have a plunging neckline and fits your body well—a loose shirt or a low neckline will leave you exposed when you bend or twist into a new position.
During Bikram or Hot yoga, you will get extremely warm. Women may want to opt for a sports bra in order to stay cool. Sports bras are typically categorized by impact level; a low-impact bra is fine. For men, going shirtless to Bikram is an option.
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Try a t-shirt. Pick one that is comfortable and fits well. Practice stretching, reaching, and bending your arms to make sure the shirt is not too tight.
- In inversion poses, your shirt might slide up your torso, so either prepare to tuck it in during class, or wear a camisole underneath.
For a more mellow class like Iyengar or Vinyasa, you may want to wear a lightweight sweatshirt over a tank top so you’ll be warm at the beginning and end of class when there is less movement. You can always remove layers if you get too hot.
During summer, if you're doing yoga outdoors, a swimsuit is perfectly acceptable provided you're comfortable wearing it.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Picking Out a Pair of Pants

Your pants should also be relatively formfitting, made from a lightweight material with lots of stretch.

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Wear yoga pants. Yoga pants are easy to find at most stores that carry workout clothes. They come in many different colors so you can pick whatever suits your personality. Try some lunges or stretches in the dressing room to make sure you have a full range of motion. You can also wear them for other fitness activities, like running or biking.^{[4]
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- Full-length yoga pants are better suited for classes that won’t involve a lot of rapid movement since the excess fabric could trip you up.
- For more active classes where you’ll get hotter much quicker, consider getting a 3/4-length pair of yoga pants.
- The styles vary from pencil-leg to bell-bottoms. There are also more loose-fitting styles that resemble lightweight sweatpants. Consider which styles will make you feel most comfortable since you want to be able to work through your poses without worrying at all about the way you look.
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Try bicycle shorts. Again, at a Bikram class, less is more; you might not want your entire legs covered. Bicycle shorts are great for yoga because they stay put as you move.^{[5]
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- You’ll also want to consider whether they are transparent when stretched, but you want to be secure that you will be well-concealed throughout the class.
- If you’re going to be sweating a lot in your shorts, consider black or navy blue colors that tend to show moisture less readily.
If you have a favorite pair of shorts that moves with you as you do, they might be perfect for yoga.
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Choose a pair of leggings. You might already have leggings in your closet. Just make sure you choose an opaque pair!^{[6]
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- If you haven’t tried yoga before and are tentative about investing in a new wardrobe before you know whether you’ll go to classes regularly, a pair of leggings is fine. But you will want to get some pants properly designed for yoga if you perform it more often because the way yoga clothes are tailored lend themselves well to getting into flexible poses comfortably and without restriction.
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Accessorizing Your Yoga Outfit

Typical accessories such as jewelry won’t be necessary, but certain extras such as headbands, gloves, and of course, your mat will come in handy.

Keeping your hair out your face is always important when exercising. If your hair is too short to tie back, a headband will help keep it off your forehead and out of your eyes.
While they certainly don’t look chic, yoga gloves are very useful. Their skid-proof palms give you a bit more gripping power and prevent your hands from slipping on the mat. They are fairly inexpensive and can be found at yoga clothing stores and sometimes health food stores.
These will help you avoid from slipping on your mat, which can get very frustrating, particularly in hot or higher-intensity classes.
Yoga class can get awfully sweaty, so you might be glad you brought a towel. You can also lay your towel down on your mat to help keep your hands from slipping—a good option if you don’t like yoga gloves.^{[7]
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Invest in a yoga mat. Mats can be pricey, but it’s nice to have your own if you want to practice at home or if you have issues with using someone else’s mat.
- If you’re not sure if yoga is for you and just want to try it out, most studios have mats available to rent.
- Mats vary in thickness, so if you have tender knees or want more support for when you’re sitting on the firm ground, consider the option of buying a thicker mat.
Having one of these makes it easier to move around with your mat since you can carry it over your shoulder. It’s also a great way to keep your mat from unraveling when you’re not using it.

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Expert Q&A

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How do I choose good yoga pants?

Susana Jones, C-IAYT
Certified Yoga Therapist & Educator
Based in San Diego, Susana Jones is a Yoga Therapist and Educator with 12 years of experience serving groups, individuals and organizations. She is certified with the International Association of Yoga Therapists, registered as an E-RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado. Susana offers therapeutic yoga to private clients through Shakti Urbana and mentors students of the internationally accredited Soul of Yoga. Susana dedicates her work to peaceful living on a healthy planet.

Susana Jones, C-IAYT

Certified Yoga Therapist & Educator

Expert Answer

I would look specifically for pants that come from a company that has a stated intention and a proven track record of working with sustainable materials as much as possible. That is an example of upholding the first principle of yoga, which is non-harming. The clothing that we buy does have a direct impact on ecosystems and communities. On a more practical level, choose yoga pants that are opaque so you're covered up. When you're trying them on in the dressing room, bend forward and check your backside in the mirror to make sure they're not see-through.

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Tips

Don’t fret about whether or not your look is fashionable enough. Yoga is supposed to be about personal relaxation and introspection, not competition for the best look.

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Always try out some practice movements before you leave home. That way, you’ll know for sure you can move freely in class.

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Most instructors prefer leggings so they can check your leg positions and muscle involvement.

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Warnings

Avoid pants or shorts that are loose and/or flowing. Many poses involve inversions and you may surprise your classmates with how much skin you expose.

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Try not to fall for over-priced yoga gear. You can find all the clothes and props you need for very inexpensive prices. Especially if you’re new to yoga, don’t spend a lot of money on an outfit you’re not sure you’ll wear again.

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Bring a change of clothes. After a sweaty class, it’s always nice to change into a fresh outfit.

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Owning too much gear can get in the way of enjoying yoga, as can fretting about owning the more expensive clothes. Basically, a towel on the beach, grass or soft floor and your favorite comfortable clothes can work well provided you're not obsessed about the image factor.

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