The main consideration when purchasing yoga clothing has to be the stretch. Yoga is a series of postures called asanas. They come from the Hindu tradition in India and are designed to stretch the body to increase flexibility, unity of body and mind and strength.
You will not want to wear anything that restricts your body from going as deeply as it can into any pose, so your yoga clothes will need to allow stretching in all directions. This gives you the choice of either very loose clothing that your limbs can move in freely, or clothes made of a stretchable fabric such as spandex. You may still want to buy a size larger than your usual size to allow for easy movement without any constriction even with stretch fabric.
Although yoga classes are deeply relaxing, they are also very physical and you should be prepared to sweat. How much depends on the style of yoga, but natural fabrics such as cotton are recommended for maximum comfort. A cotton/spandex mix provides both stretch and sweat absorption which many yoga students perfere.
Whatever you choose should be soft and comfortable. Generally the feet are bare and the legs are covered completely by a pair of pants. You should never try to practice yoga in a skirt beacause you will have problems when you want to try an inversion such as a headstand or shoulder stand! For the shoulder stand it is better to have a separate top and pants rather than an all-in-one leotard or body suit. You can tuck in the top at the front so that it does not fall over your face, but leave the back open so that your hands are in direct contact with the skin either side of your spine for a better grip as you support your back in the pose.
it is important that your yoga clothing allows the circulation of the blood around the body as yoga practice improves this. Drawstring tie waists on your pants are better than elastic – do not wear anything that is too tight around the waist. A sports bra is recommended for women.
It is important whether you practice alone at home with a DVD on the television or in a class, to feel good and accepting of your body during your yoga session so clothes do matter. Although in most situations you will not need new fashionable yoga wear every season, it is important to wear something you like. Even at home, it is best not to wear something that is so old and worn that you would not let another person see you wearing it!
So do take the time to pick out something suitable that you feel good wearing, either from your wardrobe or from the store. Practice a few poses in your new outfit before class is a great idea. Practice this in the fitting room of the store or at home. Then you can head for your first or your next yoga class with full confidence in your new yoga clothing.
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