A Consumer's Guide to Essential Yoga Clothes

I have been practicing Yoga for more years than I care to think about. I have gone from studios to gyms to home and back to studios and home. My clothes varied markedly from home to the studio. In fact when I joined a Yoga studio I bought Yoga clothes.

What are Yoga clothes?

The most popular clothes used in yoga practices are made of cotton. This is because the material allows the body to breath during the exercise, it stays cool, and it is very comfortable overall.

You can choose long pants, shorts ir knee-length or below the knee. The most important aspect is that whatever you choose the clothes have to be are comfortable. If you are constantly pulling something up or down then those clothes are not going to work. You have to be able to move freely without being encumbered by your clothes. For example if you wear a t-shirt you are going to find out very quickly that when you do a pose, for example, downward facing dog that the collar of your t-shirt is in your mouth. If you do more advanced pose or asanas such as a head stand you want to make sure that your top is comfortable. Do you have to tuck it in? Will it stay put even upside down? .

Some of my Yoga pants are too long and I have to be careful not to trip on them. Try to stay away from this problem! I worked hard when buying my tops. Being big busted going without a bra didn't work but I found some great undergarments and tops that alleviated that problem. Some have built in bras which are just terrific.

If you are doing a hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga class then think about investing in microfiber yoga apparel which will help to wick sweat away from your body. Personally I like Yoga pants that don't have a drawstring. I find that it gets in my way but you may be the opposite. You'll have to find the right clothes that work for you.

You don't have to spend a ton of money though really trendy Yoga clothes are pricey. I wear my Yoga clothes out. For example I'll go from the Studio to the grocery store or to visit my mom so I want to look decent and will spend the money for clothes.

My suggestions

The first picture you see is a white top with a built-in bra. You can find these at stores such as Macy's, Dillard's, Marshall's and T.J. Max. I love this top because the straps are adjustable and it is made by UnderArmour so it is wicking. This particular top is made by UnderArmour. This will run you about $30 online but you will get a lot of uses in and out of Yoga. This top is made of nylon and elastane and is made in Israel. I wash it in cold water and line dry. If you want it to last longer hand wash this top!

My second top by Jeanstar was bought in Macy's. Although it was in the active department as you can see it can be worn for any reason. It is 100% cotton and can be machine washed. If you can see the lace on top you'll see that is what covers me up when I bend over. Without it I would just have a low cut shirt. What I like about Macy's is the frequent sales. In fact at www.macys.com you'll see a shirt that is $9.99 marked down from $28.00.

I buy a lot of my items at lululemon. You'll pay more but you can be assured really high quality items. My favorite yoga mat is from lulelemon. The third picture is a pair of Yoga pants bought at this site. I know that $98 is a lot but they have lasted for so long and they are pretty enough to wear out! These do have a drawstring but it is below the top and doesn't bother me. They are loose enough to be comfortable but tight enough not to get in my way. I love the way I can raise the waistband to make it a high waist or roll the waist band down. They are made with luon which is lulelomon's signature fabric.

Don't rule the traditional sports brands like Adidas. They are often less expensive than the upscale brands and work well. The yellow top although V neck is tight enough to not strangle my mouth.

One of my favorite places to shop for all kinds of Yoga essentials is www.gaiam.com. My 5th picture shows a pair of pants I bought there for about $50.00. I love them because they stretch and fit like a glove. They have a bootleg cut and are mostly organic cotton with spandex. This site I'm rating as my number one choice.