It’s always good to be extra prepared for your workout, especially when it’s a class and the pressure is on. Despite the belief that yoga as a sport doesn't require the most effort, you don’t want to undermine the physical demand. It’s not quite the “low impact” sport it’s deemed to be when you start to follow along with some of the most intense stretches. If you’re looking into trying out yoga but don’t know what to expect, or you simply need to re-vamp your yoga wardrobe, we've created a list of the most effective gear that'll have you prepared to take on any yoga class.
Tight Tanks Are Your Friend
Don’t make the same mistake as some of us… buy yourself a tight tank top to avoid your loose shirt making its way all the way up to your neck, revealing everything and almost suffocating when you try to breathe during downward dog position. With a tight tank, you don’t have to worry about tucking it into your tights every time it pops out. Our favourite tank is the Lululemon Cool Racerback II tank because it’s tight and long enough to stay put. If you’re comfortable enough to show off some abs, this Nike Pro HyperCool Yoga tank has a built in bra and won’t budge no matter what position you’re in.
(Image: Lululemon.com)
Flexible Tights
The first rule of yoga tights is to steer clear from light colours. We want to avoid embarrassing sweat marks and any possibility of tights being see-through during stretches that require you to bend over. The second most important rule is that they need to be flexible and lightweight so you can move freely. Try to steer clear of shorts and spandex shorts to yoga class—they will ride up! These high waisted Nike One printed tights are ideal especially if you like your clothes to stand out. If you know you’ll be sweating quite a bit, the Canadian brand Lole’s Motion Crop leggings will keep you perfectly comfortable.
(Image: nike.com)
Extra Coverage Sports Bra
A good sports bra is important in yoga, especially if you need the extra hold. We don’t want an accidental slip during those awkward poses, so we usually go with a medium to high coverage bra. The Zella Fusion sports bra has high-impact support with its high neck and smooth cut.
If you prefer a lower neckline, Lululemon’s Fine Form bra also provides great support with its transformable straps.
(Image: Lululemon.com)
Breathable Under Garments
If you’ve ever stretched with uncomfortable underwear on, you’ll know why this makes it on our list. We love a local Toronto-based intimates brand—and what’s even better is that Knix makes our favourite seamless, sweat-wicking thongs for working out in. We try to avoid full cotton undies during yoga because the last thing you want to do in a class full of people is stretch out those legs to reveal a sweat mark. These Athletic Thongs are made of nylon and lycra so they’re perfect.
(Image: @knixwear)
Layer Up
Sometimes it takes a while to warm up your body in yoga, so some people like to start off with a light sweater to help work up a sweat, and remove it a few minutes later. This lightweight Lole Essential Up Jacket comes in 5 colours so you can choose your favourite!
(Image: Lole.com)
Water Bottle
While we’re on the topic of sweating, when you sweat you lose a lot of water so make sure you’re staying hydrated throughout your workout. Lole’s stainless steel re-usable water bottles are an environmentally-friendly way to do so while rocking a gorgeous print that will catch everyone’s eye.
(Image: Lole.com)