Tips for Comfortable Yoga Gear for First Time Yogis

Since 2020, searches for yoga outfits have increased with the sale of yoga-related products at Lyst rising 42%, according to Linchpin SEO. If you’re a first-time female yogi, deciding what to wear for yoga classes and what equipment to use can be intimidating. The yoga industry keeps evolving, especially when it comes to activewear and practice gear. As a beginner, you might feel the urge to invest hundreds of dollars in fitness items even before you set foot in a yoga studio. However, you don’t require many props or clothes to practice yoga at home or your local gym. To ensure you make wise choices, follow these tips for comfortable yoga gear for first-time yogis.

Sports Bras

Purchasing a sports bra should be a top consideration when starting yoga. You don’t want your breasts popping out anytime you’re doing a pose, be it a headstand or handstand! In addition to ensuring your breasts stay put throughout your exercise, a sports bra provides the coverage you need. That way, you’ll feel more comfortable practicing, resulting in enhanced performance. When choosing a sports bra for yoga classes, be sure they are not extra tight like running bras. Also, avoid fitness bras with fastenings at the back to avoid anything digging in or pricking your back. 

 Yoga Tank Tops

 When doing yoga, you need a top that will stay put regardless of the shape or pose you’re making. A form-fitting tank top won’t slide or fly over your head, exposing your torso when you stretch. To ensure you feel comfortable throughout your yoga classes, consider buying yoga tank tops made of wicking material. Breathable fabric is ideal, especially if you sweat a lot during workouts or if you intend to try a hot yoga class.  

Quality Yoga Leggings

Leggings are must-have fitness apparel for female yogis. Note that wearing the proper yoga attire is vital for improved performance in the gym. With this in mind, ensure your leggings are flexible and comfortable enough to allow you to make different poses with ease. The fabric should be breathable so that your leggings don’t look weird when you sweat, causing an embarrassment. Most importantly, the material shouldn’t be transparent. The last thing you want is people seeing through your leggings when you’re bending over or doing poses. While you can choose leggings designed with creative and unique prints, it’s wise to select plain, mainly black stretchy pants. Most women yogis find it easy pairing black leggings with cover-ups like t-shirts, crop tops, jackets, knit sweaters, or hoodies. 

Running-Style Shorts

 Yoga shorts are a favorite option for male yogis, but they are also appropriate for women. If you consider trying hot yoga classes, a pair of shorts will make your workout experience flawless. While loose shorts guarantee comfort, it’s wise to wear them over tights. Alternatively, put on form-fitting fitness shorts to ensure your body is covered. Since most yoga poses force you to place your legs in a way that exposes your body, wearing running-style shorts isn’t advisable. 

Comfortable Yoga Socks and Sports Shoes

Socks aren’t an essential requirement for performing yoga. However, if the thought of doing poses barefoot puts you off, buying a pair of yoga socks is worthwhile. Keep in mind yoga socks are designed with grips on the bottom to ensure you maintain good traction. Though you don’t require shoes for yoga classes, you’ll need a pair of quality sports footwear for walking or jogging to and from the yoga studio.

Yoga Mats

A yoga mat is an essential prop, as it defines your space in the gym and provides the required traction for your hands and feet. They also offer cushioning, especially on hard floors, to enhance comfort. Although most studios provide mats at no cost or a small fee, you may want to purchase yours for hygienic reasons. The market offers a wide range of options, so you can be sure of finding a mat that meets your needs. All you need to do is create a list of yoga mat features essential for practice, such as length, comfort, longevity, material, and traction. 

Microfiber Towels

Including yoga towels in your yoga gear collection is beneficial in many ways. A yoga towel helps you wipe away sweat so you can stay comfortable and maintain your grip on the mat. If you’re doing hot yoga, these towels absorb and trap body moisture, preventing it from spreading on your exercise mat. That way, you can be sure the mat’s surface is secure, giving you a sturdy foundation underneath. Moreover, a yoga towel can be used as a mat if you forget yours at home. Most first-time yogis tend to settle for regular towels. What they don’t know is that there is a big difference between ordinary towels and yoga towels. Towels for yoga classes are made of a non-slippery surface through a pressed square or microdot pattern. They also have a thin, long rectangular shape and are made of wicking fabric to wick away sweat.  

Optional Yoga Equipment

 Apart from yoga mats, you’ll need other props for yoga practice, including blankets, blocks, wheels, bolsters, and straps. Each item has unique features that aim to make your yoga class comfortable. For instance, you can use folded blankets to lift your hips during seated poses or provide support when performing lying poses. Yoga blocks enhance your comfort and improve alignment, particularly when attempting handstands. On the other hand, straps or belts work as arm extenders whenever you need to hold onto your feet but can’t reach them.  

Choosing the correct yoga attire and equipment is essential if you want to enhance your performance and reap yoga’s health benefits. However, with so many options available in the market, determining what to wear and what to bring in the yoga studio can be tricky for a first-time yogi. To ease the process, you only need to focus on the basic outfits and props. As a general rule of thumb, invest in quality leggings, sports bras, form-fitting tops, a yoga towel, a yoga mat, and a pair of shorts and socks.