Pro Yoga Practitioners Want You to Wear These If You’re a Beginner
If it’s your first time doing yoga, you might not know what to wear. It’s important that you learn what’s required beforehand so that you are comfortable when you start your first class. However, before we get into that, let’s take a brief look at a question yoga newbies often grapple with…
Studio or video?
Generally, if you’re just starting out with yoga, it’s advisable to go to a studio and get in-person instructions. That way, you benefit from personalized feedback about your form and suggestions of the best poses. You can’t get these from recorded or even live stream yoga instructions. Of course, studios are the pricier option, costing around $20-30. However, if you’re a beginner, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Nonetheless, video-based yoga sessions from a helpful yoga site are perfectly acceptable if your schedule doesn’t allow for classes, if there are no yoga studios near you, or if trying to find the right studio is becoming an excuse for you not getting started with yoga. The most crucial thing is that you use videos that were created by qualified yoga instructors and that are made for beginners.
What to wear for yoga
Many people seem to believe that you should be adorned in fancy yoga gear to get ready for a yoga session. That is, however, not the case. It’s a good idea to keep things as simple as possible for your first few classes and wear items that are already available. Here are a few yoga tips to keep in mind.
1. Pants
Yoga pants vary widely, but you need not go out of your way to buy a special pair for your first session. Any comfortable shorts or pants you have are fine. Just make sure the pants you use can stretch, so jeans might not be ideal.
After a few sessions, you may decide that you need pants that have a higher waist, looser, longer or shorter, but still secure even when you stretch up. That’s when you should go shopping. Big-name stores such as Walmart or Target offer a number of options. You can also get good yoga pants at specialty retailers that sell yoga attire.
2. Shoes
Yoga is typically done barefoot, though you might see some people wearing some kind of sock or shoe usually for medical reasons such as an injury. However, if the idea of exposing your feet to strangers doesn’t sit well with you, you can always get yoga socks. On the bottom of these socks are non-slip grips that give your feet traction on the mat.
3. Tops
The best shirt for yoga is one that’s somewhat fitted. Loose-fitting workout shirts or even big baggy shorts are not ideal because they slip down whenever you bend over, and yoga involves a lot of bending over. Many yoga practitioners like to wear sleeveless tops because of the freedom of movement they offer for the shoulders and arms. The bra you use for exercising will also work for yoga.
4. Hot yoga
Bikram or hot yoga requires special consideration. Long pants/tops and cotton attire are unsuitable because the yoga exercises are carried out in a hot room. Moisture-wicking clothes and shorts work best when doing hot yoga.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
