When asked for our suggestions, we generally recommend yogawear to be as form-fitting as you’re comfortable with. And this is especially true for our more dynamic, heated, power vinyasa classes. That said, there is indeed a time and a place for less-snug, more-flowy yoga pants, like for restorative or all-levels unheated, slower-paced classes.
When choosing yoga pants, consider the following:
Material
- Softness, stretchiness, breathability, and moisture-wicking capabilities are all important to keep in mind for overall performance and comfort.
- Synthetic fibers, like nylon or polyester blends with lycra/spandex/elastane (all the same material), tend to be preferable because they’re lightweight, durable, stretchy, soft, and have moisture-wicking and quick-dry properties.
- Natural fibers, like bamboo and cotton, are great because they’re breathable, though they tend to absorb and retain sweat
Length
- Ankle-length, capris, crop, knee-length, and shorts are all options to keep in mind depending on your preferences.
- Use measuring tape to check your ideal inseam length from crotch to ankle. Brands usually have 20”, 25”, and 28” inseams available.
- If you’re on the petite side (read: short), then capri-length pants will sometimes hit perfectly right at your ankles.
Style
- Form-fitting leggings, boot-cut, flares, sweatpants, and joggers
- Leggings that are too tight can limit your range of motion, be see-through, and uncomfortable, so be sure to look for:
- flat-lock seams that line up at your hips, crotch, and inner thighs
- 4-way stretch gusseted crotch (triangle or diamond-shaped fabric added for extra comfort and movement, where the front, back, and leg seams meet)
- a reinforced front panel for coverage and comfort
- Loose or flowy pants may droop and slide around while you’re bending, twisting, and inverting, so be sure you find the correct fit to avoid stepping or tripping on any extra fabric
- Leggings that are too tight can limit your range of motion, be see-through, and uncomfortable, so be sure to look for:
- Waist: high-waisted, mid-waist, low-rise, drawstring, and compression
- A common issue with leggings is the waist rolling down, so whichever style you choose, you want to be sure that the waist stays in place.
- High-waisted leggings that reach above the belly button tend to be the most reliable no-roll styles, and they stay in place without squeezing or pinching your belly
Yoga pants by yoga class type
As with the myriad types of yoga pants options nowadays, there are SO MANY different kinds of yoga classes, as well. In a more general sense though, when deciding which yoga pants to wear to your next yoga class, consider the following:
- whether the class has dynamic and rigorous sequencing or is slower-paced
- if you’ll be practicing in a heated or unheated room
- the amount of sweat you tend to produce given the above possibilities
Class types are listed in descending order of importance for more specific attire:
Intermediate or Advanced yoga class in a heated room
If your go-to yoga class takes place in a heated room and/or is rigorous and sweat-inducing, then your choice of yoga pants will be more important.
For hot yoga classes like our POWER classes, which have advanced, dynamic sequencing and are heated to 90-95 degrees, special considerations should be made to account for the extra moisture from humidity and perspiration.
- Choose:
- high-waisted, fitted leggings, made of soft, lightweight nylon or polyester blends for quick-dry, moisture-wicking properties (bonus if they’re odor-resistant and anti-microbial)
- Avoid:
- loose, cotton sweatpants/joggers, which will absorb moisture, weigh you down, and become uncomfortable
- shorts, because slippery legs can make certain poses more difficult
- flares can get in your way, causing you to step or trip on the extra fabric
Suggestions for some of our favorite yoga pants, so you can spend less time adjusting and more time flowing:
lululemon Align High-Rise Pant
Beyond Yoga’s Spacedye Caught In The Midi High Waisted Legging
You can find our favorite lululemon and Beyond Yoga pants at our in-studio boutique—drop in during our retail hours to browse at your leisure. We also love these yoga pants because they are cute, comfortable, quality, and affordable:
Ododos Out Pocket High-Waisted Yoga Pants
Beginner or Intermediate yoga class in an unheated room
If your favorite yoga classes are vinyasa, with a focus on healthy movement and body awareness in an unheated room, like our AWAKEN 1 and AWAKEN 2 classes, then the above-recommended pants will also work perfectly well, especially if you tend to sweat a lot during class.
If you don’t sweat buckets, and you happen to prefer natural fibers over synthetic ones, then the moisture-wicking properties of synthetic fibers may not quite be as necessary for your yoga pants.
- Choose:
- high-waisted, soft and stretchy, fitted leggings
- Avoid:
- Flares, because these classes also consist of dynamic movement, you’ll likely still want to wear a more form-fitting legging, so as not to be tripping over pant legs while flowing from one asana to the next.
All levels or restorative yoga class in an unheated room
If you’re treating yourself to a yoga class focused on stillness, meditation, gentle movement, and long deep stretches – like our ZEN and MEDITATE classes – because the sequencing for these classes tends to be at a slower pace, there is a much lower risk of excessive sweating or tripping on pant legs, so don your flowy, loose bottoms made of natural fibers for these classes, if you prefer.
Though as noted before, feel free to wear the same yoga pants previously suggested—there’s no downside if you’re already comfortable. However, if you prefer to wear looser sweatpants or joggers, boot-cut, flares, cotton, or other natural fibers, there isn’t the same worry about tripping or getting weighed down, so feel free!
- Choose:
- your absolute favorite most comfortable pants of any style
- Avoid:
- anything restrictive or uncomfortable in any way
If you’re not sure yet where to start when choosing a yoga class at Ignite Yoga, take a look at our class schedule.
Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready 😉 Slip on your favorite pair of cute and functional yoga pants before leaving the house for the day, so you’re prepared to join one of Ignite Yoga’s classes on-the-fly!
May your yoga pants flow with you wherever you are—on and off the mat.
