What to Wear to Hot Yoga
If it’s your first time in a hot yoga studio or you’re turning it up with a heater in a yoga class at home, you might be wondering what to wear to hot yoga. And while your yoga practice accepts you wherever you are with whatever you’re wearing, there are certain types of clothing that will help you have a more streamlined practice and give you freedom to move and flow.
In general, the best outfit to wear to hot yoga is moisture-wicking, lightweight, and doesn’t restrict your movement. Your outfit needs might even be different depending on the type of yoga you’re doing.
Here are a few suggestions on what to look for and our favorite recommendations from Alo Yoga.
Performance Fabric
Look for fabrics that are designed to be moisture-wicking — now’s not the time to grab sweatpants or that heavyweight 100% cotton T-shirt. Your best bet will be tops and bottoms specifically designed with performance or technical fabric to keep the sweat and odor at bay. Features like mesh and cutouts will also keep things ventilated.
2. Fitted Clothing
While something tight might seem restrictive, in the case of hot yoga, it can be helpful. A sports bra that keeps everything in place and sleeves that don’t flop up, down, and in your face can make your practice less distracting. Trust us — do Downward Dog once in a loose shirt and you’ll understand why. And when it comes to pants, leggings make sure that you’re not tripping or preventing the flow of movement like baggier pants would. Baggy pants can also create a chamber of trapped heat, which can make the room feel even hotter.
3. Inspiring Colors
Don’t underestimate the power of color psychology, especially in your practice. If you’re looking for a visual boost to help motivate your practice, aim for colors such as red, orange, or yellow to inspire strength and energy in higher intensity classes. If it’s a more relaxing yoga class in a hot room, look for colors such as green, brown, or blue to inspire stability and peace.
4. Shorts vs. Leggings
There are pros and cons to both shorts and leggings in hot yoga, so it’s up to personal preference and the style of class you’re taking. Many hot yoga practitioners love wearing shorts because less fabric means you’ll stay cooler and allow your sweat to do its thing. However, if you do sweat easily, it can create a slippery surface for arm balances like Crow and Side Crow.
Leggings might not keep you as cool, but they will create a stable surface if you decide to try any tricky poses or balances. When you choose lightweight and breathable leggings, it shouldn’t be an issue.
The Bottom Line
When dressing for hot yoga, you can’t go wrong with:
Fitted tanks
Breathable T-shirts
Sports bras with good support and coverage
Lightweight leggings
Performance shorts or compression shorts
Clothes that make you feel good and confident
Try to avoid:
Sweatpants
100% cotton
Long-sleeve shirts
Excessively baggy or heavy clothing
Anything that will distract you from your practice
Want to try hot yoga at home?
Use a space heater (read the safety instructions!) or turn on your fireplace to add a little heat to your home yoga practice. Here are a few class recommendations on Alo Moves to amp up the sweat factor.
Access the best in home yoga workouts on demand with Alo Moves.