Hot yoga is exactly like it sounds—yoga performed in a very hot room. If you have never tried this kind of class before but plan to attend one soon, you may be wondering what you should wear. We’ve got you covered. Here are some helpful tips on what to wear to hot yoga class.
The Basics
Yoga is an activity that is supposed to help you relax and de-stress—in addition to its physical conditioning benefits—it only makes sense that you should strive to keep your wardrobe simple. After all, if you have to spend half an hour trying to decide what to wear to class, you may wind up being too stressed to actually get anything out of the experience. Let’s take a quick look at some things to keep in mind when considering what to wear to hot yoga:
- Sweat, sweat, sweat. This isn’t breaking news, but you are going to sweat a lot during your hot yoga class. As in, a whole lot. You will likely be completely drenched by the end of your session. The idea is to wear as little as possible while still covering up appropriately and feeling comfortable. Commonly, women will wear just a sports bra and shorts or leggings to hot yoga, while men may wear just shorts or leggings.
- Synthetic fibers. Again, the key here comes back to sweat. If you are going to be doing yoga in a hot room and sweating virtually the whole time, cotton clothing is going to get very uncomfortable. Cotton soaks up sweat, getting heavier with every passing moment. With synthetic fibers, your clothing can wick away moisture while staying lighter, which will help to keep you cooler and more comfortable.
- Other accessories. What you’ll need for a hot yoga class goes beyond attire. Don’t forget essential accessories like a sweat-proof yoga mat, at least one towel, and water. Some classes may also call for a block and strap, but studios tend to have extras available.
Comfort Is Essential
We’ve already mentioned that you don’t want to wear too much clothing in a hot yoga class, given the temperature of the studio and the difficulty of the various poses. With that in mind, you can’t go naked, so you do need to make sure you are comfortable with what you are wearing.
It will be hard to fully immerse yourself in class if you are having self-conscious thoughts about your clothing and how much of your body is exposed. Try on various yoga pieces so you can settle on something that will give you confidence while keeping you cool.
Invest In Quality
It’s true that yoga apparel can get expensive. And no, you don’t have to buy the highest-priced clothing on the market to enjoy your class. With that said, it is a good idea to invest in quality gear, as long as that gear fits your budget. The trick is to treat those items right so they stay comfortable and last longer, saving you money in the long run.
Keep Up With The Laundry
While you might be able to smell good after a quick shower, your yoga clothes will likely be another story. Don’t let them sit in a sweaty, soaked state for very long, or they will become more difficult to get clean. Handle your laundry as soon as possible after class to keep things smelling fresh.
Use WIN Detergent To Keep Your Gear Fresh
Given how much you are likely to sweat during a hot yoga class, you won’t be able to count on any old detergent to get the stink out of your apparel. Most regular detergents are designed to clean cotton, which is why your activewear pieces—which are made with synthetic materials—often still stink even after washing!
The good news is that there are many dedicated sports detergents available that are designed specifically to remove oils, sweat, and odor from synthetic sports apparel. Try a bottle of WIN Activewear Detergent today to keep your yoga gear clean and odor-free!