What comes to your mind when you think of the word Yoga? A calm person performing asanas in a quiet, peaceful room? Or a class where a group of individuals sit on yoga mats, stretching their limbs? Yoga is a universally accepted form of physical and mental activity that enhances well-being. However, to obtain the best results from your asanas, you must feel comfortable and move around freely without restrictions. This is where yoga dresses for women come into play. In this blog, we shall discuss the different types and styles of yoga outfits to help you get the best out of your yoga sessions.
Types of Women’s Yoga Dresses
Yoga Tops for Women
You might wonder why it’s necessary to wear a specific type of top during your yoga practice. While some outfits are specially crafted for yoga, others may lack the essential features for optimal performance. This is why fitness experts emphasize the importance of yoga dresses for women. You will not only feel comfortable during your asanas, but you’ll also experience better support and focus throughout your sessions. Now, let’s take a peek at some yoga tops for women!
1. Sports Bra
You can wear a sports bra beneath a top or T-shirt while practising yoga, or you can wear a sports bra as a stand-alone outfit (without wearing anything over it). Sports bras are designed to offer additional support to your breasts, reducing movements during physical activity. These bras are super-comfortable and help prevent breast and back pain caused by excessive breast movement.
Sports bras are available in low, medium, and high-impact designs, allowing you to choose according to the intensity of your yoga practice.
2. Tank Tops
These sleeveless tops are suitable for intense physical activity and athletic pursuits, and yes, you can wear them for yoga too! Made of breathable, lightweight fabric, tank tops keep you cool and comfortable during your asanas. They also offer a stylish appearance, which is why many women prefer them. There are two types of tank tops: fitted and loose-fit.
Fitted tank tops are suitable for asanas that require unrestricted arm movements. Loose-fit tank tops are also a good option, though they may move and expose your stomach during backward-bending asanas. However, they are suitable for “Hatha” yoga, which is ideal for beginners and includes many seated poses.
3. Bra Tops
These are usually padded and offer better support to your breasts during yoga practice. They are mostly wire-free and come with “U” necklines. These super-comfy tops can be worn for many hours.
A bra top is the perfect yoga dress for women because it is stretchable, lightweight and breathable. It offers full coverage to your upper torso so you won’t feel uneasy about exposure. Bra tops are suitable for “Vinyasa” yoga, which involves dynamic movements similar to dancing.
4. Crop Tops
They are short tops you can wear comfortably during your yoga sessions, especially “Vinyasa” yoga. Because of their moisture-wicking properties, these tops will keep you cool and dry throughout your practice. Many of these tops, which are excellent yoga dresses for women, are designed with trendy tie-knots at the front. You can pick from the many colours and designs of crop tops to look elegant and stylish while doing yoga.
5. T-Shirts
These are appropriate for sweaty and highly intense yoga sessions. There are different styles of sports t-shirts for yoga such as the following:
- Regular
- Full-sleeved
- Half-sleeved
- 3/4th-sleeved
- Mesh-back
- Mesh-sleeved
- Round-hemmed
- Low-hemmed
T-shirts are most appropriate for “Restorative” yoga, which involves just a few poses over an hour-long session.
6. Jackets
Although jackets are not recommended for yoga in general, they might come in handy if you get too cold from sweating. Intense yoga sessions can make you sweat a lot. A regular jacket or hooded jacket might also be handy if you plan to run errands after your class and it feels chilly outside!
Yoga Bottoms for Women
Now that you know the different types of tops you can wear for yoga, let’s look at some suitable bottoms you can pair with these tops!
1. Sports Pants
Sports pants are designed with stretchy wide waistbands and trimmed edges. They are usually made from a blend of Nylon and Spandex. You can pair sports pants with various types of tops/camisoles while practicing any type of yoga.
2. Yoga Leggings with Shorts
They are durable, breathable form-fitting legwear. They make you feel agile and flexible while doing your yoga poses. Go ahead and pair these leggings (that have shorts) with a sports bra for “Kundalini” yoga, where you activate your energy from the base of your spine.
3. Workout Leggings
You can wear these skin-fit bottoms for four-way stretch with compression. Workout leggings are usually full-length, high-waist bottoms. They also come with pockets, where you can conveniently keep your valuables like mobile phones.
4. Yoga Capri Leggings
These are lightweight leggings that start from the waist and end just below the knees. They are ultra-soft and highly stretchable. The functional side pockets in these leggings allow you to keep your important belongings safe. You can pair the leggings with a sports bra, any type of top or camisole while performing “Yin” yoga, where you should hold your poses for longer durations.
5. Yoga Pants
There are always discussions going on among women about the differences between yoga pants and leggings. Yoga pants are super comfortable and flexible. They fit your legs snugly and don’t restrict your movements during yoga sessions. Pair your yoga pants with tank tops for maximum comfort during all the poses in “Hatha” yoga.
6. Gym Joggers
If you wish to wear a pair of bottoms that are a bit looser, compared to yoga leggings, go for gym joggers without hesitation! You can pair them with any crop or tank top for “Power” yoga at home or in a class outside. Power yoga is all about improving strength and endurance.
Take Your Pick from the Types!
We have now discussed the various types of yoga dresses for women. First, pick a top that suits your asanas and then pair it with suitable bottoms. To obtain the full benefits of yoga, you must pick the right attire because comfort is key when it comes to effective performance.
More About Yoga Dresses:
Yoga Pants vs Leggings: What Are the Differences?