What to Wear to Yoga Class (and What to Bring)

For most yoga classes, wear fitted, stretchy clothes you can move in, such as leggings or fitted shorts and a top that stays in place when you bend forward, and practice barefoot. Skip anything loose enough to slide over your head in downward dog or ride up when your legs go overhead.

That covers 90 percent of classes. The rest depends on the style: a heated power class and a restorative class call for very different outfits. Here is what to wear for each, what men usually wear, fabrics that work, and what to bring.

The basic yoga outfit

• Bottoms: leggings, yoga pants, or fitted shorts. High-waisted styles stay put better when you fold forward.
• Top: a fitted tank or T-shirt, or a looser one you can tuck in. If it hangs loose, it will fall toward your face every time you go into downward dog.
• Sports bra: light to medium support for most styles. Yoga does not bounce, so comfort matters more than compression.
• Feet: bare. Shoes stay at the door, and socks come off at the mat.
• Hair: tied back if it is long enough to fall in your face.

Before you buy anything, do a quick test at home: bend forward and touch the floor, then get on your hands and feet in an upside-down V. If you are adjusting your clothes or something is see-through, change it. That test catches most yoga clothing problems.

What to wear by type of yoga class

Slow classes surprise people: you barely sweat, you lie still for long stretches, and studios keep the room comfortable rather than warm. Bring a sweatshirt and socks for the rest at the end. Flow and power classes are the opposite. You will be warm within 15 minutes, so dress for the middle of class, not the walk in.

If you are not sure which style you booked, our guides to vinyasa yoga and yoga classes for beginners explain how the common styles differ.

What to wear to hot yoga

Hot yoga rooms are commonly heated to somewhere between 90 and 105°F, sometimes with added humidity, so the rules change.

• Less fabric is better. Shorts and a sports bra or tank are standard. Many men wear shorts only, if the studio allows it.
• Quick-dry synthetics only. Cotton soaks up sweat, gets heavy, and stays wet. Look for polyester or nylon blends labeled moisture-wicking.
• Check opacity. Wet fabric is more see-through than dry fabric. Darker colors and thicker leggings help.
• Grip matters. Sweaty hands and feet slide on a regular mat. A full-length towel on top of your mat, or a mat designed for hot classes, solves most of it.
• Bring a change of clothes. You will be drenched.

Our guide to what hot yoga is covers the heat, safety, and how to prepare for a first heated class.

What men usually wear to yoga

Most men wear athletic shorts with a built-in liner, or shorts over compression shorts or tights, with a fitted T-shirt or tank. Joggers work for slow classes. The one thing to avoid is loose shorts without a liner: they ride up in any pose where your legs go wide or overhead. Tuck a looser shirt into your waistband if you do not own a fitted one.

Fabrics: what works and what does not

• Nylon and polyester blends with spandex: stretchy, hold their shape, and wick sweat. The default for flow and hot classes.
• Cotton blends: soft and fine for slow classes. They hold sweat, so they get heavy in warm rooms.
• Bamboo and modal blends: soft and breathable, good for gentle and yin classes.
• Thin, light-colored leggings: check them in a deep forward fold in good light before class.

You do not need yoga-specific brands. Any well-fitting workout clothes you already own will do for your first few classes. Buy more once you know which style you will keep doing.

What not to wear

• Loose shorts without a liner
• Baggy T-shirts that fall toward your face
• Jeans or anything without stretch
• Jewelry that dangles, catches, or presses into you when lying down (rings and bracelets dig in during plank)
• Strong perfume, cologne, or scented lotion, since people around you are breathing deeply
• Lotion on hands and feet before class, which makes the mat slippery

What to bring to yoga class

• A yoga mat. Many studios rent or lend mats, but policies vary, so check before your first visit. If you go weekly, owning one is worth it.
• Water. A full bottle, and more for heated classes.
• A towel. A hand towel for most classes. A mat-length towel for hot yoga.
• A layer. For the final rest, especially in slow or cool classes.
• A hair tie.

Blocks, straps, blankets, and bolsters are almost always provided. You will grab them before class starts.

Once you have a class and an outfit, the hard part is going back the next week. Full disclosure: that is what our app, Corvi, is for. You book with your studio as usual, then check in on Corvi to keep a weekly streak and see which classes your friends are going to. It is free and does not book classes or take payments.

A note on studio rules

Some studios publish dress or gear rules: grip socks for barre and reformer pilates, a towel requirement for heated rooms, or a request to avoid scents. If a studio's site does not say, call the front desk. If you also take barre, our guide to what to wear to barre covers grip socks and the different clothing rules there.

Common questions

Can I wear sweatpants to yoga?

You can in slow classes like yin, restorative, or gentle hatha, as long as they are not so loose that they bunch or slide when your legs go up. For vinyasa, power, or hot yoga, fitted leggings or shorts work much better, because baggy fabric gets in the way in twists and inversions and gets heavy when wet with sweat.

Do you wear shoes or socks in yoga?

Neither. Yoga is practiced barefoot so your feet can grip the mat and you can balance. Studios ask you to take shoes off before entering the practice room. Regular socks are slippery, so take them off too. If you have a medical reason or cold feet in a slow class, grip socks with rubber dots on the sole are a reasonable compromise.

What should a man wear to yoga?

Fitted athletic shorts with a built-in liner, or shorts layered over compression shorts, plus a fitted or tucked-in T-shirt or tank. Joggers or tapered sweatpants work in slower classes. Avoid loose basketball shorts without a liner, since they ride up in many poses. For hot yoga, wear lightweight shorts and a tank or go shirtless if the studio allows it.

What should I bring to my first yoga class?

Bring water, a small towel, and a mat if you own one. Many studios rent or lend mats, so call ahead if you do not have one. Props like blocks and straps are almost always provided. For hot yoga, add a large towel for your mat, extra water, and a change of clothes for afterward.

Find your next class: pick a studio from our Portland yoga directory and wear what you already own.