The Yoga Pant and Your Behind

Some may be perturbed by a discussion of clothes related to yoga, as yoga has nothing to do with what you wear. In fact, some choose to practice yoga naked. However, for most people, no matter how present in your practice you may be, when you can clearly see your neighbors butt-cheeks in class, you can't help but be distracted. Pants that appear to be comfortable and well covering in a dimly lit store room, may turn out to be shear when bending over in day light. Three components of yoga pants lend to this dilemma- the size, color, and fabric. It may be of interest to you purchase yoga pants that actually cover your behind when doing yoga. Here are some tips for choosing a pair of pants that will not betray you in the studio: (adapted from Emily Leaman)

Size

Simply put, pants that are too small are see-through. If you bend over and the pants get that sheen, it means they’re stretching too much. When the fabric gets pulled beyond its limits, the weave gets wider than it’s supposed to—giving everyone around you a view of your backside. Solution: Go up a size.

Color

Black’s your best bet if see-through’s a concern. Stay away from grays, which tend to show more, and leave your pastels for lounging only: “They’re not the most flattering.”

Fabric

Paying attention to the fabric is key. Plain ol’ cotton is not the best choice because as you move and stretch, it gets thinner and thinner—and eventually won’t bounce back. You want reinforced compression fabric (i.e. lycra or lycra-nylon blends) that feels thicker to the touch, especially around the butt area. This stuff’s intended to stretch over and over (and over and over), and return to its original shape. Athleta’s brand-name fabric is called Supplex; the Lululemon version is called Luon. Both stretch in several directions—up, down, diagonal, side-to-side—and are meant to endure serious wear-and-tear. Which means, with proper care, your behind will be covered for years to come.

What to Do at the Store

When you’re shopping for yoga pants, don’t be afraid to hit the floor and do some stretches in front of the mirror. Notice how the fabric pulls and stretches, and ask an honest friend to pay attention to your behind. If you’re shopping alone, ask a staffer to do it—hey, it’s their job. 

And remember to check them out in good daylight!

Beyond Yoga

 {Top: here|Bottom: here}

Beyond Yoga apparel holds a special place in my heart. The signature fabric of Beyond Yoga is soft. Crazy, ridiculous, soft, and breathable. When I'm thinking about what to wear to a heated yoga class, I peruse the clean clothing I have left and evaluate based on how cool and comfortable it will be in 105 degree heat.  Most often I end up grabbing my Beyond Yoga tops and bottoms.

(photos by Lauren Alisse Photography)

These pieces are some of Beyond's staples. The bottoms are gathered crop leggings that I have in four different colors. Both the top and bottoms have held up well thru numerous washings, as I have yet to notice any fading or fraying. And as typical for Beyond wear, they are remarkably cool and soft. Things to look out for with these leggings : In certain colors (especially the lighter ones) they are noticably shear and you have to wear some decent coverage underneath them. This can be a problem, because instead of your nice bottom, all anyone will notice are your panty lines in these things. Also, they tend to run a little large-- I wear a size smaller then I would normally wear with other brands.

The top is their original, no-nonsense cami. It's your go-to for when you want to show off your perfect natarajasana more then your shirt.