What To Wear to Hot Yoga

Apt hot yoga attire all starts with the top, and the right top can be different for everyone. Obviously, we should leave the wool sweaters at home, but there are more choices than you might think. Your top options for hot yoga tops include:

• Sports bras
• Bra tops
• Tank tops
• Tees
• Fitted long-sleeves

A sports bra is the obvious answer here, and my number one go-to for every hot class. Even if you wear a different top, you likely need a sports bra underneath. Depending on your bust size, you might be fine in an itty-bitty, low-support sports bra. I most certainly am not, and I always wear medium or high-support, longline bras that keep everything in place—especially during inversions. If you want even more coverage, those tops that are part-bra, part-tank are also wonderful.

If you’re leaning toward tops with more coverage, ask yourself: Do you want something loose or fitted? Loose can be airy and freeing, but might get in your way during certain poses. For example, a loose tee is likely to fall on top of your face during a down dog, which is not ideal. If you prefer a looser fit, choose a top that’s relaxed but not billowing.

For my advanced yogis who can’t get enough heat, you might want to wear a fitted, athletic long-sleeve. I have not ascended to this level of intensity, but I see people all the time wearing long-sleeved quarter zips and similar styles. Aside from wanting to amp up the heat, the extra absorption can prevent slipperiness, which I’ll get into more in the section below.

The ideal bottoms to wear to hot yoga are also quite subjective. You may not want to wear teeny tiny spandex shorts that show everything, or you might be trying to wear as little as possible to survive in the heat. To get an idea of the range, these are a few of the most popular hot yoga bottoms:

• Spandex shorts
• Bike shorts
• Nylon or polyester shorts
• Leggings

I know what you’re all thinking: Shorts must be the best option. While I love shorts for hot yoga and do wear them to my classes, my top choice is actually leggings. There are three main reasons for this: the first being that things in hot yoga tend to get slippery. Tree pose comes at the end of the standing series, and it’s practically impossible to get a sweaty foot to stay firmly on a sweaty thigh, all while balancing on one leg.

My second reason is that leggings, even moisture-wicking ones, will do a better job holding onto sweat, which keeps your mat from getting drenched. Well, keeps it less drenched. My final reason is that I like to use my leggings to wipe my face in certain poses. If you’re in a tight forward fold with your forehead pressed against your knees, it gives you a chance to dry your face. There are several poses that require your face to be very close to or touching part of your leg, and I prefer not to press my nose against my own sweaty skin if it can be helped.

However, shorts help you feel cooler and let more sweat evaporate. Spandex bike shorts are a fabulous option, offering coverage even in wide-leg folds and other poses that could be revealing. Loose, flowy shorts can leave you exposed when it comes to a happy baby or headstand. With that said, my absolute favorite shorts for hot yoga combine the two. They’re small spandex bottoms with a lightweight nylon or polyester overlay, offering a stylish and intentional look that gives you full coverage.

For the love of all that is good, do not forget a hair tie. Most studios will have extra ones for you, but if your studio doesn’t offer them, it’s going to be a rough class for you. I let a few scrunchies live in my yoga bag, and they’re truly life-savers.

The ideal hair tie will depend on your hair type. I have fine, thin, straight hair, so it easily slips out of a typical hair elastic during all the movement and upside-down-ness. Velvet scrunchies are my favorite because they stay put and they’re super cute. I advise against any sort of claw clip or hard hair accessory; they can dig into your head in floor poses.

Beyond the oh-so important hair tie, these are a few optional accessories you might like to bring:

• Headband
• Wristbands
• Grippy socks

I don’t personally use any of these. Headbands tend to become a nuisance for me, as I constantly have to adjust them, and wristbands make me feel hotter.

Slipping and sliding during yoga is a real struggle, but if you think you need grippy socks, I suspect you’d benefit from a better yoga mat. I’m in the Liforme cult (and proud of it), so that’s definitely my top recommendation. But plenty of people swear by cork mats, Gaiam, Manduka, and other brands and materials. The right mat can help you manage the slipping, especially when paired with a good yoga towel.

I know lots of people take all their jewelry off during yoga, but I know many people who do asanas with giant gold hoops, trendy chain necklaces, and fat diamond rings on. Be careful when you practice with jewelry, and if anything makes you uncomfortable, take it off. But I keep all my daily basics on and have never had an issue. That’s the beauty of waterproof jewelry!

The sweat doesn’t stop the moment the class ends. After a particularly intense, humid, and hot class, my pores are still spilling out sweat. Sometimes it doesn’t stop until I subject myself to my version of a cold plunge (standing in an icy shower for as long as I can bear it). If you shower at your studio, this is less of a concern for you, and you can basically wear whatever you want. If you wait to get home like I do, it makes a big difference what you wear to and fro.

Even if you don’t shower, you can still change out of your ridiculously sweaty clothes before getting in your car. I highly recommend you choose loose bottoms, like sweatpants or joggers. It is not fun trying to pull leggings or jeans over your sweaty legs; it actually feels kind of impossible. The same goes for your top. I like to wear my favorite oversized T-shirts during the summer and my go-to hoodies when it’s colder outside. And nothing beats the chic look of a matching sweatset. You might be beet red and soaked in sweat, but you’ll still look good.

I know it can be tempting to step outside into the chilly air to find relief from the heat, but an extreme temperature shift right after all that exertion can make you feel sick. It’ll feel gross, but it’s best to put on your clothes (including socks!) before stepping out into a cold winter night drenched in sweat.

As far as shoes, I always, always, always wear sporty slides or sandals. Do not wear any shoe materials that will absorb the sweat. That means no suede sneakers, moccasins, soft slippers, lined boots, etc. Even leather or mesh sneakers can smell rank if you wear them after a hot yoga class. Ideally, your shoes should be waterproof, like the Birkenstock EVA Arizona or rubber Nike slides. Even cheap flip flops from Old Navy are a good move.

Aside from your clothes, I suggest bringing these essentials:

• Yoga Bag: Those puffy quilted bags are trendy right now (I have one), but any spacious bag that fits all your stuff will do.
• Water Bottle(s): Bring at least one big water bottle, if not two, and make sure you choose ones with insulation so the water doesn’t get too warm.
• Electrolyte Drink: Even excellent hydration can’t always save you from the post-hot-yoga headache, so replenish your electrolytes with Gatorade, Liquid IV, or something similar.
• Hand Towel: Any hand towel will do, but I love the microfiber ones because they absorb moisture quickly and don’t feel soaked halfway through class.
• Mat Towel: I rarely use one these days because Liforme mats don’t get very slippery, but a good mat towel can offer better grip when the sweat starts to pool below you.
• Deodorant: Nothing is quite as rough as driving to hot yoga and questioning when you last put deodorant on, so keep an extra one in your yoga bag.