Recently I’ve been doing a lot of hot yoga (currently finishing up a stint at Bikram but looking forward to switching to hot vinyasa). What you wear in these classes really impacts your movement and how you feel. I’m a strong believer that it’s worth investing in good workout clothes because when you feel good at the gym or studio, you’re going to work harder (not the case for everyone, but for me it holds true).

Some yoga studios have no mirrors but one that I frequent happens to have a lot of mirrors, meaning while sweating and struggling, I’m also staring at myself for 90 minutes. To make this more pleasant, I’ve pulled together my favorite yoga gear to share with you

There are a few things to look for in hot yoga gear. The material is really important and the thinner and more swim-suit like it is, the better. Hot yoga is REALLY sweaty and after class there’s a good chance your clothes are going to stink. I love Onzie (items 1, 2, 3) because the material is basically what a bathing suit is made of. It keeps you somewhat cool and after class you can rinse the clothes out in the shower and quickly the sweat and stink are gone, plus it will air dry in a few hours. This is best to do before throwing it in your laundry basket otherwise all your clothes will be stinky and wet (spoiler: hot yoga is kinda gross).

Hot yoga is one of the few times I’ll wear short shorts. Some girls in Bikram yoga wear shorts that are basically undies but that isn’t my style. The above shorts (6 from Lulu & 7 from Nike) are short enough for hot yoga while still keeping me covered. 

Whether you’re wearing full length leggings, capris or shorts, you should look for a pair with a wide waste band (Mika has great options like #5) so it doesn’t dig into your stomach during class. For one, it’s uncomfortable, but two, if you’re like me and practice in just bottoms and a sports bra, it’s not a look I want to stare at during class (again, personal preference but the better I feel, the harder I push).

As for sports bras, I typically go for a tight tech, highly supportive sports bra to reduce bouncing in running and spin, but in yoga I get the chance to wear lower support bras that are super cute. Onzie (3), Lululemon (8) and Mika (4) have some of my favorites.

Of course you can wear any old sweats for hot yoga but if you can, I’d suggest investing a few of these pieces to keep you practicing in comfort and style. 

Shop the post: (1) Onzie Color Block Legging / (2) Onzie Low Rise Capri / (3) Onzie Elastic Bra Top / (4) Mika Tula Top / (5) Mika Legging / (6) Lululemon Boogie Short / (7) Nike Pro Core Mezzo Short / (8) Lululemon Energy Bra