Yoga Gear

Finding Yoga Gear That Fits Your Practice

Do you ever feel uneasy walking into class without the "right" yoga gear? Perhaps you have pictured yourself in form-fitting leggings or Capri pants spotted in a yoga clothing feed on Instagram. Or maybe you are among those practitioners who happily wear t-shirts and tees until they are practically worn out. Or you might sit somewhere in between, with a few sweatshirts to rotate but no complete yoga wardrobe. Whichever camp you fall into, picking the best yoga wear is both a challenge and a pleasure. The range is wide, from your favourite sweatpants to premium pieces that cost $100.00 or more. So what is the truly yogic answer to branded yoga wear on sale?

How Yoga Gear Came About

In the early '50s and '60s, when yoga first arrived on the scene, the earliest practitioners simply wore ordinary gym shorts and jersey leotards. There was no such thing as "yoga gear" as we know it. Half a century later, the yoga gear business has become a success, with the global industry now worth over $90 billion each year. Big names such as Outdoor Voices, Athleta, and Lululemon have stayed at the top of activewear for years. Other emerging fitness brands, like Yoga Hyde, founded a few years back, now offer a selection of stylish athletic clothes. Social media is today's best platform for promoting many businesses, with yoga wear modelled by famous influencers and celebrities who post pictures of yogic poses while tagging their fitness brands. Followers who cannot manage the pose can at least buy the same leotards and catch a glimpse of a yogi dream.

Making a Statement

Every piece of clothing we wear says something about who we are, and our yoga wear is no exception. The latest styles follow the trends, and as yoga grows more admired, the fashion business has grasped and is fulfilling our wants, whatever our preferences. Buying high-priced mats is one way of telling others what a luxurious yogic life you lead. It is also a statement of individuality. The cult of personality is a Western phenomenon. We are constantly reminded of adages online to "celebrate yourself" and "be proud to express yourself as an individual," no matter your gender preference. As the French mathematician and father of modern philosophy, Rene Descartes, pinpointed: "Self-expression is individuality, and our individuality is our self, which ought to be our chief concern." But is it indispensable? Let's look at what yoga says on the matter.

A Yogic Perspective

Before you even begin performing yogic poses on your yoga mat, there are elements of yoga to follow for a more purposeful life. The first and second elements are the ethical codes, the yamas and niyamas, which keep you from straying and enhance the morals and integrity in your everyday life. The third yama, asteya, means "non-stealing," suggesting that the true yoga enthusiast should not covet what another has, which also hints at a tiny doubt about fidgeting through Instagram craving celebrity-endorsed Capri leggings. The last yama, aparigraha, means "non-possessiveness," or in other words "simple living," and encourages you not to live life too excessively but instead to be mindful of all your possessions. Maybe you can apply this by pausing before buying, assessing, and asking a few questions like: "Do I need this one, or is it to satisfy my wants at the moment?" To wind up, in complete contrast to the non-conformist view of Descartes and others, in Sanskrit the word "yoga" literally means "union." It unifies your mind and body while encompassing the union of your self with higher consciousness. The very goal of yoga is samadhi, also known as enlightenment, the last element of the yoga sutras of Patanjali, when a practitioner reaches a state of being ecstatic where there is no sense of "thyself." Seemingly, there is no hindrance to reaching the stage of Samadhi, whether or not you wear the latest style in yoga wear.

Still and All

There are provisions to these strict ideals of the yamas and niyamas. Ultimately, we are only human. We don't live in a monastic community in India where abstinent yogis reside who have no belongings at all. Keep in mind that we need to feel confident about ourselves, even if you find your tanks and leggings threadbare. When that happens, you will presumably lose focus on your yogic exercises because you are anxious that your partner or teacher can see the holes in the crotch of your leggings. It is probably the best time to invest in a new pair. So if you are a yoga teacher, treat yourself to excellent quality and comfortable yoga wear while not being pretentious enough to divert your students' attention from observing your thorough demonstration. Fortunately, at 889yoga we have a complete yoga store featuring yoga clothes and gear, from tanks, tops, pants, and leggings to props fitted to flow with your life and chosen practice. From eye-catching shades to really durable products that help you go deeper, our featured trends understand the poses and the responsibility of using materials that minimize global impact. After all, yoga's goal is to turn inward, and that requires being in a comfy state and being supported from head to toe, whether your practice is Bikram yoga, where loads of sweat can be seen, or a therapeutic session of Vinyasa yoga.

Explore the Yoga Gear Guides

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