Where You're at Yoga

Men, no shade to those of you so committed to decency that you’re calling your brothers out. Total shade to the other ones, though.

As Darla said on the show Angel, “Can’t a girl raise a little hell around here without it being about some man?”

So it is with wearing yoga pants.

Yoga pants were never designed for the Male Gaze (TM.) Anyone familiar with a very old law – Law 34 of the Internet – knows that what a woman wears for any reason is immaterial. Some dude will make up a story about why she’s wearing anything. Instead of taking responsibility for his thoughts and behavior, he’ll try to make his ick her problem. My advice to femme folks when these creepers happen: fart. Yell. Ask him about his blood type and organ donor status. Remind him that the ladies in those videos are paid to act that way because no one will do so in real life. Make it weird.

Yoga pants exist for one reason: so that a person can engage in exercise movements with comfort. Restrictive clothing can present safety issues in most exercise situations. Sweats are often too warm for sweaty people, and often, they don’t fit as well on curvier and larger bodies. What someone may project onto yoga pants is about them. However, the reason for the yoga pants is solely based on the experience and intent of the person wearing them.

Refrain from jumping to conclusions if people wear yoga pants in non-exercise situations. Consider first that that person wants to feel comfortable. It’s your responsibility to avert your eyes. Yes, yoga has modesty values, and all are contextual. You’re not involved enough to have an opinion if you don’t know the context.

So, with that said, what’s ideal to wear in a yoga class?

The ideal is something stretchy that you can wear without sensory distraction. I’d rather my students have their attention on their form, their breathing, or their intent. If their clothing itches or a thread keeps brushing their hand, it’s non-ideal.

Yoga pants are the easy part for me, even on my upper end of plus sizing. My struggle? The top half. I adore every one of my yoga instructors, but the ones I studied with the longest don’t have as much to get off their chest as I do. That has presented challenges in participating in certain yoga poses and finding the right attire.

It’s hard to practice a heart-melting pose when your body keeps your sternum a good four inches off the floor. Also, meeting yourself as you’re coming from the other way? Awkward. But for today, let’s talk about pants.

Here are the rules of what yoga bottoms to wear:

Wear what you feel comfortable in that allows a reasonable range of movement.

Appropriate options include:

• Yoga pants
• Sweats, if they stay on your body appropriately
• Leggings
• Palazzo pants made from a stretchy material
• Shorts at a length that preserves consensual intimacy

My main concerns in my classes are safety and comfort.

Suppose part of your safety and comfort includes additional levels of modesty. In that case, this will be respected and supported so long as you respect the choices of others.

A modesty option: tunics that stop above the knee. I still recommend tops that fit tighter around the neck, as gravity doesn’t care what hangs out.

Yoga isn’t for spectators. You need to be in your own space, with your own values, when you’re in an asana practice. If you’re worried about what someone thinks of your yoga outfit, you’re already facing a setback.

If you want your clothing to abide by yogic values, here are some ideals, but not requirements:

• If you can find what fits, buy it secondhand or alter it to fit. Wash with a tablespoon of Epsom salt to remove any lingering vibes.
• Fair trade, if you can afford it. Hemp isn’t very stretchy, but sometimes a weaver will get creative.
• Natural fibers or recycled fibers that breathe are ideal.

The best thing to wear to yoga class is what fits your budget without strain while allowing you to feel right in your body. That might mean wearing yoga pants.

Join me for Classes in Kalamazoo!

Saturdays 9:30 am Yin and Restorative Yoga at Unwindings

Mondays 6:30 pm Hatha to Restorative Yoga at Unwindings

Self-investment: $15. 10 Class pass available for $135.

Contact me for details or to request streaming access!