While it's true that the original practitioners of yoga didn't have access to the great designs and materials used in today's yoga pants, that's no reason why you should forgo the benefits. Sure, you can show up to class in your old sweats, (or no pants at all, in the ever-popular naked yoga niche - yikes!). But wouldn't you rather enjoy an outfit that accommodates the type of practice you love the best?We are spoiled for choice these days. Many prefer the form-fitting capabilities of synthetic fibers with a bit of spandex. They offer sleek comfort with materials that conform to your every move and allow fabulous range of motion without any binding. They are light weight and never in the way. These yoga pants can be great at wicking away moisture during a strong practice, and look sleek and modern coming and going from the studio, too!
Almost at the other extreme are all natural fibers, including cotton and hemp. Some people just love the feel of yoga pants made from these materials, even though they may not be quite as accommodating in the various asanas. There can be some compensating comfort in the knowledge that you are making use of all natural substances, and are keeping with the green ecological mindset that many of us associate with the greater thoughtfulness that our yoga practice helps us develop. By the way, these natural fiber yoga pants can look great too! While not so much form-fitting (and hey, a few of us aren't all that wild about showing off every nook and cranny of our forms!) these materials can have a lovely natural drape and flow to them. Some find the loose fit actually much more comfortable, and don't particularly care for the clinginess of the spandex blends. Another consideration is how the material interacts with a yoga mat. That again is a matter of preference and depends if you use a sticky mat or natural fiber mat.
It's true that women have more choice in yoga pants, but men can find some options too. It's more common to see full length pants and Capri's for women, and shorts for men. The men's shorts typically are quite short in the leg for maximum mobility, but have elastic to keep all those important parts where they belong and out of sight.
For everybody, quality, fit and price are of course important considerations. You may have to compromise in one of these areas! You can stick to a well known brand, but there are some great boutique brands around too, offering interesting, unique designs, especially in the natural fibers. For fit, it's great if you can try them on first, but many online shops have good return policies, in case the style you picked doesn't work out as well as you thought.
