A Spring Sweater

You Go Yoga! What To Wear To A Yoga Retreat

23 June 2015 by Anna Obrien

Feeling stressed? Then you should consider attending a yoga retreat. This is a vacation that can tone your body, renew your soul and refresh your spirit. That is, it can -- once you get over the stress of trying to figure out exactly what you will need to pack for your retreat. Although a lot will depend on where your retreat is and what type of yoga you will be practicing, the following articles of yoga apparel for women are must-packs for any type of yoga getaway.

Yoga Capris and Tops

If you are heading to a warm-weather destination, capris and tops designed specifically for yoga are a must. But avoid shorts. With all of the bending over into downward dogs and crows and inversions -- such as headstands -- shorts tend to reveal too much of the tush to be practical. When shopping for yoga capris and tops, look for the following:

• Performance fabric that wicks sweat away and is also chafe resistant. This is especially important if you will be taking part in outdoor yoga classes in a warm location or participating in Bikram -- also known as hot yoga -- or vinyasa-style classes. 
• Material that dries quickly. If your yoga retreat is in a remote location, you may be winging to your final destination on a tiny plane with a weight restriction. If so, packing light will be imperative. So choose tops and bottoms that you can hand wash in your sink and then air dry for multiple uses. 
• Stretchy fabrics. According to Yoga.com, one of the goals of practicing yoga is to attain perfect tranquility, And that's hard to do if your clothing is restricting and binding you during your practice.  

Specifically for Tops

• Fitted tops. Loose tops tend to flop over your head when you're performing headstands or backbends. So it's best to pack fitted tops with plenty of stretch so that you will have coverage as well as freedom of movement while flipping and twisting into various poses. 
• Shelf bra. Some tops have built-in shelf bras, which eliminates the need to pack a lot of separate bras. 
• Longer length. Most yoga practitioners prefer longer tops so that they won't have to be constantly tugging them down during a class. 

Specifically for Bottoms

• Wide waistband. A wider waistband will keep your pants from sliding down during poses and also tend to be more comfortable than a narrow one. 

Longer Yoga Pants

If you will be practicing in an unheated studio, you will want to pack some longer yoga pants or tights, as well. A nice pair of yoga pants can also be paired with a pretty top for a trip away from the retreat into town. 

Other

The following are a few other items that you will probably need for your trip:

• A yoga cover-up. Pack a lightweight cover-up that you can toss on between classes to go to lunch or go shopping. 
• A swimsuit or two. Many yoga retreats are held near an ocean or at a resort with a pool.

Travel Yoga Mats

If you own a standard yoga mat, it may be too heavy and unwieldy to tote around the airport and on the plane. And while many yoga retreats offer mats for rent or for free use, they can sometimes be funky and unpleasant to use. A good alternative to lugging around a large mat or taking your chances on a rental is purchasing an inexpensive, lightweight travel mat, which could be used alone or on top of a rental for hygienic reasons. Some of these travel mats are actually less expensive than what a weekly rental would cost.

A yoga retreat can be a magical escape from the real world and a way to reset your soul for the rest of your life. Hopefully, these packing tips will have you ready to do your best downward dogs and tree poses. 

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