Best Clothing for Hot Yoga, by Nike

Just as you wouldn’t run a marathon in sprinting spikes, you don’t want to take a hot yoga class wearing 100% cotton. Cotton absorbs sweat and holds onto moisture, making the fabric heavy as you move — potentially setting you up for uncomfortable chafing.

Instead, look for a high-performance, moisture-wicking fabric like Nike Dri-FIT, a polyester with a unique microfiber construction to support the body’s natural cooling system. It wicks away sweat from your skin and disperses it across the fabric's surface to evaporate faster, allowing you to stay dry and comfortable. Materials like Dri-FIT can help regulate your body temperature and prevent overheating during a hot yoga session.

A few yoga bestsellers made with Dri-FIT include the Nike Ready Men's Dri-FIT Short-Sleeve Fitness Top and the Nike Unlimited Men's Dri-FIT 5" Unlined Versatile Shorts. For women’s Dri-FIT options, try the Nike Swoosh Light Support Women's Non-Padded Sports Bra — in addition to its sweat-wicking properties, it has the perfect level of support for a low-impact workout like yoga and is comfortable to wear all day. Pair it with the Nike Universa Women's Medium-Support High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings with Pockets, made from a squat-proof (or, in this case, chair pose-proof) midweight fabric that’s durable, super flexible, and cool to the touch — just what you want for hot yoga.

Many sweat-wicking bottoms can work for hot yoga, but you'll want to prioritize a snug fit — there's nothing more annoying than a waistband slipping down during class — and minimal seams to prevent chafing. The right pair gives you freedom to move through a vinyasa flow. The Zenvy Gentle-Support High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings for women hit all those notes with Dri-FIT technology and an extra-wide waistband designed to reduce rolling and sliding — a must-have for inversions. They’re also sleek and free of extra zippers or pockets to prevent extra bulk.

“The Zenvy leggings are so smooth and soft that when I start to heat up, they feel like another layer to my skin. If anything, the heat helps them feel even more snug to my body allowing me the freedom to move,” says Xochilt Hoover, Nike yoga instructor.

While you can wear any Dri-FIT top to hot yoga, many yogis forgo long sleeves and loose-fitting tops that can weigh them down or interfere with poses like downward dog. Instead, a more fitted Dri-FIT T-shirt like the Nike Primary Men's Dri-FIT Short-Sleeve Versatile Top with underarm ventilation or a tank top like the Nike Ready Men's Dri-FIT Fitness Tank that won’t disrupt your yoga flow is ideal.

You’ll want to choose a high-quality yoga mat with a grippy surface to help keep you from slipping and sliding as sweat accumulates during class. A great option is Nike’s Reversible Yoga Mat, made predominantly of thermoplastic elastomer, a durable yet lightweight and flexible material. At 4 millimeters thick, it has enough cushioning to keep your joints supported during class but is still portable enough to be easily carried to and from your hot yoga class.

Don’t forget to finish with a lightweight, microfiber yoga towel that can be layered on top of your mat. It absorbs sweat, helps prevent you from slipping, and can also be used when you need an inevitable wipe-down during class.