Though some companies are now making yoga clothes for children, you can probably pull from clothing your children already have in their wardrobes to wear during yoga. It is helpful to know how warm the space is that your child will be practicing in and how rigorous the class will be. Feeling good is the key, because that's what yoga for children is all about.
Comfort
Certain fabrics will feel comfortable on your child's skin while she is moving and practicing yoga poses. Moisture wicking blends will work best for physical activity, as they will pull sweat off the body and keep her relatively dry. While cotton is often comfortable and breathable, a poly-cotton or synthetic blend will give added stretchiness.
Movement
Yoga poses explore your body's range of motion. The material of your child's clothing should have elasticized or stretchy qualities. This will make the clothing more durable and help with movement. An elasticized waist will make forward bends more comfortable. Some mild inversions, such as downward facing dog, allow your child to go upside down. Clothing that is too loose or comes up over the head could impede your child's ability to move with ease.
Layers
Since you can build up heat during a yoga class, it is helpful to have some sort of cover-up to wear in the beginning or ending of the session during savasana, a passive resting pose. Send your child with a layering piece, such as a wrap, long sleeve t- shirt, or sweater.
Eco-Friendly
Most of the yoga community embraces earth-friendly practices and ahimsa, or non-violence. Look for labels that list organic cotton or bamboo. A highly sustainable resource, bamboo is also a very comfortable fabric with some moisture wicking qualities, and according to Yoga Journal, antibacterial qualities as well. Organic cotton is grown with limited chemicals and aims to be friendlier to the environment than its non-organic counterpart.
Safety
Pants that are too long could cause your child to trip while moving in and out of poses. Leggings and shorts are an excellent choice to prevent this. Bulky clothing can also get in the way during yoga. T-shirts and tank tops eliminate bulk. The key is that your child's bare hands and feet are able to freely grip their sticky mat.
Member Comments