"Early adopters of yoga-in the West and elsewhere-would hardly recognize the practice these days. Although the shapes remain the same, what's changed are the matching branded spandex sets everywhere you turn whether in studio classes or the snapshots posted to social media. Yoga fashion is nothing new, having evolved ever since its introduction to the West. But for some, contemporary yoga has become almost as much about the associated attire as the flow that inspired the fits."
"Although the trappings of modern fashion may be a walking contradiction of yoga philosophy, there's nothing like a good look back at past trends to remind us that we exist in a material world. From fully functional clothing in loose silhouettes and breathable natural fabrics, to matching second-skin pieces that can be worn beyond the mat, the options available today are a stark difference from what we wore in the past."
"In the late 1800s, an Indian Hindu monk and philosopher by the name of Swami Vivekananda introduced yoga to the States as a spiritual experience. It was not yet seen as an exercise, instead poised as a form of meditation that came with some stretching. Eventually, yoga's collective emphasis shifted to asana, or the now-familiar poses, a physical approach that called for certain types of clothing to help those practicing feel comfortable during their movement."
Yoga fashion has transformed from utilitarian loose silhouettes in breathable natural fabrics to sleek, branded second-skin pieces and matching spandex sets. Branded athleisure appears widely in studio classes and on social media, influencing how practitioners dress for practice and beyond. Yoga entered the United States in the late 1800s through Swami Vivekananda as a spiritual, meditative practice rather than exercise. Over time the emphasis moved to asana, increasing demand for movement-friendly garments. By the late 1960s styles included bohemian pieces like the dhoti and shorts associated with teachers such as B.K.S. Iyengar, preceding today’s diverse offerings.
Read at Yoga Journal
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