80s Yoga Outfit – Trendy Then and Now!

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline which originated in ancient India. There are several styles of yoga including Hatha Yoga, which emphasizes physical exercises, breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation; Raja Yoga, which focuses on mental concentration and detachment from the world; Karma Yoga, which teaches selfless service to humanity.

In the 1980s, yoga became a popular form of exercise and a way to relax. According to the Yoga Journal, there were 19.4 million Americans practicing yoga in 2012. In addition, yoga classes are now offered at most gyms and fitnesenters, as well as at many churches, community centers, retirement homes, and health clubs.

1980s Yoga Outfits

In the 1980s, yoga studios were beginning to open up around the country. In some cases, they were located in health clubs or gyms; in other cases they existed as separate entities.

Many people went to class wearing whatever clothing they’d wear to their aerobics or gym class and then changed into loose fitting clothing for the yoga portion of their workout. This clothing often consisted of athletic shorts and tops (usually with long sleeves) or T-shirts made specifically for yoga (which had a hole for your head and/or holes in the armpits so you could breathe).

These clothes could be purchased at specialty stores that catered to yogis or you could find them at department stores like Sears or K-Mart sometime during the early 1980s.

The outfits worn by men usually consisted of shorts (sometimes with elastic waistbands) that came down to about mid-thigh and loose fitting T-shirts that came down to about mid-thigh as well.

Women’s outfits usually consisted of shorts that came down to about mid-thigh and loose fitting tops with no sleeves (often with three quarter length sleeves) that came down to around the same point on the body (mid-thigh).

Like any clothing worn during aerobics, it was important to make sure you were comfortable in what you were wearing.

Clothes that were too tight or constrictive could create problems for your workout, so it was best to purchase garments made specifically for yoga, or else choose clothes from your closet that breathed well and allowed you freedom of movement.

Leotards

Leotards could be purchased at most department stores like Sears, K-Mart, and JC Penney’s during the 1980s. The basic leotard was semi-fitted and usually had short sleeves and a scoop neckline; however, leotards designed specifically for yoga often had longer sleeves (sometimes with thumb holes) and a higher neckline (some even had a V neckline).

They also tended to be made from more stretchy fabrics like spandex or nylon and were designed to be worn with shorts or tights underneath (for warmth). You could also find leotards sold as one piece outfits that included tights, a top, and sometimes even shoes.

The leotards worn by men in the 1980s usually had elastic waistbands and short sleeves that came down to about mid-thigh. The tops created a V shape at the neckline and were often made from spandex or nylon. The leotards worn by women in the 1980s usually had long sleeves and high necklines that came up to about your chin.

They also had elastic waists, which could be tied in either a knot or a bow. Some of these leotards were also made of spandex or nylon, but others were made from cotton fabric like denim (these tended to be darker colored rather than blue).

Shorts and Tops

In the 1980s, most people wore athletic shorts and tops to their yoga class. Some of them were sold as one piece outfits, but they could also be purchased separately at any department store. The shorts were often made from spandex or nylon and usually had elastic waistbands; however, the tops could either be made from spandex or nylon, or cotton fabric like denim. The tops had scoop necklines that came up to about your chin and elastic waists that could be tied in a knot or a bow.

The ones worn by men usually had short sleeves that came down to about mid-thigh; however, there were a few outfits made that had long sleeves (usually with thumbholes). The ones worn by women usually had short sleeves that came down to about mid-thigh; however, there were also some outfits made with long sleeves (usually with thumbholes). They also had scoop necklines that came up to about your chin and elastic waists that could be tied in a knot or a bow.

Yoga Pants

These pants could be purchased at specialty stores that catered to yogis or you could find them in department stores like Sears or K-Mart sometime during the early 1980s. They usually had elastic waists (which could be tied in a knot or a bow) and were made from spandex or nylon. Some of the pants had side pockets, but others did not.

The yoga pants worn by men usually came down to about mid-thigh and had elastic waists that could be tied in a knot or a bow. The yoga pants worn by women usually came down to about mid-thigh as well; however, they sometimes came down to just above the knee (these were often called capris). These yoga pants also had elastic waists that could be tied in a knot or a bow.