Think Twice Before Choosing Synthetic Yoga Apparel
Yoga apparel is available in a wide range of fabrics. There's 100% cotton yoga apparel, cotton with a touch of spandex, hemp yoga apparel, and even bamboo yoga apparel. Besides the natural and earth-friendly styles, you can also buy yoga apparel made from synthetics, like the microfiber yoga outfits, advertised as being great for wicking away sweat.
Yoga apparel made from synthetics may sound great – who doesn't want sweat wicked away? Sometimes, the all-synthetic fabrics fit tighter, while still allowing freedom of movement. Other times, the advantage in buying synthetics is the price.
The question is, even with all these seeming benefits, should you buy yoga apparel made from synthetics?
Many of us who remember wearing itchy polyester school clothes and PJ's in the 70s and 80s tend to have a natural aversion to synthetics. "I don't like synthetic materials," says Sharon Wren, who has been practicing various styles of yoga over the past four years. "They just seem…well, icky. I've never really liked ‘em – maybe because my mom made me wear that awful polyester they had in the 70s! I prefer cotton."
According to Dr Dennie Doral, that icky feeling can become more than a simple dislike. Synthetics, she says, can cause serious health problems, especially when worn during exercise, like in a yoga practice, where sweating increases the chemicals toxic effect. Repeated exposure to chemicals in our environment, including chemicals in our clothing, can lead to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, or MCS.
Dr Dennie Doral, a doctor of Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medicine, yoga teacher, and founder of Yoganomics (http://mifamilialatina.com/), says MCS is the number one ailment of autoimmune diseases, like arthritis, lupus, adult on-set diabetes, and fibromyalgia. MCS can also lead to migraines and Candida yeast overgrowth. Wearing everyday or yoga apparel made from synthetics may lead to MCS, but even if a person never develops full blown chemical sensitivity, the chemicals still have a nasty effect.
"Formaldehyde, as one example, is used in the manufacturing process for synthetic clothing and also in textile dyes," explains Dr Doral. "Formaldehyde is colorless gas, a compound known as HCHO that can agitate the eyes, disturb the mucous membranes and the upper respiratory system. It is easily inhaled or absorbed by the skin by simply touching the skin, thus these manufactured garments are dangerous."
While socks are not generally worn during yoga practice, Dr Doral's story of a client who had trouble with synthetic socks gives us a vivid example of the bodies reaction to non-natural fabrics. The client suffered from severe toe infections, which they were able to trace back to cotton-blend socks and athletic shoes.
"The oils of the skin conduct chemicals directly into the blood stream, and it is common to get fungus in the feet and toes from sweat, now mixed with petro-chemicals," Dr Doral explains. This dangerous mixture of sweat and chemicals lead to the severe rash and infection. "This client is now wearing wool socks and only all leather shoes or sandals, and it has made all the difference."
When you consider how much sweating you do during yoga, the importance of choosing yoga apparel made from healthier fabrics is clear.
"Many cases of vaginal yeast infections are caused by the under garment containing polyester, which holds the moisture in and is a hot bed for fungus and yeast," Dr Doral warns. "This even includes the bra. It must have cotton lining to protect the delicate skin and to safe guard the lymph nodes. I emphasize this in many of my classes, as breast cancer is a great concern for many women... . Rubbing under the arm is next to the lymph nodes. A dangerous entry for petro-chemicals."
So what fabrics are safe for yoga apparel?
"Cotton is my favorite choice -- it is natural and it breathes," Dr Doral recommends. "The whole practice of yoga, no matter what style you choose to practice, it is the breath that is the most important. So what you breathe in is important. Hemp is also an incredible fabric with great durability."
Dr Doral also recommends silk and wool apparel. Reading labels is essential, and if you don't know what the material is, don't buy it. "The label should say 100% cotton, wool, hemp, or 50% cotton/50% hemp blend, which is still ok. Angora is not always pure hair and so read the label to ensure what you are getting."
When it comes to yoga apparel made with 95% cotton and just 5% spandex, Dr Doral says that's ok. "But polyester stretch yoga pants are going to promote moisture into the body, and bacteria and fungus. And the new microform fitting garments such as under garments of women's T-shirts and bras are the worse choice, as they are very toxic. They are still petro-chemical based, just refined to mimic fine fabric such as linen and cotton."
Another favorite yoga apparel fabric is flannel. "…for warmth and emotional security. People are drawn to the no-iron, no fuss clothing as they are on the go, go, go, but there is an emotional joy and calmness that comes from wearing natural clothing."
Choosing natural, comfortable yoga apparel is for Dr Doral more than an expression of health, but also an expression of good self-care. "I wear my natural fabrics with confidence and emotional energy that makes me feel really good, and really healthy. So if you are sitting in one of my classes, don't be surprised to see me in flannel pants and a cotton long john shirt; it allows me to express my freedom of movement."