Work It Out
Leggings With Style And Substance
Many fitness fiends make leggings their workout wear of choice for both flair and function, but how do you sift through so many options? We spoke to Casey Layne Anderson, a yoga, meditation and breathwork instructor based in New York and Los Angeles, about how to choose the pair that’s right for you when it comes to fit, activity and flair.
Comfort Is Key
Before anything else, a legging should be comfortable. When you put them on, Anderson says, it should feel like you want to stay in them. Anderson recommends trying on any pair you’re considering and moving in them. “Notice what it feels like to move in your body … if you feel like you’re having to adjust a lot and it’s not comfortable, that’s what you don’t want to go for,” she says. She also recommends doing forward folds, sitting, lifting your legs and performing some high knees in them. “They should move with you rather than against you,” she says.
Details Matter
Some leggings have details like mesh and zippers, but choose these depending on your activity. For example, Anderson says, a back zipper on a pair of leggings is great if you’re running but can be uncomfortable if you’re laying down in yoga. Similarly, mesh accents don’t have a lot of stretch, so you’ll want to avoid mesh across the front of your knees if you’ll be kneeling. Color also matters — manufacturers often add an extra layer of thickness to lighter colored leggings to ensure opaqueness, Anderson says, so the legging can be more resistant.
Move Mindfully
“There’s so many options out there that you shouldn’t feel like you have to adjust, conform or change to wear a legging,” Anderson says. Ultimately the goal is to find something to exercise in. It’s also important to note that you can just focus on movement and simply choose something that makes you feel good. This can be a legging or a flared leg workout pant, a style that’s also back in, Anderson says. Working out is about you moving your body; looking good is a bonus, but it doesn’t have to be the backbone of your fitness journey.