10 Comments

Absolutely! I notice the tactile happiness difference (sounds cray cray but there we are) when I touch cotton and linen compared to synthetics - but the breathability is what really made the switch to natural fibers a game changer. Loved reading this!

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🙏thank you for sharing your thoughts

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This is super fascinating. It makes me think straight away of the synthetic fabrics I wear during exercise and in particular my yoga practice. I've been thinking of making a switch to looser, natural fibres for a while and this article encourages this idea! Thanks for sharing.

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Both you and I have been led to believe that, due to thermoregulation, we should only use polyester materials during exercise. This notion, however, contradicts the potential energy boost we might gain from activities like yoga or other forms of exercise.

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Interesting, as a yoga teacher I immediately thought of how fabrics impact the members of my classes. I have always suspected that natural fibers are more 'in tune' with yoga than synthetics.

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I'm feeling the same way (as a previous yoga teacher). I will keep using the clothes I have but any time I need something new I am going to switch to natural fibres.

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Thank you for bringing this to our attention Vera. As an athlete, yoga teacher, and founder of an eco-conscious apparel brand, this brings up so many possibilities, and questions for me to investigate.

Question: Have you read any studies or investigated how color impacts our bodies?

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Thanks for chiming in, Steve! I've skimmed through a few pieces on color theory and chakras, but your comment got me thinking—I should definitely explore this intriguing topic from the lens of fashion and sustainability in an upcoming article. It's great to see connections from folks with different backgrounds and interests, like yours in yoga.

Speaking of yoga, I'm curious: could we possibly sidestep the usual yoga wear? I'm thinking it might be tricky for high-intensity sessions, considering the sweat control factor. But how about for less rigorous yoga styles? Any insights would be much appreciated!

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Traditional yoga clothing is made from natural fibers and loose fitting like in this picture of B.K.S. Iyengar https://iyengaryogalondon.co.uk/bks-iyengar-on-yoga-practice-and-ageing/ and the dhoti (a loose fitting top and pants made from cotton and silk). It is the Western world (primarily the United States) that decided yoga apparel should be tight fitting and made from synthetic, or hopefully, recycled polyester, performance fabrics. We can mostly blame one big, unnamed brand, for that development. Westerners perceive yoga as exercise, which it can be, however it is much more than that.

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This is valuable information, thank you for sharing!

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