sportstyle

18 • March/April 2023 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com T he word `Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit word "yuj," meaning "to join" or "to unite." It is meant to harmonize body, mind, and spirit. e practice dates back to 2700 BC India. As it moved West at the end of the 19th century, yoga became more deeply influenced by Western spiritual and religious ideas. It was the 1960s and 70s when yoga schools began to pop up in the U.S. A yoga demonstration even opened Woodstock! e vibe was grassroots, crunchy granola and meditative. e practice wasn't about what you wore, but what you felt. While many are still in tune with the spirituality of it today, the new generation is putting its own spin on the yoga of today — faster, hotter, wellness-focused and fitness-based. ere are apps and accessories, social groups and retreats. Yoga is everywhere, from gyms to studios and outdoor venues, and sometimes it is even interactive with animals (cue goat yoga). As yoga-influenced themes have evolved in the fitness world, so too has the apparel being worn, both in the studio and outside of the studio. "With new forms of yoga, there are a variety of classes to choose from," notes Breanna Sayre, sales manager for Pacific Manufacturing. "Anyone can partake in a class and you don't have to be a master yogi to practice." e firm's Pointe Studio brand offers socks with a cushioned grip to help wearers maximize their poses. New for Spring/Summer 2023, the Happy Grip Full Foot offers compression arch support, full foot PVC grip, a midweight terry footbed and padded ankle rest. A wearable accessory for every size and body type, the brand's socks offer a form of expression with tie dye styles, animal prints, smiley faces and abstract art. The Fashion Mantra When Noli Yoga Wholesale Coordinator Erica Chifici gets dressed, she focuses on "incorporating pieces that make me feel put together and confident, while still being comfortable." e brand's Liquid Legging is moisture-wicking, compressive, has four-way stretch and are fit for any level of intensity. "When class is over, they look amazing with any top sweater or blazer," she suggests. Looking good means feeling good, putting emphasis on one's well-being. "With mental health becoming more important to discuss, practices like yoga have become more mainstream." "I believe yoga today is perceived as a tool or practice to become a better you," comments RectoVerso Brand Manager Emmanuel Liebaert, adding, "It's a way to become more resilient, self-aware and balanced; ultimately making you healthier in both mind and body." Liebaert, like many participants, uses yoga techniques to conquer stress and anxiety. While he remembers baggy cotton yoga pants as he first began his practice a few years ago, the look is more structured today (yet he doesn't rule out a YOGA STYLE EVOLUTION MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE DAWN OF YOGA; INCLUDING WHAT TO WEAR TO THE STUDIO. BY SUZANNE BLECHER

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