Ideally, clothing should be absorbent so that it wicks sweat away from your body. There are few things that feel as uncomfortable as a sticky, clammy body that is moist from perspiration.

I also think they should be attractive and fun to wear. When I do yoga alone in my home, I am willing to wear an old tee shirt and sweats or baggy shorts. When I practice in a class, I am more discriminating in what I choose to wear.

I admit it. I work very hard to keep my body in shape, and when I am with others, I want to show off efforts of my hard work. I usually choose form fitting pants and a fitted tee shirt. This allows me to see outline of my body in mirror so I can maintain good form, and it lets me move without having to fuss with my clothes. They are also flattering to my body, so when I wear them I feel good.

Here are some of things that you should look for in yoga clothing so that they work well for you and make you feel good about yourself and your practice.

Yoga Pants - There are many types of yoga pants. Some are long and go down to your ankles; others stop just below your knees. Often they are relatively form fitting. These types of pants have benefit of allowing your instructor to see your alignment so she can make any necessary adjustments to your form.

If you aren’t comfortable in pants that are so revealing, you might enjoy wearing loose, cotton trousers. They offer freedom of movement without being too tight.

Whatever pants you choose, make sure that you can bend and move freely in them. Also be sure that there are no bulky ties at waist that might be uncomfortable when you are lying in a prone position.

Yoga Shorts - Yoga shorts are a very good choice if you practice Bikram or hot yoga, because room is heated to such a high temperature. They are a good bet in warm summer months when long pants might be too warm. They also help you more easily check proper alignment of your lower body because you can see your knees and ankles.

I began doing Pilates several years ago when I was searching for a different look for my body. I had been exercising for many years when I began to experience a level of dissatisfaction with way my body looked. While I was lean and muscular, my body had a packed, crowded look to it. The more I used weights, thicker my muscles looked. In addition, no matter how many crunches and reverse curls I did, I still had this abdominal bulge that would not budge. It drove me crazy.

I began to yearn for body I had as a dancer – trim, strong, with elongated muscles. That’s when I stumbled upon Pilates. The people who did Pilates exercises had long, lean look that I craved. So I began to do Pilates exercises and I have never looked back.

What are Pilates exercises all about?

They focus on your core. - Pilates focuses on strengthening core of your body – deep abdominal muscles and pelvic stabilizers, back, butt, and also creating flexibility in spine. This continual focus on core has helped me get rid of my belly bulge and also develop ‘six pack’ abs .

They work your entire body as one unit. - Many people ask how Pilates exercises relate to yoga poses. In many instances, poses overlap. However, while in yoga you often hold a pose, in Pilates you are always moving. In addition, no matter what area of body you are focusing on, you are still engaging your entire body. For example, if you are doing an exercise for your legs, you simultaneously hold in your abdominal muscles and maintain proper body alignment while executing movement.