YOGA
The Altitude Training Checklist
March 21, 2024 · Alo Editorial · 3 MIN READ
For yoga at altitude, one decision matters more than the rest — the legging. What to buy, what to skip, and what to check in the mirror. This breaks down what to look for and what you can safely ignore.
Most advice for yoga at altitude stops at the fabric name. What actually decides whether the session works is how the legging behaves once you start moving. Read it once and you will not need to re-read it mid-session.
What the legging is responsible for here in altitude
Start by deciding what the legging has to survive. The waistband has to stay put when you fold forward, and the fabric needs to stay opaque through a deep squat. If it fails at either one, no amount of layering will rescue the session.
Opacity is a fabric weight problem, not a colour problem. If a pair goes sheer in a forward fold, no darker shade will rescue it; the knit is simply too light for the stretch being asked of it.
Keeping it working between sessions
Wash cold, inside out, and skip the fabric softener — it coats the finish that moves moisture. Then air dry, because you want to think about clothing once and then stop.
None of this requires a large wardrobe. It requires one piece chosen for the session in front of you, and a plan for the fact that you want to think about clothing once and then stop.
The list you can run in a minute
Before you leave, confirm the legging is dry, the layer is packed, and you have a plan for what happens afterwards. You want to think about clothing once and then stop.
Buy one, wear it twice, then decide about a second. Almost every fit problem is visible by the second wear, and none of them are visible on the hanger.
- One piece that handles the session in front of you on its own.
- One layer you can remove without stopping.
- A plan for the walk home, which is where most people get cold.
What to check before you buy in altitude
Two pieces can look identical on the hanger and behave differently in altitude. The checks below are the ones that catch it early. Ivory Snuggle Up Sweater Shawl is the piece we would test them against first.
- Knit should recover when you stretch the cuff, not stay stretched.
- Check the neckline against your base layer collar.
- Hold it to the light loosely — a loose knit sheers out over time.
The shortlist
Build the shortlist from the fit test, not the photo. The waistband has to stay put when you fold forward, and the fabric needs to stay opaque through a deep squat.
Get the legging right and yoga at altitude stops being a decision you make every time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What makes yoga at altitude different from a normal session?
- You want to think about clothing once and then stop. That single difference decides most of what you wear. If it still bothers you after two wears, it is the cut, not the break-in.
- Can I use the same legging for other practice?
- Usually yes, if it passes the fit test here. The waistband has to stay put when you fold forward, and the fabric needs to stay opaque through a deep squat.
- What should I buy first?
- The legging. Everything else can be adjusted later without consequence. This is the part most guides skip, and the part that decides whether the piece gets worn.
WORTH A LOOK
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Written by Alo Editorial. Every fit and fabric claim in this guide is checked against the pieces we actually sell — if something does not apply to your size, body or climate, our customer care team will say so. Corrections get published, not quietly deleted.
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