Nearly 1 in 5 Students Goes Commando In Yoga. No Judgment Here.

Years ago, I had a conversation with my roommate and fellow yoga teacher trainee that veered onto the topic of underwear and yoga. (Don’t ask me how.) That’s when she emphatically asserted that she would never consider wearing anything underneath her yoga pants.

I think we were each surprised at the other’s preference. According to her, wearing underwear is uncomfortable and distracting and an obstacle that she could easily circumvent, much like taking off jewelry before class.

I actually hadn’t considered whether to go commando to yoga before that afternoon. Her reasoning for not doubling up on coverage was fair enough. And it prompted me to be more than a little curious about the larger conversation—or lack thereof—around whether to go commando during yoga.

Is It a Thing to Go Commando During Yoga?

Oh yes. In 2014, the women’s underwear brand Dear Kate surveyed 980 women about their yoga attire-related peeves, and 17 percent responded that they go commando. That’s close to one in five students.

Whatever goes on beneath anyone’s attire, it’s a personal decision, one that is an inexact algorithm of comfort, functionality, and maybe modesty. In the name of journalism and curiosity, we went there—er, down there—and explored all the reasons there are to go commando in yoga—or not—as they relate to being functional and comfortable.

Commando Yoga Perks

If you haven’t gone commando in yoga and are curious, following are some things you might want to consider.

1. Wedgie Elimination

Let’s face it, a wedgie in Wide-Legged Forward Bend can literally be a pain in the butt. All that bunching, scrunching, and pulling in inconvenient places can do a number on your dharana (that’s “concentration” in Sanskrit).

2. Panty Line Prevention

The practice of yoga in all its forms teaches us that appearances don’t matter. Although if you’re someone who is conscious about visible panty lines, well, that may be a serious consideration for you.

3. Potentially Lowered Risk of Yeast Infections

Tight-fitting clothing of any sort, including underwear made from non-breathable materials such as nylon and lycra, can increase the chance of yeast infection. The fabric traps heat and moisture, promoting yeast overgrowth. It’s worth noting that men, too, can get yeast infections. And they’re no more pleasant than they sound.

Perhaps what’s most relevant here for everyone is the need to be disciplined about changing out of sweaty, tight-fitting clothing immediately after class.

4. Liberation

Having less in between you and your lunges can be liberating. “I personally feel a sense of freedom that’s probably more psychological than physical,” says Julie Sygiel, founder of Dear Kate. “But it makes a huge difference for me to feel less constrained in my yoga practice.”

Commando Yoga Downsides

And, like most things in life, there are some drawbacks—obvious and otherwise—to going commando beneath your yoga leggings or shorts.

1. Scanty Coverage

It’s quite possible you might be sharing more of your practice with your teacher and fellow students than you know. “I don’t mean to be indelicate,” says yoga teacher Sadie Nardini, who appeared on the TV show Rock Your Yoga. “But by the end of class, I have seen one of the following things: scrotum, pubic hair, vagina, crack.”

2. Outlines

It’s not just what is actually visible to others that can be oversharing, but the outline of what’s not visible, regardless of gender identity. One longtime yoga student with a passion for fashion, who asked not to be identified, emphasizes the personal nature of this decision. Everyone’s contours are different, she explains, therefore, the experience of going commando varies as well.

In the Dear Kate survey, Sygiel says that 66 percent of females noted a visible outline of their private parts as a pet peeve of their current yoga pants.

3. Moisture Mismanagement

Although underwear can trap moisture in an unwanted manner, it also draws it away from your body. “I have gone commando, but honestly, not in years,” says yoga teacher Kathryn Budig, who appreciates the extra wicking that undies provide.

4. Lack of Containment

Yoga and meditation teacher Yogi Bryan speaks for the male contingency when he emphasizes the need to keep everything “tight down there.” He explains this security is necessary in any workout scenario, but especially during poses that require some potentially uncomfortable twisting, such as Eagle Pose. “I joke around about that during class,” he says, referring to the potential for some additional unpleasantness during the challenging posture in which your legs are crossed.

Still Undecided?

If coverage is of concern and you’re uncertain about your current leggings’ commando capacity, try this: Wear patterned underwear. Put on your yoga pants. Practice a few exposing asanas in front of a mirror or a significant other to gauge opacity.

Nardini advises that a quick “rear view check in the mirror is not enough to show what will happen in Down Dog or Forward Fold.” You need to try some moves and look rather carefully in a well-lit room.

If you’re still undecided, try going commando as you practice yoga at home. That may be as far as some get.

This article has been updated. Originally published July 14, 2014.