How to Choose your Meditation Clothing

First and foremost, choose clothing that’s comfortable. That means anything that pinches or rubs your belly, legs, arms or any other body part is unsuitable from the start. Ideally, you should choose mediation clothing that sits loosely over all of your skin without constricting it in any way. You should be able to get into whatever positions you use for meditation without noticing that your clothing is restricting your movements.

Your meditation clothing should breathe and allow air to get to your skin. Conversely, it shouldn’t be so loose and airy that it allows you to feel cold. Preferably, it should be made of natural fibers (like cotton or silk) and feel good on your skin.

Think about the environment you use for your meditation. After all, if you’re meditating outdoors, you’ll need clothing appropriate for the weather. The same is true if the room you meditate in feels warm or cold. If you are doing a type of meditation practice that causes sweating (such as yoga), you may want to wear minimal clothing or clothing that keeps the sweat away from your body. On the other hand, if you’re practicing meditation techniques that don’t involve much movement, you may feel chilled after sitting still for a few minutes and may want to consider having a extra layer of clothing, or a blanket, at hand.

It’s not important how you look while you’re meditating. That said, your meditation clothing should be something that you like! If you feel silly wearing a specific outfit, you might not be able to concentrate and that’ll impact on your practice. It would be a pity if your mind was focused on your clothing and how you feel wearing it, rather than the actual meditation.

For most meditation techniques, you don’t have to go out and buy specific meditation clothing, unless you feel it would help focus your mind or make you more comfortable.
For the most part, a cotton T-shirt, cotton pants, and a zip-up sweatshirt are all you really need.

Tibetan and Nepalese traditional meditation clothing can be comfortable to wear, and can help you feel more in touch with the spiritual roots and history of the practice. You’ll be able to find it on the internet, if you’re not planning a visit to these countries (or India, Thailand, Myanmar). A hand-loomed, raw silk meditation shawl feels terrific around the shoulders, and is worn by Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as lay practitioners around the world.

As an alternative to the shawl, the Zen robe makes a useful addition to a personal meditation clothing collection. It’s a traditional formal-style meditation garment, but it’s also appropriate for use by lay practitioners. It’s quite useful to have a practical Zen robe when you’re practicing outside, or in a large hall, especially when on retreat, or for a weekend session away. Wearing clothes specifically designed for the meditation tradition enhances the experience and keeps you from getting cold.