A guy walks into a yoga studio wearing basketball shorts. Ten seconds into his first downward dog, the shorts ride up past his knees, the drawstring digs into his waist, and the cotton is already soaked. He spends the rest of class adjusting. This happens constantly — and it's entirely avoidable.

The right pair of purpose-built bottoms changes everything about how a man moves through a practice. This guide covers types, fabrics, fit details, activity-based picks, and the fitting mistakes that cost people money.

Why More Men Are Wearing Yoga Pants

A decade ago, the men's side of any activewear store was cargo shorts and baggy sweats. That's shifted. Performance-oriented bottoms now account for a growing share of mens yoga wear, driven partly by CrossFit and functional fitness pushing snug-fit gear into the mainstream.

The practical reasons are straightforward. Fitted bottoms eliminate bunching during deep stretches. Supportive panels stabilize muscles during long holds. Sweat-wicking materials keep skin dry in heated rooms. And unlike cotton sweats, modern synthetics don't gain two pounds of water weight mid-class.

The performance difference is most noticeable during floor transitions. Loose shorts ride up in shoulderstand. Baggy sweats catch under your knees in pigeon pose. Purpose-built bottoms stay where they belong while you focus on the movement rather than your wardrobe.

There's also the athleisure factor. A well-fitted pair crosses over from studio to coffee shop to airport w...