You may have noticed a new trend at your yoga studio over the past few years, socks! Some staunch traditionalists are adamant that yoga students not wear socks as that may interfere with proper balance and placement. However many yoga students are embracing the new trend and finding that a good pair of yoga socks helps them stay balanced while keeping their feet clean and comfortable.
So, what are yoga socks?
Yoga socks are different from regular socks due to a grippy material, usually rubber or silicone, in a dot or strip pattern covering the bottom of the foot. Yoga socks are designed to simulate being barefoot while giving you extra traction. Body balance begins from the feet. The human foot structure consists of 26 bones, 31 joints and 20 muscles which need to move freely. In conventional socks your toes are constricted in their movements, your feet behave like they’re in shoes. Yoga socks allow your toes to move freely, just like being barefoot, helping create better awareness, balance, and improved foot function.
Hygienic: Protect Your Feet from Dirty Mats, Floors and Foot Fungus
While you may keep your feet super clean and fungus-free that doesn’t mean everyone else does especially whoever used that studio mat before you! While most yoga studios are extremely clean, some are not. Wearing a pair of yoga socks can protect your feet from athlete’s foot, plantar’s warts, and other fungal infections that may be lurking on an unclean floor, mat or yoga block.
Increase Grip, Increase Safety
While yoga doesn’t usually involve special equipment many people incorporate props into their yoga routine like blocks or straps to help with difficult yoga poses. Yoga socks are no different; the sticky grip pattern on the bottom of the socks gives a firm grip even in difficult poses. This helps improve balance and stability in turn strengthening foot muscles, and boosting circulation.
Hot or Cold
While it’s obvious that yoga socks will keep your feet warm in a cold studio they’re also great for hot yoga. The extra grip helps you keep your footing on a sweat slippery yoga mat. Cotton material between your toes will help wick away moisture keeping your feet drier and healthier.
No Mat? No Problem!
Yoga socks are a great alternative to a mat when traveling. They provide the grip you need while taking up almost no extra space in your luggage. Travel with yoga socks and you’ll never need to miss a day of your practice.
Which Style?
There are several styles of yoga socks. Some are ankle high socks while others extend up to the knee. The big difference in styles is the 5-toe vs. open toe yoga socks. Open toed socks have material between the toes but the toes are exposed allowing you to feel your yoga mat or the floor. 5-toed socks are like a glove for your foot, giving each toe a separate pocket. Toed socks allow your toes to move freely while the material between the toes wicks away moisture and your feet are completely protected from dirty floors.
Which style of yoga sock is the best is a personal preference. Open toe socks leave the toes exposed to grunge and bacteria thus taking away one of the benefits. Another problem some people experience with open toe socks is without the extra traction on the toes you may still slip in poses relying on the toes for sturdy placement.
With both types of socks the material between to toes pressing on the delicate skin between the toes can at first be uncomfortable. This happens with toed yoga socks to a lesser extent. No matter which style of socks you pick your feet will quickly get use to the pressure in this area and it will no longer be noticeable.
Our opinion: The best yoga socks always have grip material that covers the entire bottom of the foot and/or toes. For this reason we prefer 5-toe socks.
Not Just for Yoga
While they may be called “yoga” socks they’re not just for yoga. Many pilates and barre enthusiasts also love to wear yoga socks. In fact many pilates and barre studios require grippy socks like yoga socks to help you maintain your balance and keep equipment clean.
Clearly a trend to better hygiene and safety in the studios is a good thing. So if you’ve never tried yoga socks perhaps now is a good time to check out yoga socks at Amazon.
