Modest workout clothes for every sport: gym, yoga, tennis, basketball and running
From the squat rack to the court, what to wear so coverage never slows you down.
Every sport asks something different of your clothes. Here is how to dress for the most common ones while keeping full coverage, comfort and freedom of movement.
Strength training and the gym
Lifting puts your clothes through the widest range of motion: deep squats, hip hinges, overhead presses and pulls. Choose a long top that covers you when you hinge forward, and relaxed pants with room in the hips and knees. Avoid very loose sleeves that can catch on bars or machines; a fitted cuff or thumbhole keeps them out of the way. A zip pocket means your phone stays with you between sets.
Yoga and pilates
Inversions and forward folds are where most tops fail. Look for a longer top with enough weight to hang rather than flip, or tuck a fitted base layer underneath. Pants should let you sit cross-legged and step through without pulling. Since you will be close to the floor and holding positions, a soft, breathable fabric matters more than technical features.
Tennis and padel
Court sports are all about the arms and quick lateral steps. Your sleeves need to stay down through a full serve, so thumbholes help. A long top with side splits lets you lunge wide without the hem riding up. In outdoor heat, choose a lighter colour or a breathable technical fabric, and bring a sports hijab that wicks sweat.
Basketball and football
Fast changes of direction, jumps and contact mean everything needs to stay secure. Choose a head covering designed for sport that will not shift when you turn your head, and a top long enough to stay covered when you jump. Both FIFA and FIBA now allow head coverings in competition, so a sports hijab is match-ready. Read more in our piece on how the rules changed.
Cycling and spin
On a bike, the main concern is fabric catching in the chain or pedals and riding up at the back when you lean forward. Relaxed but not wide pants, or pants with a tapered ankle, stay clear of moving parts. A long top covers your lower back in a forward riding position.
Running
Running is repetitive, so small irritations become big ones over distance. Prioritise breathability and light fabric, choose a head covering that will not slip, and test everything on a short run before a long one. A long top with side splits keeps your stride free.
One set for most of it
You do not need a different outfit for every sport. A well-designed modest set, with a long hooded top, thumbhole sleeves and relaxed pants in a stretch technical fabric, covers strength training, yoga, court sports and everyday movement. That is exactly what we designed the YALA Set to do.
