Yoga Pants: Waist Sizing Guide

To convert your waist size for yoga pants, you'll first need to measure your waist. To do this, use a soft measuring tape and place it above your belly button, at the smallest part of your waist. Lay the tape flat against your skin, ensuring it's snug but not tight. Then, wrap the tape around your waist, holding the end at your belly button and circling it around your back to the front. For women's yoga pants, you'll also need to measure your hips and bust, standing with your feet together and wrapping the tape around the fullest parts.

Measure your waist at the slimmest point, usually above the navel

To convert your waist size for yoga pants, you'll need to start by measuring your waist at its slimmest point. This is usually just above the navel, or belly button, where the torso creases.

Stand upright and then tilt to the side, keeping your legs and hips straight. The point at which your torso creases is your natural waistline. This is where you'll want to take your measurement from.

Use a soft measuring tape and place it at the slimmest point of your waist, above your belly button. Lay the tape flat against your skin, making sure it's snug but not too tight—you should be able to fit a finger between the tape and your skin. The tape should be parallel to the floor and directly against your skin, with no clothing in between.

Breathe normally and take the measurement as you breathe out to ensure you don't take too tight a measurement. Take the measurement three times to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Now you have your waist measurement, you can use a conversion chart to find your yoga pants size.

Measure your hips at their widest point, usually around the buttocks

To measure your hips at their widest point, you'll need to remove your outer garments, such as trousers and shirts. You can keep thin underwear on. Stand in front of a full-length mirror, with your feet together, no wider than your shoulders.

Hold one end of a cloth tape measure against either hip, it doesn't matter which side you start on. Wrap the tape measure around your hips and backside, ensuring it's straight, snug, and parallel to the floor. The tape should be tight enough that you can only fit a finger underneath it. Check in the mirror to make sure the tape isn't twisted and is in a straight line all the way around your hips. Take the measurement where the end of the tape meets the remaining length.

If you're measuring for yoga pants, it's also important to measure your waist and inseam. For the waist, place the tape measure above your belly button, at the smallest part of your waist. Wrap the tape measure around your waist, ensuring it's flat against your skin and parallel to the floor. For the inseam, place the tape measure at the very top of the inside of your leg, where it joins the torso, and take it down to the ankle bone.

Measure your inseam from the crotch to the ankle bone

Measuring your inseam from the crotch to the ankle bone is a straightforward process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Take a soft measuring tape and stand in front of a mirror to ensure you are measuring accurately.
• Place the end of the measuring tape at the top of your inner leg, where it joins the torso. The tape should be directly against your skin, with no clothing in between.
• Extend the tape straight down your leg to the ankle bone. Ensure that the tape remains flat and snug against your skin.
• Check the measurement at the point where the tape reaches your ankle bone. This is your inseam length.
• Write down the exact measurement to ensure you have an accurate reference when purchasing clothing items such as yoga pants.

It is important to note that inseam length can vary depending on the type of pants you are wearing. For example, if you are wearing high-heeled shoes with your yoga pants, you may need to add 0.5-1 inch to your inseam measurement to ensure the pants are long enough. Similarly, if the pants are made from a fabric that is prone to shrinking, you may need to round up your measurement to the nearest 0.5 inch.

Measure the circumference of your thighs

To measure the circumference of your thighs, you will need a flexible measuring tape. The video should be long enough to wrap around your upper thigh comfortably. Alternatively, you can use a piece of string, mark where it meets on your thigh, and then measure the string with a ruler.

• Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and your chest and legs slightly apart.
• Locate the widest part of your thigh, usually at the top of your thigh, near your hip and groin, or where the bottom of your butt meets the top of your thigh.
• Wrap the measuring tape around your thigh, ensuring it is parallel to your hip bone on the ground and snug, but not too tight, against your skin. Do not let the tape sag or dig into your skin, and ensure it is level and not slanting or dipping.
• Read the measurement on the leg of the tape at the point where the end meets the rest. Record this in inches or centimetres, depending on the units on the measuring tape.
• Repeat the process for the other thigh to ensure accuracy and compare the measurements. If you notice a significant difference between the two thighs, take the average of the two sizes.

Some additional tips for accurate measurements include:

• Wear form-fitting clothing, such as leggings or shorts, so that the measuring tape can sit directly against your skin.
• Take multiple measurements. Take at least two to three measurements on each thigh and then average the results for a more accurate measurement.
• Measure at the same time of day. Thigh circumference can vary throughout the day due to activity level and water retention. Measuring at the same time of day will provide a more consistent baseline for comparison.

Use a conversion chart to convert your waist size to pant size

Using a conversion chart is a great way to convert your waist size to pant size. These charts are easily found online and can help you find your size. However, it's important to remember that sizing and fit can vary from brand to brand, so it's always a good idea to check the brand's website for their specific fit guide. For example, a brand that offers high-stretch jeans will have a different fit from a brand that sells raw, non-stretch denim.

When it comes to measuring your waist, it's best to use a soft measuring tape. Place the tape above your belly button at the smallest part of your waist, ensuring that it's flat against your skin and parallel to the floor. The tape should be snug but not too tight, and you should be able to fit a finger between the tape and your skin.

For men's pants, the waist size is usually reflected in the first number of the size, such as 34 in 34x32. The second number typically represents the inseam length in inches. So, if your waist measures 40 inches, you would likely need pants in size 40 or 42.

Women's pants sizing, on the other hand, typically uses a numbered system based on hip measurements. A 27-inch waist, for instance, would usually correspond to a size 4 or 6 in women's pants.

It's worth noting that the cut and fit of pants are also important factors in finding the right size. Different brands may offer various cuts like boot cut, regular, baggy, relaxed, drop crotch, slim fit, skinny fit, and loose fit. The rise of the pant, or the distance from the crotch to the waistband, can also affect the fit. Therefore, it's recommended to consider these factors and try on multiple sizes if needed.

Frequently asked questions