What Do Guys Wear to Yoga: The 2026 Men’s Guide

What do guys wear to yoga? The short answer is fitted shorts with a built-in liner or compression base layer, plus a moisture-wicking fitted top, and that combination works across almost every yoga style and studio environment you will encounter in 2026.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that yoga participation among men in the United States has grown steadily in recent years, with men now representing approximately 28 percent of American yoga practitioners. More men are starting yoga every year, and a disproportionate number of them report that not knowing what to wear was a barrier to showing up for the first class.

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This guide covers everything specific to men: which bottoms work for which yoga styles and why, what happens in certain poses when you wear the wrong shorts, how fabric choice actually affects your movement, what to wear for hot yoga and Bikram specifically, and how to dress comfortably and confidently whether you are 25 or 65.

What Do Guys Wear to Yoga: The Direct Answer

Most men wear fitted athletic shorts with a built-in liner or a compression liner underneath, paired with a fitted moisture-wicking t-shirt or tank top, to yoga class.

That combination works because it covers the practical requirements that yoga specifically creates. Shorts with a built-in liner keep you covered in wide-legged and seated poses. A fitted top stays anchored when you fold forward or invert. Moisture-wicking fabric manages sweat without feeling wet and heavy.

The full breakdown looks like this:

You do not need to buy specialized yoga clothing to start. Any well-fitting athletic shorts with a compression liner and a fitted athletic t-shirt from your existing wardrobe will work for a first class.

Why Men’s Yoga Clothing Matters More Than Most Guides Admit

Men’s yoga clothing matters because specific yoga poses create specific physical demands that generic gym wear does not account for, and wearing the wrong clothing creates distraction, discomfort, and in some cases genuine alignment problems.

The best analogy here is swimming. You could technically swim in basketball shorts, but the drag, the bunching, and the way the fabric behaves in the water would make every stroke harder. Yoga clothing has the same relationship to the practice. It does not make you a better yogi, but the wrong clothing actively makes the practice harder and more uncomfortable than it needs to be.

Three specific situations where men’s clothing choices create real problems in yoga:

• Loose gym shorts in wide-seated poses: in Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose), knees spread wide and the soles of the feet come together. Without a liner, loose shorts create an uncomfortable coverage situation that distracts from the pose entirely and can cause visible wardrobe problems in a studio setting.
• Baggy shirts in forward folds: in Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend), a loose shirt falls away from the body and covers the face, creating a blindfolded-style obstacle course rather than a yoga pose. A fitted shirt tucked into the waistband or long enough to stay anchored resolves this in two seconds.
• Non-stretchy fabric in deep hip work: standard denim or non-stretch athletic pants physically limit hip external rotation in poses like Baddha Konasana and Sukhasana (Easy Seated Pose). The fabric creates resistance that misleads a practitioner into thinking they are at their flexibility limit when they are actually at their clothing’s limit.

Yoga Shorts for Men: The Most Popular Choice Explained

Yoga shorts for men are athletic shorts with an inseam length of 5 to 7 inches, made from a stretch fabric with at least 15 percent elastane or spandex content, and ideally featuring a built-in compression liner or a secure drawstring waistband.

Most men start with shorts rather than leggings because shorts feel closer to familiar gym attire. That familiarity reduces one barrier to showing up, which matters. The key is choosing shorts that are designed for the range of motion yoga requires rather than for running or court sports.

Running shorts and basketball shorts are the two most common choices men bring to their first yoga class, and neither works well. Running shorts are often too short (under 4 inches of inseam), too light, and not built for the wide-legged hip positions yoga regularly creates. Basketball shorts are too long (below the knee), too baggy, and create the bundling-at-the-hip-crease problem in poses like Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog).

The ideal yoga short for men:

• 5 to 7 inch inseam: long enough for coverage, short enough to not bunch in hip crease
• 4-way stretch fabric: moves with the hip flexors and adductors rather than against them
• Built-in liner or secure waistband: prevents coverage issues in wide-legged seated positions
• No large external pockets: pockets catch on the mat and create pressure points during prone poses

Modification for men with larger thighs: A 7 inch inseam with a wider leg opening provides better movement range than a shorter, tighter inseam. Compression fabric in a slightly longer cut is the most functional option for athletic builds with developed quadriceps and hamstrings.

Key Takeaway: Fitted 5 to 7 inch yoga shorts with a built-in liner solve nearly every clothing problem men encounter in yoga. This one item change eliminates the most common coverage issues and movement restrictions.

Yoga Shorts With Liner for Men: Why the Built-In Liner Matters

A built-in compression liner in men’s yoga shorts provides coverage and muscle support in wide-legged and seated yoga poses, eliminating the need for a separate compression layer while keeping the outer short’s aesthetic intact.

The liner is the most functionally important feature of men’s yoga shorts, and it is the detail that most general clothing guides overlook entirely. In poses like Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) and Upavistha Konasana (Wide-Legged Seated Forward Bend), the outer short fabric shifts away from the inner thigh as the knees drop wide. Without a liner, this creates a coverage situation that is uncomfortable for the practitioner and visible to the teacher and other students.

The liner also provides light compression to the quadriceps and hamstrings, which can reduce the muscle fatigue associated with sustained standing poses. It stays in place independently of the outer short, meaning even if the short shifts during a transition, the liner maintains coverage and position.

For men who already own compression shorts or athletic underwear with a secure fit, wearing them under standard athletic shorts is a functional alternative to buying yoga-specific lined shorts. The outcome is the same: a secure compression layer under an outer short with adequate inseam length.

Pose Tip:

• Check your shorts’ liner before class by sitting cross-legged and then opening the knees wide; if the outer fabric separates from the liner and creates a gap, the shorts are not appropriate for yoga
• A liner that ends at or above mid-thigh covers the most critical exposure zone in seated yoga poses
• Do not wear compression underwear designed for running under very short yoga shorts; the underwear may extend below the short’s hem

Men’s Yoga Leggings: When to Wear Them and How to Choose

Men’s yoga leggings are compression pants that extend to the ankle or mid-calf and are the preferred bottom choice for Ashtanga practitioners, hot yoga participants, and men who prefer the muscle support and temperature management that full-length compression provides.

The social hesitation men feel about wearing leggings to yoga is real but largely unfounded in actual studio culture. In any established yoga studio in 2026, men in compression leggings are a normal and common sight. The functional reasons for wearing them are significant enough that more experienced male practitioners often prefer them over shorts once they understand the movement benefits.

Yoga leggings for men differ from women’s leggings primarily in cut: men’s versions have a wider waistband construction, a slightly longer rise in the front to accommodate male anatomy comfortably, and leg dimensions cut for male proportions. Women’s leggings can work for men in a pinch but may create fit issues at the waistband and hip region.

When men’s yoga leggings outperform shorts:

• Hot yoga and Bikram: compression leggings prevent thigh skin friction against the mat in poses like Savasana (Corpse Pose) and during floor transitions
• Ashtanga yoga: the daily, repetitive sequence involves many floor-to-standing transitions where full leg coverage reduces friction and knee abrasion on the mat
• Yin yoga: longer passive holds in seated poses are warmer and more comfortable in a light legging than in shorts, especially in cooler studios
• Cold studio environments: leggings provide significant warmth advantage over shorts when a studio’s temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit

Modification for men uncomfortable starting with full leggings: 3/4 length or capri-length compression pants offer a middle ground between shorts and full leggings and are widely accepted in all studio environments.

Yoga Tops for Men: What Works and What Causes Problems

The best yoga top for men is a fitted moisture-wicking athletic t-shirt or tank top that stays anchored at the waistband in forward folds and does not restrict shoulder or arm movement overhead.

Tops are simpler than bottoms for men in yoga, but the common mistake is wearing a loose or baggy athletic shirt that was designed for the gym floor or outdoor training. These shirts do not cause the same coverage problems that the wrong shorts create, but they do create consistent practical annoyances that interrupt the practice.

A loose shirt in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) falls away from the torso toward the mat and drapes around the chest and shoulders. This is uncomfortable and distracting, and it obscures the teacher’s view of your shoulder blade and spine alignment, which is exactly the information a teacher needs to provide useful cuing.

The fitted athletic t-shirt does not need to be skin-tight. It needs to stay close enough to the body that it does not fall away from the torso during inverted or forward-folded positions. A shirt that passes the forward fold test, bending forward at the hip and checking that it stays tucked or anchored, is appropriate for yoga.

Men’s yoga top options from least to most fitted:

• Loose t-shirt: problematic in forward folds and inversions; acceptable for seated-only or restorative practice
• Regular-fit athletic t-shirt: works in most poses; may drape forward in deep inversions
• Fitted athletic t-shirt: the most practical all-round choice; stays in position through all standard pose movements
• Tank top: maximum freedom of movement at the shoulders; popular in hot yoga and Vinyasa; slightly less coverage in twisting poses
• Compression top: maximum fitted; used by Ashtanga and hot yoga practitioners; stays completely anchored

Key Takeaway: A fitted moisture-wicking athletic t-shirt solves every top-related clothing problem men experience in yoga. The single test is whether it stays anchored in a forward fold.

Best Fabric for Men’s Yoga Clothes

The best fabric for men’s yoga clothes is a polyester-spandex or nylon-spandex blend with at least 15 to 20 percent elastane or spandex content, because this combination provides four-way stretch, fast moisture-wicking, and shape retention through an entire practice.

According to research in the Journal of Sports Sciences, synthetic moisture-wicking fabrics maintain significantly lower skin surface temperatures during moderate-to-vigorous exercise compared to cotton, by transporting sweat to the outer surface of the fabric where evaporation occurs. For yoga, which involves sustained physical effort across a wide range of body temperatures and sweat levels, this thermoregulation benefit is directly relevant to comfort and safety.

Cotton is the most common clothing mistake men make in yoga. Cotton feels comfortable before class and becomes progressively heavier, colder, and more restrictive as sweat accumulates. Cotton-blend gym shirts that start as comfortable activewear become cold, clingy, and heavy within 30 minutes of sustained yoga practice at any intensity above gentle Hatha yoga.

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Fabric comparison for men’s yoga clothing:

The spandex or elastane percentage is the key to a fabric’s yoga-appropriateness. Below 10 percent spandex, fabrics cannot accommodate the hip and shoulder range of motion that yoga requires without feeling restrictive. At 15 to 20 percent, the fabric moves with the body rather than against it.

What to Wear to Yoga as a Man for the First Time

For your first yoga class as a man, wear a fitted 5 to 7-inch inseam athletic short with a built-in liner or compression layer underneath, plus a fitted moisture-wicking athletic t-shirt, and arrive in bare feet or bring a pair of grip-toe socks.

The first class is primarily about showing up and experiencing the practice. Clothing anxiety should not be the thing that delays you or occupies your attention during the class. The outfit described above is what the majority of male yoga practitioners in any studio are wearing, and arriving in it means your clothing will not be a source of distraction for you or anyone else.

Arrive five to ten minutes early. Tell the teacher at the front desk or before class that it is your first session. Most studios will orient you to the class format, the props available, and any studio-specific etiquette. Picking up a yoga mat at the studio (rental mats are typically available for $2 to $5) is fine for a first class; bring your own once you decide you will continue.

First class preparation checklist for men:

• Fitted lined shorts or compression shorts under athletic shorts
• Fitted moisture-wicking t-shirt or tank top
• No shoes or socks inside the studio practice room (socks may be worn in the lobby)
• A small towel for face and hands; most studios sell or rent them if needed
• At least 16 ounces of water in a refillable bottle
• An empty or light stomach; eat lightly two or more hours before class

Modification note: If you do not own lined shorts yet, compression cycling shorts under longer athletic shorts achieve the same outcome. You do not need to buy yoga-specific clothing before trying your first class.

What Do Men Wear to Hot Yoga and Bikram Classes

Men wear minimal, moisture-wicking compression shorts or lined shorts with either a fitted tank top or no top at all in Bikram/26&2 and hot yoga classes, because the combination of 95 to 105-degree room temperature and 40 percent humidity requires maximum skin surface exposure for evaporative cooling.

The clothing conventions for men in Bikram/26&2 are the most minimal of any yoga style. Traditional Bikram studios have a culture of brief compression shorts (2 to 4 inch inseam) and minimal or no top for men. This convention is physiological rather than aesthetic: maximum skin surface exposure allows the most efficient evaporative cooling in an environment where the room temperature equals or exceeds body temperature.

The American College of Sports Medicine notes that exercising in environments above 95 degrees Fahrenheit significantly increases cardiovascular demand and sweat rate, and that appropriate clothing choices that facilitate sweat evaporation directly reduce the risk of heat-related illness. For men specifically, this means less fabric covering the torso and legs when the heat level is highest.

Men’s clothing by hot yoga format:

Safety note for men new to heated yoga: Begin with a moderate-temperature heated class (85 to 90 degrees) before attempting a full 105-degree Bikram class. Heat acclimatization takes three to five sessions, and starting at maximum temperature without prior exposure significantly increases discomfort and the risk of dizziness or nausea during the session.

Key Takeaway: For hot yoga and Bikram, less fabric is a thermoregulation strategy, not just a style preference. Brief compression shorts and a tank or no top allow the most efficient sweat evaporation in rooms above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

What to Wear to Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga as a Man

Men in Vinyasa yoga and Ashtanga yoga classes should wear fitted shorts (5 to 7 inch inseam) with a liner or compression leggings, paired with a fitted t-shirt or tank top, because both styles involve continuous movement, repeated Sun Salutation transitions, and sustained moderate-to-high sweat output.

Vinyasa yoga links breath to movement in a flowing sequence that typically lasts 60 minutes. The physical demand is moderate to vigorous. Sweat production in a Vinyasa class at room temperature is meaningful. A cotton shirt becomes uncomfortable by the midpoint of the class.

Ashtanga yoga uses a fixed sequence practiced six days per week, traditionally in the morning before eating. The Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa) involves repeated Surya Namaskara A (Sun Salutation A) and Surya Namaskara B (Sun Salutation B) transitions, each requiring the practitioner to lower through Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose). This pose loads the shoulder girdle, triceps, and wrist joints in a way that requires fitted clothing to give teachers clear line-of-sight to alignment.

For men attending either style, a compression legging is worth considering if they practice more than three times per week. The repeated knee contact with the mat during transitional poses creates friction that accumulates into skin abrasion over time. A compression legging eliminates that contact entirely.

Modification for beginners in Vinyasa or Ashtanga: Wear whatever fitted outfit you own for the first class. By the second or third session, you will have a clear sense of where your clothing is working against you, and you can make targeted upgrades from there.

What to Wear to Yin and Restorative Yoga as a Man

Men wear comfortable, non-restrictive athletic clothing to Yin yoga and Restorative yoga classes, prioritizing softness and warmth over moisture-wicking performance, because both styles involve long passive holds rather than vigorous movement.

Yin yoga involves holding floor poses for three to seven minutes with the muscles intentionally relaxed. The practice targets connective tissue rather than muscles. The physical demand is low, but the clothing requirements are different: you need fabric that does not dig into the hips, abdomen, or groin during extended passive holds.

High-compression shorts or leggings that feel supportive during vigorous Vinyasa practice become uncomfortable in a five-minute Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) hold, where sustained compression against the inner thigh and groin becomes genuinely distracting. Looser athletic pants or a lower-compression legging serve Yin practice better than performance compression.

Restorative yoga is fully supported and passive. Room temperature can be maintained at 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cool enough that having a light long-sleeve layer available is practical. The body’s temperature drops noticeably during a 10-minute supported Savasana (Corpse Pose) with a bolster under the knees and a blanket over the body.

Yin and Restorative clothing priorities:

• Comfortable, non-digging waistband; avoid hard-edge waistbands that cut into the abdomen in forward folds
• Soft, non-compressive fabric; bamboo-spandex or low-percentage spandex cotton blends work here
• Light long-sleeve layer available to put on during extended rest; the body cools during sustained stillness
• Socks acceptable in Restorative yoga; bare feet are standard in Yin but socks are not unusual in cooler studios

Men’s Yoga Clothing for Older Practitioners

Men over 50 and 60 should wear comfortable, fitted athletic clothing with a non-restricting waistband, adequate coverage in all poses, and a light additional layer available for the cooling that occurs during rest periods at the end of class.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that men over 65 engage in flexibility, balance, and strength training regularly. Yoga addresses all three. The clothing priorities for older male practitioners differ slightly from younger ones because temperature regulation changes with age, joint sensitivity affects how compression feels during sustained holds, and the ease of putting on and taking off clothing matters more as hip and knee mobility is considered.

A waistband that is easy to pull on without deep hip flexion is more practical for older men than a tight compression waistband that requires significant hip bend to dress. A looser drawstring waistband on a fitted short, or a pull-on athletic pant with a comfortable elastic, allows easy dressing and undressing without placing stress on the joints.

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Clothing considerations for men over 50 in yoga:

• Easy-on waistband: drawstring or soft elastic rather than tight compression band; reduces difficulty dressing with limited hip mobility
• Adequate warmth: a light long-sleeve top available for Savasana and cool studios; temperature sensitivity increases with age
• Fitted but not tight: enough compression to stay in place during poses without restricting circulation in seated positions held for multiple breaths
• Non-slip socks: if balance is a concern, grip-toe socks worn over bare feet in standing poses provide traction without the mat-sliding risk of bare feet on a worn mat

Modification for older men with knee sensitivity: A folded blanket under the knees in any pose that places the knee directly on the mat, such as Balasana (Child’s Pose), eliminates pressure on the patellar tendon and bursa and makes the pose accessible without special clothing.

Men’s Yoga Clothing for Larger or Bigger Body Types

Men with larger or more muscular builds need yoga clothing with extended sizing, generous leg openings in shorts, a wide-range waistband with adequate rise, and fabric with sufficient spandex content to accommodate a larger range of motion than standard athletic wear provides.

The fit issues that larger men experience in yoga clothing are predictable and solvable. Shorts designed for standard athletic builds may fit at the waist but restrict movement at the thigh and hip because the leg opening is too narrow. Shirts may pull up from the waistband in standing poses because the proportions are cut for a slimmer torso.

The most useful framework is to look for yoga or activewear brands that size through XL, 2X, and 3X with proportional patterning rather than brands that simply scale up a standard pattern. A scaled-up standard pattern produces clothing that fits at one dimension but creates fit problems at others, typically at the thigh, shoulder, or torso length.

For men with significant upper body muscle mass, a slightly stretchy tank top with a relaxed fit at the shoulders accommodates the broader shoulder girdle in overhead poses like Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose) without the fabric pulling across the upper back or restricting the arm’s path overhead.

Extended-size yoga clothing priorities for men:

• Shorts with wider leg openings proportional to the thigh measurement, not just scaled waist
• Waistband with a higher rise at the front for comfort during seated and supine poses
• Tops with shoulder seam placement that accommodates wider shoulder girdle
• Fabric with 20 percent or more spandex content to accommodate a wider range of motion at larger sizes
• Full-length pants or leggings in tall sizes if standard lengths end above the ankle

Key Takeaway: For men with larger or muscular builds, proportional sizing matters more than brand. Look specifically for yoga or activewear brands that provide extended sizing with proportional patterning rather than scaled-up standard patterns.

What Not to Wear to Yoga as a Man

Men should not wear baggy basketball shorts, loose cotton shirts, jeans or non-stretch pants, heavy gym socks inside the practice room, or any clothing with metal hardware to a yoga class.

Each item on that list creates a specific, practical problem in yoga practice that goes beyond aesthetics. Basketball shorts are too long and baggy, creating hip-crease bunching in standing poses and coverage issues in seated poses without a liner. Loose cotton shirts drape forward in inversions, create heat retention as they absorb sweat, and obscure alignment for the teacher.

Non-stretch fabrics physically limit the hip and shoulder range of motion that yoga requires. This is the yoga-specific problem that matters most from a practice standpoint. A man wearing non-stretch pants in Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) will reach a movement limit that his hip joint could exceed, misinterpreting the clothing’s resistance as his body’s limit.

Complete list of what men should not wear to yoga:

• Baggy basketball shorts: too long, too loose, bunching and coverage problems
• Running shorts under 4 inches inseam: too short for seated yoga poses; coverage issues in hip-wide positions
• Loose cotton t-shirts: fall forward in inversions; hold sweat against skin; restrict teacher’s view of alignment
• Non-stretch gym pants or jeans: physically restrict range of motion in hip poses
• Heavy gym socks: remove before entering the practice room; barefoot is standard
• Metal belt buckles or jean rivets: any metal hardware is uncomfortable in prone poses and on studio floors
• Strong cologne or body spray: enclosed studio spaces amplify scent; this is a studio etiquette expectation at most facilities

Safety note: Board shorts with rigid waistbands or structured fabric can also restrict movement in hip external rotation poses in ways that create the misleading sensation of inflexibility, when the clothing is actually the limiting factor.

Men’s Yoga Studio Etiquette: Clothing Conventions to Know

Most yoga studios expect men to arrive in clean, fitted, odor-neutral athletic clothing; remove shoes before entering the practice room; and avoid strong scents or clothing that drips sweat during normal movement adjustment.

These conventions are practical rather than arbitrary. The shared heated space of a yoga studio means that perfume, cologne, or scented body lotion affects every other practitioner’s breathing experience. Dripping sweat from over-soaked clothing reaches the shared floor and mat space around you. Shoes tracked into the practice room bring outdoor dirt onto surfaces where other practitioners place their hands, faces, and bare feet.

Men new to studio yoga sometimes worry that they will stand out or violate unspoken rules. The honest reality is that most established yoga studios are genuinely welcoming to male newcomers, and the clothing conventions are functional rather than exclusionary. Arriving in clean, fitted athletic wear, leaving shoes at the door, and not wearing cologne covers the etiquette requirements at virtually every studio in 2026.

Studio clothing etiquette for men, summarized:

• Arrive in clean athletic wear worn specifically for the class; changing at the studio is acceptable but plan for time
• Remove shoes before entering the practice room; leave them in the designated area
• No strong cologne, aftershave, or scented body lotion; light natural body scent from clean skin is completely fine
• Use a personal yoga towel on rental mats; this is expected at hot yoga studios and appreciated at all others
• Fitted clothing that does not drip sweat during adjustment; a microfiber towel for the face and mat area handles the rest

A final practical note: bring a change of clothes for after a vigorous class. Walking out of a Vinyasa session in sweat-soaked shorts is uncomfortable and mildly cold in air-conditioned spaces. A fresh change of shorts and a dry shirt takes 60 seconds to switch into and makes the post-class experience considerably more comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Guys Wear to Yoga

What do guys actually wear to yoga class?

Most men wear fitted athletic shorts with a 5 to 7 inch inseam and a built-in liner, paired with a fitted moisture-wicking t-shirt or tank top.
In hot yoga and Bikram studios, men typically wear brief compression shorts and a tank top or no top, because minimal coverage is more appropriate in 95 to 105-degree rooms.
Men who prefer more coverage or practice Yin and Ashtanga regularly often choose compression yoga leggings paired with a fitted top.

Should men wear shorts or leggings to yoga?

Shorts with a built-in liner are the most popular and practical choice for most men in general yoga classes.
Compression leggings are preferred for hot yoga, Ashtanga, and situations where practitioners want more leg coverage or muscle support during sustained movement sequences.
Both are entirely accepted in any yoga studio, and the choice comes down to personal preference once the functional basics of liner and fitted fabric are met.

Do I need special yoga clothes as a man or can I wear gym clothes?

You can wear gym clothes to yoga if they meet three criteria: fitted enough to stay anchored in forward folds, stretchy enough to not restrict hip movement, and made from moisture-wicking synthetic fabric rather than cotton.
If your current gym shorts are baggy basketball shorts without a liner, they will create coverage issues in seated yoga poses; compression shorts underneath resolve this immediately without buying new clothing.
Dedicated yoga clothing is worth purchasing once you know you will practice regularly, but it is not a requirement for a first or even first-month of classes.

What do men wear to hot yoga or Bikram?

Men typically wear brief compression shorts (2 to 4 inch inseam) and a fitted tank top or no top to Bikram/26&2 and hot yoga classes.
The minimal coverage allows the most efficient evaporative cooling in a room heated to 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a physiological necessity rather than just a cultural convention.
For heated Vinyasa at slightly lower temperatures (85 to 95 degrees), a 5 to 7 inch lined short and a fitted tank top is the most common choice.

Is it weird for a guy to wear leggings to yoga?

It is not weird for men to wear compression leggings to yoga in 2026; male practitioners wearing leggings are a common and accepted sight in studios across all yoga styles.
The functional benefits of compression leggings for yoga, including muscle support, reduced mat friction during transitions, and warmth in cooler studios, explain why many experienced male practitioners prefer them over shorts.
If the social comfort of shorts feels more familiar for a first class, start there and consider leggings once you understand the practice better.

Just Show Up in Fitted Shorts and a T-Shirt

The clothing barrier to starting yoga is smaller than it feels from the outside. Grab your most fitted pair of athletic shorts, check that they have a liner or put compression shorts underneath, and put on a fitted t-shirt that does not flap when you bend forward.

That is all you need for your first class. Everything else, the yoga mat, the props, the more specialized clothing, comes after you show up and decide you like it.

A related guide: Yoga and Knee Replacement: Safe Poses and Timeline

The teachers have seen every level of clothing preparation imaginable. They care far more about your alignment than your outfit.