Dressing down for date night
It’s fine to hit your local supermarket in your favorite holey sweats, but like any first or second date, consider putting more effort into your ensemble. Fink Oppenheimer recommends wearing yoga clothes that are fun, colorful, and stand out in a sea of black-and-white basics. For affordable options, she suggests Lucy.com, and Bluefish Sport for higher-end, funky selections.

Even though you want to look your best, avoid anything over the top. “I wouldn’t encourage a woman who’s not comfortable showing her midriff to show up at a yoga class bare-bellied and trying to look hot and sexy if she’s not comfortable wearing that,” she says.

Chances are your date may be unsure whether to show up in gym shorts or jeans, so throw some helpful hints his way. Anything from running shorts to simple sweats is fine, but remind him that overly baggy clothing can become a problem when he’s hanging upside down.

Beware of bodily noises
Passing gas can be downright mortifying when you are next to a date, especially when you’re in the “Who me? I don’t have bodily functions” phase of your relationship. So how do you prevent a gurgle or burble from erupting mid-twist? Avoid eating anything for about two hours prior to the yoga class. “When you eat and your body’s digesting the food, that’s what produces gas in your intestines, so you’re less likely to have any gas in there to begin with if you haven’t eaten for a couple of hours,” says Roshini Raj, MD, a Health magazine contributor and assistant professor of medicine at the New York University Medical Center.

Steer clear of foods like beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, and carbonated beverages—all of which can produce gas—the day of your date. People with any kind of lactose intolerance should nix dairy as well. Although you may be tempted to pop a piece of gum pre-date, don’t. “Chewing gum causes you to swallow a lot of air and that can cause gas in your intestines, so avoid it prior to going to yoga,” says Dr. Raj.

But what if you still let one loose? “Laugh it off, realize it can happen to everyone. Passing gas is a totally natural thing and everyone does it on average about 20 times a day, not always with a sound or a smell,” says Dr. Raj. “Move on, take a deep breath, and then concentrate on your yoga.”

Close encounters of the awkward kind
In a packed class, there is a high likelihood that your butt will wind up in someone’s face (Standing Straddle Forward Bend), someone could have a close-up view of your armpit (Extended Side Angle), or critical and private body parts could slip out of a tank top or shorts (during backbends, forward bends, and straddles). To avoid a too-tight situation, plan to arrive early so you can stake out some roomy mat space for you and your date. If the class gets crowded and an awkward encounter is unavoidable, embrace it. After all, where else can you get so close without taking your clothes off?

Related Links: