Beyond Yoga Leggings: Fit, Fabrics and Best Buys

I have a theory that the best activewear is the stuff you forget you are wearing, and Beyond Yoga is the label that taught me to look for it. Jodi Guber Brufsky and Michelle Wahler started it in Los Angeles in 2005 with an idea more generous than performance metrics: make activewear so more people can feel at home in their bodies. I like that the point of view shows up in ordinary choices, from high-waisted leggings to maternity options, instead of being saved for a slogan. Their About page keeps the California roots and the inclusive mission right at the center.

Michelle Wahler came from graphic design and publishing, with an illustrated T-shirt side project, before she and Brufsky turned to activewear. Spacedye, the soft performance fabric the label is known for, is the material version of that idea. Levi Strauss & Co. acquired the brand in 2021, and the first store opened in Santa Monica the year after.

What convinces me is that the original promise still describes the clothes: comfort first, without asking anyone to fit a narrow idea of an athlete.

This is where the name makes sense: activewear that can stay on after the workout is over. The Spacedye Caught In The Midi High Waisted Legging is the familiar high-rise anchor, and the Spacedye Love The Bump Maternity Midi Legging gives the soft-fabric idea a specific home in pregnancy. I would put both next to the Glowzone High Waisted Midi Legging, which is smoother and lighter, and the Softmark Caught in The Midi Highwaisted Legging.

The easy pant shapes change the mood. Easy Cropped Wide Leg Pant and Peak Barrel Leg Pant offer volume instead of a legging line, That Tracks Pants and Mid Weight Midi Jogger Pants are the lounge-bound pair, and Spacedye Its A Tie Legging adds a small detail. Spacedye Dynamic High Waisted Legging keeps the line close.

In my fashion dreams, I leave class in the Spacedye leggings, add a button-up, and never think about changing. Midi, maternity, barrel and cropped cuts solve different jobs, so I would decide the job first.

Spacedye is a convincing starting point for tops, soft and stretchy, and this group moves from the Spacedye On The Double Sports Bra to the Spacedye Cropped Tank, Spacedye Good Day Cropped Tank Top and Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank, each with a slightly different idea of coverage. For hotter sessions, the Glowzone Strappy Cropped Tank Top has the newer fabric's smooth, light feel, and the Spacedye On The Up Cropped Tank Top and Spacedye Dynamic Crop Tank Top are two more cropped options. The Racerback Maternity Tank Top keeps the same ease for pregnancy.

Featherweight Plie Long Sleeve Top reads like a layer for warmups or the walk home, and Sport Active V-neck Polo Top is the tailored surprise. Picture her pulling the polo over leggings before coffee, then switching to the Featherweight top as the studio cools.

I would decide whether a top needs built-in support or a separate bra before choosing by color. For Spacedye, the care guide asks for a cold gentle wash and low tumble dry.

Beyond Yoga's day-off side is as recognizable as its leggings. The Luxelayer Fitted Cardigan and Rest Day Waffle Wrap Pullover feel like clothes for a slow morning, and Places To Go Uv Protection Jacket has its job written into the name. Luxefleece Hooded Full-zip Jacket is the cozy counterpoint, and Two Way Zip Cropped Jacket is the sharper one. Icon Spacedye Maternity Dress, Spacedye Keep Pace 3" Biker Shorts and Featherweight Minimal Shorts round out the easy end.

Picture a cool morning walk in the Places To Go jacket over leggings, then the cardigan at home with wide trousers. None of these needs to be a matching set, which is a relief if your closet already has enough coordinated activewear. I would wear the jacket and cardigan as finishers over a tank and pants you already own, and what I would skip is buying a whole uniform because the set looks good.

The strongest thing Beyond Yoga understands is that comfort is not a niche use case. It began by taking softness and inclusive fit seriously, then made clothes that work on the mat and on the way to get groceries. I would start with one fabric and one silhouette that solves a real gap. If leggings are already your default, add a layer or a less fitted pant, although I know I will probably buy another legging anyway.