I’ve never been one who felt it was necessary to wear clothes designed specifically for yoga—a plain T-shirt and a pair of Nike running shorts have done me just fine in my asana practice for several years. I figure that yoga practitioners 5,000 years ago didn’t have special yoga garb, so why should I?

Despite my initial reluctance, I’m happy to make concessions to the modern style of urban asana outfitting if there’s a bona fide spiritual purpose to the endeavor. Kaladanda, a new company offering a line of yoga clothing, fits that description to a T (or to a tee, I should say). The company’s name is the Sanskrit term for “beating death” (the ultimate, if difficult-to-attain goal of yoga), and the clothier has a substantial spiritual pedigree.

To begin with, part of the company’s profits will benefit the Asian Classics Input Project, a non-profit organization that is preserving ancient yoga manuscripts and making them available to the general public. And Kaladanda is gearing capitalism to the service of spiritual illumination in more ways than one, which makes sense, since the company’s founders are affiliated with Geshe Michael Roach, a heart- and mind-opening teacher who has himself channeled the market system to nurture spiritual transformation. Kaladanda employees get a paid month off for spiritual retreat, and they are encouraged not to begin the workday until after they have completed a daily practice. I’m happy to vote with my wallet to encourage values like these to spread more widely in the business world.

In my exploration of Kaladanda attire, I tested out two shirts and a pair of shorts. The clothes feature varying blends of cotton and spandex, allowing plenty of stretch during asana practice and quick-drying afterwards.

The shorts, made of a combination of cotton, nylon, and spandex, have a drawstring closure and an inner cotton lining like the kind you’d find in a bathing suit. I put the garment through the paces, as though I were LIME’s Consumer Reports attaché. My goal was to assess if the shorts, dubbed Tiger Riders, were comfy in poses where the leg positioning requires flexibility in ye olde pant leg. Warrior poses, check; Vrksasana, check; Pigeon Preparation, check; Supta Baddha Konasana, check; Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana, check; Hanumanasana, check (not that I can get very deep into that pose, but that’s more of my own issue). The shorts passed with flying-yogi colors, and they were, I might add, extremely comfortable during seated meditation. Patanjali would be proud.

The Tiger Riders have zippered pockets, a clever touch that means that you can carry some things to class and not worry that they will fall out during Sirsasana (headstand) or Adho Mukha Vrksasana (handstand). Indeed, the pockets and the overall design of the shorts make them ideal for another spiritual practice: bicycle riding.

The T-shirts, also very comfortable for asana and as pajama, are emblazoned with illustrations and Tibetan script taken from manuscripts that the Asian Classics project has preserved. One shirt features a large-scale image of one of Buddha’s disciples as he makes a gesture of offering; another features a portrait of Aryadeva, a scholar who wrote commentaries explaining the subtleties of Buddhist teachings. I have no doubt that the imagery keeps one devoted to one’s practice. I tried out the Kaladanda clothes during a work trip to Las Vegas, and, despite the city’s distractions, I was able to keep up a daily sadhana of yoga and meditation. The shirts were an inspirational reminder.

As a gent, I don’t know how the women’s collection of clothing fares, but I suspect that they maintain the same degree of karmic quality. In addition to shirts and shorts, the Kaladanda line includes items such as hooded jackets and pants for meditation.

We are reminded again and again in yoga, Buddhism, and other spiritual traditions that the intent of our actions should be to benefit others, and this is where distinctions between manufacturers of clothing begin to gain more relevance. What kind of intent and spiritual energy is embodied in those Nike running shorts that I’ve used during asana sessions? I’d much rather support a company like Kaladanda or Gaiam, whose goals and business philosophies are closely aligned with my own aspirations and sensibilities. I like the idea that I’m contributing to a company that generates good karma, and I’m getting comfortable apparel in the bargain. Maybe there is something to these yoga clothes after all.

Kaladanda Yoga Clothes

Cost: Varies, depending on the item; $29 to $42 for women’s shirts; $58 to $79 for women’s pants; $35 to $50 for men’s shirts; $45 to $79 for men’s shorts and pants

Where to Buy: Kaladanda.com, 877-377-YOGA; locations in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, California, and Australia

Photo: Kaladanda