Inhale: so. Exhale: ham. Some yogis hear this mantra in the natural rhythm of the breath. It gave its name to our flagship pants, the ones our customers reach for most.
This month, we invite you to look at the origins of our house brand. Discover how our designs evolved, and the reasons behind our choices.
Cornelia Kauhs, founder and designer of Breath of Fire
With Breath of Fire, Cornelia Kauhs' first intention was to create ethical and eco-responsible clothing suited to all female body types. In 2004, the original collection consisted of fifteen white models made in India from organic fabrics and dedicated to the practice of Kundalini Yoga.
Very quickly, the designer realised that it was important to turn to a more local production and to simplify the collection. These two aspects encouraged Cornelia to reduce the collection to three basic models, in several colours, and to turn in 2009, after a lot of research and visits to workshops, to production in Portugal. Do you know which colours we first produced? We chose the spiritual colours: saffron, burgundy, indigo blue, black and white. You can read more about their meaning in spiritual colours and their meanings.
Why are our Sohang women's yoga pants designed with a skirt?
Its ingenuity is in the details. If you like our house brand, you probably know our Sohang pants. With their little skirt, they have become one of our essentials. As the first Breath of Fire model, they answer our wish to honour every woman's body, tall or petite, slim or curvy.
First, through their variable length, which adapts to a wide range of body shapes. The trick behind this? The gaiters built into the hem. They slide under the foot like soft foot warmers, fold up to adjust the length, or pull up over the calves for a different look. When you first unfold the pants, they may look very long: that is by design.
Second, and this is their most distinctive element: the skirt. If you own a pair of Sohang pants, you will notice that this little skirt is slightly asymmetrical. In design, we call this destructuring. The detail lets the eye harmonise and balance the silhouette.
Besides being slightly asymmetrical, the skirt is also flared, to fall softly over the hips and pelvis. It also helps the pants stay in place during practice. The pressure-free waistband means your belly never feels compressed, whatever the moment of your cycle, and your breath stays full in every posture. And the dense fabric we chose (brushed organic cotton jersey, 220 g/m²) is not see-through, so you can practice with total confidence. Finally, with 92% organic cotton and 8% elastane, these pants breathe beautifully.
Our tip to harmonise your silhouette? Wear the Sohang pants with the Sohang top in the same colour.
A little story to share with you
Our Sohang pants were created in collaboration with Christina Hagermann, fashion designer, artist and Kundalini Yoga teacher in Basel.
We hope these details about the design of our Sohang pants help you understand the functions of this little skirt, which is not only aesthetic.
Why are our bestselling women's yoga pants called Sohang?
Sohang (also written So Hung, or Soham) is a mantra. In Sanskrit, so'ham means "I am That": an affirmation of the unity between the individual self and the whole. The phrase appears in the Īśa Upaniṣad (verse 16, so'ham asmi, "I am He").
In meditation traditions, so'ham is linked to the breath itself: the sound "so" rides on the inhalation, "ham" on the exhalation. A mantra you can repeat without effort, simply by breathing. In Kundalini Yoga, it is chanted in the mantra Ong So Hung, often translated as "Creator, I am Thou".
A fitting name for pants made to move with the breath, and to remind you, in every pose, that you belong to something larger.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Sohang pants run true to size?
They run a little large. If you are between two sizes, take the smaller one. The waistband is pressure-free, so they stay comfortable even when they fit closely.
Which yoga styles are the Sohang pants made for?
Slow and grounded practices: Hatha, Yin, restorative yoga, Kundalini, meditation and pranayama. For dynamic styles like Vinyasa, Ashtanga or Power Yoga, the generous fabric and the skirt can get in the way. We recommend the Yamala pants instead, with a straight leg, an integrated skirt and an adjustable hem. If you prefer a closer fit, the Sohang yoga legging has the same fabric and the same gaiters.
What are the gaiters for?
They adjust the length to your height. Slid under the foot, they keep your feet warm during meditation and keep the pants in place in inversions. Folded up, they shorten the leg, and pulled up over the calves they give a different look.
Not sure which cut suits you? Read our guide to choosing yoga pants according to your body type, or browse all our women's yoga pants.
So'ham. I am That. Breathe in, breathe out, and let the pants follow.
