En raison des dommages causés par l’ouragan Sandy, nos équipes sur la côte Est ne sont actuellement pas en mesure d’effectuer la traduction de notre site Web. Tandis qu’on travaille à rétablir les systèmes, il se peut que certaines sections de notre site Web franco s’affichent en anglais.

Nous sommes désolés pour tout dérangement et nous tenons à vous remercier de votre patience durant cette période.

and again in english

Due to the destruction from Hurricane Sandy, our teams on the East Coast are experiencing delays in getting the French version of our Canadian website back on track. For the foreseeable future, sections of our French Canadian website may appear in English.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience during this time.

New Zealanders are euphoric at the moment and it’s not just because they finally have three lululemon showrooms. New Zealand’s All Blacks won Rugby’s World Cup on home soil for the second time in the tournament’s history and, between games, Rugby fans from around the world have been enjoying NZ’s stunning culture and scenery. Danna and the rest of the lululemon Queenstown team share some of the treats they’ve discovered in New Zealand’s adventure capital.

adventure and adrenalin

nzone skydive

If you like to do one thing a day that scares you, do it with Nzone Skydive. Queenstown is renowned for its beautiful scenery and there's no better way to enjoy the sight of Lake Wakatipu and New Zealand's Southern Alps than jumping from a plane. No wonder people get addicted to it. A note of caution: if at first you don't succeed...skydiving's probably not for you.

skyline gondola

The trip up to the top of the Skyline Gondola is a gateway-drug to Queentown’s adrenalin-filled world of adventure. At the top you can choose from the legendary bungy jump, swing, luge, paragliding and the kiwi haka show; you can easily make a good day of it. To top off all the fun, there is a great restaurant and cafe to keep you well hydrated and fed. While you’re grabbing your snack and a breather, it’s a great time to take in the panoramic views of Queenstown Bay and the surrounding mountains.

high country horses

One of the amazing facets of New Zealand is that cosmopolitan cities, like Queenstown, are right on the doorstep of Mother Nature. A trek with High Country Horses is a great adventure for a Sunday afternoon. Your guide takes you for a trip on your horse through the rivers and countryside of Glenorchy. The views are outstanding and it’s a great way to relax and escape from all the hustle and bustle.

food and drink

vudu café

This is a fantastic café that is always busy with hungry locals.  Vudu offers deliciously fresh juices and a friendly atmosphere. We often duck in for a quick lunch or to grab a coffee. It's the perfect spot whether we're having a meeting or catching up with a friend. We love all their food  but we're especially addicted to their famous tuna melt.

johnny barrs

Johnny Barrs is the best (and only) place in town that serves dairy free smoothies. We're are huge fans of their delicious, healthy menu and amazing staff! We also just love popping in to pay our friend Cindy, a visit.

culture and history

t.s.s earnslaw

The T.S.S. Earnslaw is a living piece of Queenstown history. Launched in 1912, the iconic steamship is believed to be the only coal-fired passenger-carrying vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere. The Earnslaw makes several trips daily across Lake Wakatipu in the summer months, which are a perfectly peaceful way to experience Queenstown’s magnificent alpine scenery.

yoga and you

qt yoga

As summer springs to life in New Zealand (during the North American winter) QT Yoga's Kristen De Haan offers half an hour of Laughter yoga in the Park at the Queenstown Gardens on Saturday mornings. It's the perfect excuse for outdoor yoga and it guarantees a good laugh.

yoga nadi

Bending our schedules to fit in our yoga practice often seems harder than bending on our yoga mats. The lunchtime yoga with Sandi or Greg at Yoga Nadi can be a real sanity saver.

If you've been to Queenstown we'd love to hear about your adventures. If you haven't been to NZ, now's probably a good time with all those planes heading back empty after dropping Rugby fans home.

create a retreat at home

Yoga retreats and festivals like Wanderlust are great ways to eliminate the day-to-day stresses and restore your life’s natural equilibrium. What do you do when day-to-day stresses don’t let you get away from it all? When we asked on Facebook and Twitter how you re-energize at home, the common themes were eats & drinks, exercise and a little bit of pampering.

eat

Comfort foods, like mac & cheese or chocolate, score highly as easy stress relievers, as do eating out at a favourite restaurant. When it comes to relaxing drinks, the jury is still out as to whether a cup of herbal tea (green, chamomile, jasmine, etc.)  or a glass of wine is the most effective for dispatching distress.

exercise

The majority of us regain control through yoga but there is a definite contingent that exercises to music, whether it’s throwing on our iPods and running or cutting loose with an impromptu dance party. The surprise entry into this category was house-cleaning. While some swore off chores, others swore that cleaning the house from top to bottom left them in a brighter space, both figuratively and literally.

pamper

Bubbles. Bubbles. Bubbles. There’s something about bubble baths that makes us breathe deeply and relax - optional extras include scented candles and Epsom or lavender salts. A good hand cream or taking the time for a mani/pedi is another fantastic way to remind us all how much we value ourselves (and rightly so, we’re pretty awesome).

Obviously, the ideal home retreat would include all three characteristics (although we’re pretty sure that running in the bath while holding a glass of wine is a bad idea). The fundamental essence is to forget the small stuff and to focus on what you’re doing: the taste and texture of wine; the meditative zone of yoga or running (or vacuuming) and the muscle-relaxing heat of a deep bath.

Katie (Key Leader at Vancouver's West 4th Store) is almost as crazy about running as she is about making delicious, healthy food. She's finally been persuaded to share her favourite smoothie recipe. She recommends it as a powerful way to start the day or an amazing post-run energizer.

image: flickr - Frank Gruber

magic bullet

Katie's an advocate of the Magic Bullet. If you don't have a Magic Bullet, you can put the ingredients together in a 2-cup (500ml/20 oz) container before throwing them in your blender.

step 1 - into the cup

-one large handful of fresh spinach (raw), squish to bottom of cup

-2 tbsp plain yogurt

-1/2 tsp cinnamon

-1 tsp matcha green tea powder

-1 tsp freshly grated ginger

-1/2 ripe banana

Fill the rest of the cup with frozen blueberries (or frozen berry of your choice)

Add as much chilled green tea as the cup will allow

step 2 - blend & enjoy

To kick it up a notch, or for a more substantial meal, add 2 tbsp of granola and 1/2 tbsp hemp hearts. Enjoy this variation with a spoon.

want more?

• to juice or not to juice, that is the question
• eat well for marathon training

Summer, if it's done right,  is alternating bouts of heating up and cooling down; and being so busy having fun that you've barely got time to splash water on your face. Summer is also about gorging yourself on the juiciest fruits that nature has to offer. I love the way fruit refreshes me - it's like a big drink of water and a shot of energy - combine that with a sharp cheese like feta or blue and you have a healthy and hedonistic summer snack.

watermelon and feta salad

• 8-ounce package baby arugula
• 4 cups watermelon  (cubed)
• 8-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar glaze

Spread arugula on a large platter. Scatter watermelon and feta over the arugula.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze and pepper to taste.

(If you can’t find balsamic glaze in the supermarket, you can make it by reducing 3/4 of a cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan to 3 tablespoons)

fig and mozzarella salad

• 1 bowl of soft, green, salad leaves
• handful of basil
• 6 figs
• 6 medium bocconcini balls
• 6 slices of parma ham
• 6 tablespoons of oil
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of honey

This is a very visceral recipe to get your fingers into.  Tear up the basil, the bocconcini and the ham. Toss these with some soft green leaves and place the cut, splayed figs on top. Combine the oil, juice and honey and drizzle over the salad. Season to taste. (When choosing your figs, you want them soft and ripe - they don't ripen after they've been picked. Fig connoisseurs look for a droplet in the small hole at the bottom of the fruit.)

image: flickr-Dito

caramelized pear and blue cheese salad

• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 pears (quartered and cored)
• 1/2 cup of walnuts
• 4-ounces arugula
• 6-ounces blue cheese (sliced)

Heat the butter, vinegar and sugar in a fry pan. Add the pear and walnuts and cook over a medium heat until the pear is soft. Place the arugula in bowls and top with the pears, walnuts and blue cheese. Spoon the pan juices over the top.

Summer fruits and salads are more refreshing than that shower after hot yoga. We'd love for you to share some of the ways you maximize the summer crop and your favourite go-to summer salad ideas in the comment section below.

what else are we excited about this summer?

• the Vancouver Bust Out!
• Wanderlust festivals
• the return of our favourite tanks

Something you should know about Thea, one of our Vancouver educators, is that she loves to dance for fun. For her, a successful party is simply not complete without a sweet, sweet dance floor. She tells us how her passion for dance (and a belief that it can bring communities together) led her to a series of Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals and a future date with Ellen.

I lost touch with dance in any sort of formal way after I finished school. It wasn’t until my sister’s wedding, 3 years later, that my passion was reignited with the brilliant plan of creating a flash mob as a gift! I choreographed a ridiculous routine to Beyonce’s ‘Put a Ring On It’ and made a step-by-step instructional video. The guests learned the steps prior to the wedding and busted it out an hour into the reception. It was awesome! The next winter, during Vancouver's Olympics, 5000 spectators watched as a 3000 strong flash mob danced my choreographed routine up and down Robson St. This second success gave me a new sense of energy, momentum and purpose (and an opportunity to set some goals.).

 

setting big hairy audacious goals

Focusing on my strengths and my passion for dance, I set my first BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal): I create an online instructional dance choreography business by January 2011.

It felt scary, foreign and ridiculous to create a business out of thin air. That, by the way, is how you know a goal is a BHAG. If it scares the crap out of you or seems impossible, it is a BHAG. It's been a year of huge learning, perseverance and patience but I have successfully created my business, Just For Fun Dance Party, and can check that BHAG off the list.

Of course there is always another juicy one waiting around the corner. My current BHAG gets me excited every time I think about it: the Vancouver Bust Out! It's an opportunity for Vancouverites to get together and create a unique and hilarious experience. A Bust Out is like a flash mob but it's NOT a secret. The goal is to engage with our greater community and do something just for the sake of fun!

the bold declaration

• 500+ Vancouverites participate in the Vancouver Bust Out on July 23rd during the Khatsahlano Music Fest.
• Ellen DeGeneres sees the video of the Bust out on youtube and invites me to teach her and her audience the dance. (I've assigned you a special ring tone, Ellen).

join in

Come join in the fun and bring all of your friends and family. We dare you all to try learning the first few moves and NOT giggle. Check out  justforfundanceparty.com or find the Just For Fun Dance Party Facebook page so you can learn the moves at home.

Or come practice in person with Thea. Here is the schedule of rehearsals for the Bust Out! happening on July 23rd:

• Wed July 13 from 8- 9pm @ lululemon West 4th (2113 W 4th Ave)
• Wed July 20 from 8- 9pm @ lululemon West 4th (2113 W 4th Ave)
• Fri July 22 from 7:15- 9:15 @ Semperviva Kits Beach (2201 W 4th Ave).

want more

• learn how to create powerful goals
• dance. sing. floss. travel. it's right there on the manifesto

Our bodies are feeling a little battered and bruised lately; trying to make the most of summer and inspired by the exploits of the Tour de France riders to go for long runs and bike rides. Our regular yoga practice goes a long way to strengthen our muscles and ease those aches and pains; Ryan Leech, lululemon Elite Ambassador, certified yoga instructor and mountain biker extraordinaire, is taking it to the next level.

ride and reach

In August, Ryan will be leading a 15-person Ride & Reach retreat in Canmore, Alberta. The retreat will feature:

• Yoga for cyclists workshop at Gaia Studio
• Mountain biking skill progression at the Nordic Centre
• Guided all mountain ride
• Post ride yoga flow at Gaia Studio
• Dinner & social at the Paintbox Lodge

6 important questions

what: Ride & Reach mountain bike and yoga
when: August 6, 2011
where: Gaia Collaborative Medicine, Inc. Canmore, AB, Canada
who: Ryan Leech
how: contact the Gaia Clinic to sign up
why:

• meet amazing people
• be proactive about taking care of your body
• improve your technique on the mountain and in the studio
• to encourage Ryan to run more of these workshops

what's going on locally?

With only 15 spots available, this may seem like a bit of a tease but we thought we'd share the love and hopefully get a little love in return. If you know of other workshops like this one in your area, let us know. If you need help finding yoga (closer to home than Canmore), your local lululemon store can connect you with yoga studios and styles.

With Independence and Canada Days upon us again, now is the time for lighting short fuses attached to paper tubes of gunpowder and running away as fast as we can to enjoy them from a 'safe' distance. The debate over whether fireworks are a valuable tradition or a dangerous nuisance is nearly as old as the countries themselves. Let's make sure we all stay safe this year.

injury

Just like oil and water, fireworks and alcohol don’t mix. Children and fireworks don’t mix well either, kinda like nitrogen and glycerin (they can look at each other but don’t let them touch).

pollution

Pollution around fireworks celebrations always raises red flags (and it’s not just the plastic cups and used explosives). Stopping to think about it, firing a cardboard tube with gunpowder into the air must be one of the most inventive (and socially acceptable) ways of littering.

fire risk

Canada Day’s and Independence Day’s fireworks cause greater concern than their mid-winter, New Year’s counterparts (especially as droughts stretch across parts of the continent) . If you’re celebrating with fireworks at home (rather than enjoying the public displays) make sure you take safety precautions. Pyrotechnicians - that’s the fancy term for fireworks professionals - take factors like wind strength and direction into account. They also shoot their displays higher into the air to reduce the chance of live embers falling on dry grass and leaves.

think safe

before

• Check out your local fireworks regulations.
• Don’t experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for dousing on fireworks that don't ignite.
• Choose a clear area, away from houses, dry leaves or grass.

during

• Make sure everyone's out of range before lighting.
• Keep unlit fireworks away from live fireworks.
• Never have any portion of your body over a firework while lighting.
• Never light fireworks in a container (especially glass or metal container).

after

• Don't try to relight malfunctioning fireworks.
• Wait 30 minutes before picking up used fireworks.
• Soak old fireworks in water before throwing them away.

Happy Candepence Day weekend everybody.

You’d be unlikely to find athletic gear, like lululemon, in a fashion magazine but some of the women here insist that the Cool Racerback deserves to be. The tank is a fundamental part of their daily outfits.

melorin

why I love cool racerbacks
“They’re so versatile. I wear them everywhere: circuit classes; running; to and from yoga and on the weekends under jackets and blouses with some heels added and you have the perfect casual outfit. Also they're so easy to pack when travelling.”

the colours
“I love the bright coloured ones; they're great to add some pop to my wardrobe when I need it. My favorite colour is the rubber ducky. I get so excited when new colours arrive!

dressing them up
“My current favorite summer look is wearing a cool racer back with a cardigan over top, paired with some shorts or skinny jeans and some flats. I’ll layer it with a couple of unique necklaces draped over and a fun, coloured purse.

Melorin is a purchasing manager raised in North Vancouver. One of her favorite place she's travelled is Gili Islands in Indonesia.

heathered grapeseed CRB tank

carolyn

why I love cool racerbacks
“I love the Cool Racerbacks because they’re extremely simple. I love simple because I wear yoga clothes all day long and I want to be able to style them up when I’m going to and from the studio. They’re just so versatile for me. They look really good layered but often I only wear one while I’m doing yoga to reduce on laundry.”

the colours
“I love all the colours they come in. I’m really into the pastels, especially heathered grapeseed, which isn’t a colour I’d normally wear. I love the heathered tango red too because you don’t see a lot of them. The heathered ones hide the sweat well; it blends in a little bit.”

dressing them up
“I love the length of them. You can wear it with any kind of pants; you can have it hanging over your pants or shorts or have it tucked in, like with a high-waisted skirt. Usually I dress them up with a scarf and I wear a lot of cardigans. They all look great under my cardigans and jean jackets. In Vancouver the weather is so changeable; it’s nice to have an extra layer in your bag to put on if it gets cold; and they fit into every single purse I own.”

Carolyn is a yoga instructor for Semperviva and YYoga as well as Ambassador for the lululemon on West 4^th, Vancouver. She does a lot of yoga and a lot of smiling.

surge CRB tank

elim

why I love cool racerbacks
“The Cool Racerback is my favorite because I can wear any type of support under it. I can wear it with a Flow Y bra (or my new favorite the Arise Bra) or any one of my standard bras; for minimal to full support. I wear them for running, Vinyasa and Hatha yoga.”

the colours
“I have five white Cool Racerbacks. I love them. I wear them on their own or layered underneath other coloured tank and shirts.”

dressing them up
“I'll wear my Cool Racerbacks with anything. I love to wear them under my power mesh tops from the lab. I’ll dress them up by putting a blazer over the top or just with jewelry and leave my hair down.”

Elim is our Photo Studio Coordinator and Stylist. She loves to people watch the streets of Vancouver and has goals to work in a certain magazine in New York City.

pink mist CRB tank & wren CRB tank

bailie

why I love cool racerbacks
“The length is awesome which makes it a perfect layering piece - I throw it under a favorite shirt and ta da! ready for the office and yoga without messing around with a change of clothes. I love how light and breathable this tank is too. I usually pair it with the Arise Bra and my trusty Wunder Unders for working up a serious sweat in one of those impromptu Spin or Power Vinyasa Flow classes.”

the colours
“My favourite colour is Wren. Not only is it named after a lovely little bird but olive green is an amazing transitional color - beautiful in the summer but dark enough for those colder months.”

dressing them up
“For me it's all about the layers.  It's perfect under my loose flowing tops paired with some worn in cutoffs, great sunglasses and a beloved necklace.  Hello Sunday beach day! Or I’ll do a long jersey, high-waisted skirt and maybe a pair of amazing wooden wedges.”

Bailie is a proud member of the Men’s Team working as the Allocation Analyst (aka – gifting the stores with new product … whoop!).  Born and raised in Calgary and, yes, still loves the Calgary Flames.

They all said it in different ways ('versatile', 'simple', 'favourite', 'ta-da!') but the way that the Cool Racerback's can switch from sports gear to street-wear and back is what makes it one of our essentials.

Let us know how you use your Cool Racerback. Join the conversation with lululemon on Facebook.

25 years ago, Rick Hansen set himself the goal of touring the world in his wheelchair. Over two years, he wheeled himself across four continents, through 34 countries; wheeling the gruelling equivalent of two marathons a day. His Man In Motion World Tour inspired people around the world and raised awareness of the potential of people with disabilities (it also inspired the Grammy nominated song St. Elmo's Fire - listen to the lyrics - that's the core of so many uplifting workout playlists).

rick hansen & the rick hansen foundation

When he was 15, a spinal cord injury left Rick Hansen paralysed from the waist down. Coming to terms with his disability, Rick set new goals for his life and went on to win 19 international wheelchair marathons and six medals as a Paralympian.

Rick set off on the Man In Motion Tour to raise awareness of the many obstacles he'd overcome that were ubiquitous for people with disabilities. The Tour raised 26 million dollars and gave birth to the Rick Hansen Foundation which seeks a cure for spinal cord injuries and to improve the lives of those affected by them.

25^th anniversary relay

To celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the world tour, the Rick Hansen Foundation is recreating the Canadian-portion, a 12,000 kilometre westward trek across Canada. Beginning on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador (and finishing on May 22, 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia), the 25th Anniversary Relay will shift the focus from ‘man in motion’ to ‘many in motion’. 7,000 participants from across Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others (by fostering inclusion, inspiring others to live healthily or improving the community through courage and determination) will walk, wheel or run in the Rick Hansen Relay.

join the 25^th anniversary rick hansen relay

The Rick Hansen Foundation has launched an online public contest, inviting Canadians to enter to win a spot to participate in the 25th Anniversary Relay as a medal-bearer.

All Canadian citizens and permanent residents over 13 years of age are eligible to enter.
If you want to keep up to date on the 25th Anniversary Relay goings-on, join the Rick Hansen Foundation on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Head to RickHansenRelay.com and show what a difference we can make when the whole community comes together.

meditation through mindfulness

uni-tasking
Mindfulness is the opposite of multi-tasking (which is essentially anti-meditation); it’s taking the time to focus on one thing and savouring life. Instead of eating breakfast while watching TV, try to give your attention to one activity; take pleasure in the taste and texture of your granola.

focus on your breathing
Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight (if you hunch forward your lungs and diaphragm won’t be able to expand fully). To  begin with you probably want to find a quiet place but as you develop your practice you’ll become better at blocking out the surrounding world. Focus on the air flowing through your nostrils and the rise and fall of your abdomen as you inhale and exhale. When your mind begins to wander, bring it back to focus on your breathing.

meditation in motion

yoga
For those of us who can’t sit still for long, yoga is the ideal way to meditate. Yoga combines specific movements with a meditative focus on the body and breathing. Other meditative practices in motion include running, tai chi or qigong.

momentary meditation

three conscious breaths
If your life is non-stop action and you can’t see yourself stopping for 20 minutes to meditate, little micro-meditations are a great way to alleviate stress and improve your concentration. Use physical reminders as cues to your practice (which cues you pick will determine the frequency). For example, take three deep breaths every time you send an email or every time you think about work outside of work hours.

stop and smell the roses
Take the opportunity two or three times a day to stop and appreciate the world around you. Explore your environment sense by sense; what can you see, hear, smell and how do your emotions reflect or react to these sensations?

Focusing on what you're eating as you eat it is a great first step towards a healthy, more deliberate life.

other great articles on meditation in sport

• how to meditate while running
• think of your workout as active meditation

teaching bryant park yoga

“I love teaching at Bryant Park because there is yoga everywhere: the yoginis on the mats; the people watching; everything that is alive in nature around us. The collective vibe is amazing - you reach people with the spirit of yoga and the unity that is created...even if they aren't on a mat! I work best with big crowds...my music is loud and, quite frankly, I am loud, so the big yoga party works for me!!! My idea of a successful class is 300 people singing ‘We Are Family’ in wheel pose."

finding inspiration and energy

"I get inspiration and energy from many sources: my lululemon family at 66th street and the new york area. They inspire me with the way they roll and they humble me with their support. I am inspired by all my yoga teachers and students who have the courage to laugh and play and look within. I am inspired and energized by my seven-year old daughter, Maya, who enables me, at 48, to be playful, wonderous and inquisitive again."

things you should know about halle becker

"What I want you to know about me is that I had a troubled past filled with anger, self-doubt, addictions and bad choices. The path of yoga has given me strength and the grace to open up parts of myself I never knew existed. I live each day to the fullest and I am always learning and I am very, very grateful for the opportunity to be on the path."

If you want to find out more about Halle, check out her lululemon ambassador page or go to her website, homegirlyoga.com.

image: flickr-absurd hero If you need a peanut sauce to go with the rolls, try here.

We didn't feel we could introduce you to some of Jon's favourite things without introducing you to Jon. We've edited down the biography of this surfer-designer-dad to these 11 answers.

1. describe what you do at lululemon in three words
Put. Out. Fires. (Ed's note: Jon is the Creative Director at lululemon, not a fire-fighter)

2. who was your creative role model growing up?
When I was a kid it was Frank Lloyd Wright because I wanted to be an architect. His philosophy really appealed to me. (Ed's note: in a nutshell, Wright believed in 'organic' architecture; that "form and function are one.")

3. if you had a different job for a day, what would you be?
I'd be a landscaper. I love transforming things; things that I can see, that other people can see. It's really cool to know that you're working with something that's living.

4. when do you consider a piece of work to be complete?
To me, it's when I walk away from it, either in disgust or delight. And sometimes they're never done (my wife would say that is closer to the truth. None of my projects are ever done).

5. tell us about one place in the world that inspires you
Anywhere in the ocean. It's the one place where everything seems to make sense. We just got back from a family surf trip to California, my wife and I were sitting in the water (it wasn't as cold as here), the sun was out and the kids were on the beach having a blast. We just looked at each other and said,  'why don't we live here? We should do this.' Then we got in the car, got stuck on the freeway in traffic, drove through congested neighbourhoods. When we got back to Vancouver, I went over to Tofino  for the weekend and surfed there with absolutely no-one in the water and realized why we're here. There were no crowds, the water was clean and cold. It was gorgeous. It was amazing.

6. how do you fit yoga into your life?
Every Tuesday night, my wife and I do yoga together at YYoga in Lynn Valley with our teacher Alex - she's awesome. It's Anusara, which we really like because it's a good workout as well as really technically astute. I find it has really helped me recover from some old injuries, so I definitely appreciate it from that perspective.

7. tell us about the first time you did yoga
I had this misconception that somebody would be walking around showing me exactly what to do right from the beginning; more of a lesson than a class, kind of a step by step. But it's more of a sink or swim thing, you just get in there and do it. You just watch and learn and I find that part of the process really interesting and really humbling too.

8. what's the best advice you've ever received?
Measure twice, cut once.

9. what advice would you share with your children?
Be authentic. Be true to you. Because it will always come back to that, it'll be the one thing that you will question later; whether you did things because they were the right thing to do for you.

10. what's your favourite inanimate object in your house?
I collect chairs so I  have a couple of chairs that I like looking at: a couple of Eames, Corbusier and a really cool Bertoia wire chair that's a thing of beauty. I always have to rearrange them to make sure they're properly arranged. But the one thing that I always look at, that makes me smile, is a photo that my friend took at the L.A. Gay Rodeo a couple of years ago. It's of a gay cowboy on a horse and he's wearing pink high-heeled cowboy boots. It's a really good conversation piece.

11. if you had an extra hour in the day, what would you do with it?
I'd play. I'd play more with my kids.

Jon's picks

1. Ben Sherman straw hat
2. Metal Vent Tech short sleeve shirt
3. Men's No Show socks
4. Game On Boxer Brief
5. Yashica Electro 35 range-finder camera
6. Miles’ art
7. Jack Spade Nylon Canvas Dad Field Bag
8. Pope Bisect Surfboard
9. Powell Peralta Mcgill Skull/Snake Skateboard
10. Trainer Shorts
11. The Mat
12. LOMO LC-A camera
13. The Surfers Journal magazine
14. Wedding photo – it’s our 10 year anniversary in August!
15. Vintage fiberglass Eames shell side chair
16. Headhunter SPF 30 sunblock
17. Vintage Tonka Winnebago – from my childhood
18. A 'thing' for exercise made by my son, Miles
19. Moleskine sketchbooks
20. Rainbow Sandals flip-flops
21. Dwell Magazine
22. Eoin Finn's Blissology DVD
23. A birthday card from my youngest boy Wells
24. Sigg 1L Sport Top Bottle
25. Grandpa's Tools
26. SKOAH clean freak body kleanser
27. surfer dude bobble head
28. iPhone 4
29. Manduka Equa Towel

lululemon ambassadors are always up to amazing things. This October, Ted McDonald is taking a break from teaching yoga and promoting healthy living in Southern California to lead a life-changing trip to Ethiopia with Imagine1Day. The best part? There's an opportunity to be part of Ted's inspirational trip.

building schools & communities

Imagine1Day has a goal of bringing quality elementary school education to every child in Ethiopia. Most of us are familiar with the way in which Habitat for Humanity builds homes for communities in need. Rather than homes, Imagine1Day builds schools in small communities in Ethiopia. Imagine1Day spends three years working within each community to ensure that the programs can be sustainably maintained. They collaborate with the local communities and the Ethiopian government to train teachers and to teach families in the community to run profitable businesses. It's the educational equivalent of "give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime."

who's educating whom?

Ted, who's been leading yoga retreats for eight years, has set a vision for this trip to "create a better world". "It's amazing to go to places like this and to meet people who would never imagine to have the kind of infrastructure, amenities, technology and support that we have in the West. Meeting people like that, to me, is one of the greatest ways to open your heart." Ted thinks that the ripple effect will continue long after he gets back State-side (although the focus of Imagine1Day is to create education opportunities in Ethiopia, a large component of their work is dispelling misconceptions about Ethiopia). "If anyone has an interest in elevating their own lives and the lives of others," says Ted, "they should definitely come on this trip."

the trip in a nutshell

get involved

• Contact Imagine1Day & pack your bags. There are spots available on the trip.
  
• Meet some 'creatributors' and see how it all works.
• Help by doing something you love. Become a 'creatributor'.