We can’t wait to yoga, run and party through Vancouver’s beaches, mountains and city streets with you again this summer. Last year, we created an app to help you with all things half-marathon related: training, a city guide to help you maximize your weekend in Vancity, run playlists and more. We listened to your feedback that you loved the app and that you wanted even more features added for this year’s event.

Drumroll please…

Please meet our brand new SeaWheeze app! We have added a ton of cool stuff designed to make your SeaWheeze 2013 experience as good as, oh, I don’t know, eating Oreo ice cream and getting a foot massage at the same time (*Editor’s Note: Alexis’ creepy idea of a good time does not reflect the views of this blog or 99% of the human population).

Let’s get into the nitty gritty of what features have been added to the app.

makeover alert: my training section

We heard you say that you wanted to track your progress up to the big day. Now you can check the boxes of which runs, yoga and cross-training you've completed per week and the app will compile your progress for you.

We’ve also added new training videos featuring this year's SeaWheeze trainers (runners Jenn Howard-Brown, Chris McClung and Blue Benadum and yogi Kerri Kelly) so you can get instruction on-the-go.

let’s get physical accountable

You can now share and interact with friends on Facebook who are also training – you can see their progress and they can see yours.

Things just got serious.

say cheese!

There's a Photo Booth with different frames so that you can share all your SeaWheeze memories with friends on Facebook, Twitter and more. There’s also a live Instagram feed of anything hashtagged #SeaWheeze so you can keep up with all the yoga.run.party times happening during the weekend!

get down on it

Playlists are now listed in the main navigation for easy reference.

My apologies in advance for multiple Mariah tracks...I was surrounded by butterflies and wearing denim cutoffs when I put them together.  #notreallysorry

live goal crushing

We will now be publishing live finishing times via the app on race day. These will still also be offered via desktop and tablet. Get those goals!

it’s the freakin’ weekend

Weekend events are now broken out by day to make weekend planning easy breezy.

We are counting down the days until August 10^th! This app is available in the App Store as of May 17^th. What part of the SeaWheeze weekend are you most excited for?

Bette Calman is a revelation: yoga teacher, positivity machine and lifetime advocate of all things breathing and bendy. We asked her a few questions about what her yoga practice means to her.

alexis: how and when did you begin practicing yoga?

bette: Once when I was very young, I saw yogi standing on his head. I tried it and liked the sensations it gave me, particularly taking the tiredness in the legs and feet and how it made me feel mentally alert. From time to time I would belt myself against the wall and do it for a little while, always with the same good results. Years later, I was working in the hotel business which required me to be on my feet for long hours every day; at night I would do a headstand against the wall to relieve my tiredness. Then one day, I saw an advertisement for Hatha Yoga in Sydney and I went along. I liked everything I saw and what the man called Michael Volin was saying. I went and I never stopped attending classes. There were seven people in that first class.

alexis: has your practice changed over the years?

bette: Not greatly, because a class is involved with every part of the body, mind, emotions and spirituality. My body is still the same only I can do the postures better all the time! Yoga is not only physical - it helps us on every level. It helps us look at life more positively.

alexis: how has yoga affected your vitality?

bette: Everyone who gets onto the "Yoga Road" improves on every level if they really apply themselves. I believe yoga offers a high level of health and vitality.

alexis: what would you tell someone of any age who wants to take up yoga?

bette: I would advise them to try and also not to be in a hurry - Rome wasn't built in a day! In the long years of teaching classes to people of every age, including classes to the blind and disabled, as long as they attend class they improve. It's when people overdo things that their path is slower. I've never seen Hatha yoga hurt anyone if they are sensible.

I'm 87 on May 3rd. I don't have one stiff part of my body. I can do what I've always done, in some instances not as well and in other cases better. Yoga breathing is the most important aspect in every part of my life.

We have one word: wow. Thanks for sharing your practice with us, Bette! 

Paige Elenson, Executive Director of Africa Yoga Project shares with us what AYP is all about and how you can get involved.

My name is Paige Elenson, and I am the Executive Director of a charity I co-founded with Baron Baptiste called Africa Yoga Project.  It sounds like such an important title, when really I am just a girl, now mom, who fell in love with the power and transformation of yoga and wanted to share it with the world.  I remember stumbling into my first class with my teacher, Baron Baptiste. I was a teenager who wanted to attend a retreat in Mexico and had NO idea that yoga was way more than a series of poses. It was then that I realized I wanted to share this, yoga, with the world.

Africa Yoga Project was born following Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007.  We use the power of yoga to support economic development and alleviation of poverty by creating a local market for yoga.  At AYP we train young leaders and empower them to share yoga - in fact, we have just completed our very first 200 hour training program in Nairobi, Kenya where we had over 150 participants from all over the world.  Moses, Catherine and Billy were instrumental in conducting and facilitating the 200 hour training and are the 3 most senior teachers, having just completed Baptiste Level 3 training in Tulum, Mexico.  The tools they gained at this training were shared so powerfully with all the teachers at AYP and the training.  I am so excited to share the video of their journey with you!

I have seen many things in my short life, but the one thing that I have seen over and over is the transformative power of yoga.  If I could share one message with everyone that views this video or reads this post it is that the cliche of “together we can make a difference" is true.  You don’t have to build a school to make a difference, you can make a difference right where your feet are NOW!  Whether you are in Nairobi, Kenya or Vancouver, Canada - we all want to be seen, we all yearn for community and we all need one another.  So today, when you roll out your mat at your local studio, or perhaps wander into a studio you have never been before using your Om Finder app (which is amazing by the way & you can find our studio on it!) - introduce yourself, say hello and welcome someone into your life that hasn’t been there before.  Be the spark of togetherness - let’s together create a world for one another, where we all have enough, where we all share and we all change the planet...together.

Learn more about Africa Yoga Project here. What are you doing today to connect and share with the world around you?

Our good buddy Matt is off in Bali for the next month taking on a big goal: yoga teacher training! We are going to be checking in with him a few times on his journey to see how things are going...here's how he's doing after week one.

When I said I was going to Bali for a month, people often thought I was living as a vagabond – doing yoga and taking naps in rice fields all day. Rest assured, my experience thus far has been quite different. Here’s what my days look like:

4:00 am: The roosters are awake, which means so is everyone else. The sun isn’t up yet, so I check my emails in bed or do some morning writing before my alarm goes off to tell me it’s time to get this party started.

5:02 am: The alarm goes off. I pack my bag with two pairs of Pacebreaker Shorts, two Metal Vent Teach tops, my Mat, and my notebook + manuals and head off to the studio.

6:05 am: I walk into the studio in ‘noble silence.’ None of the students are permitted to speak, make eye contact with each other, or be “outside ourselves” until after our yoga practice.

6:30 am: Morning meditation begins for 30 minutes.

7:00 am: Insert 2 hours of the most gruelling asana practice I have ever taken. They lead the class with the intention of making us remember what it is like to attend a yoga class for the first time. This means new poses, new sequences, holding poses for 5 minutes (“you should be able to stay in headstand for 10 minutes” they say), and so many chaturangas! And it isn’t a workshop where you get to stop and look at what the next sequence is (and catch your breath). No, this is straight vinyasa the whole time. Needless to say, I had tears streaming up my face as I was in wheel pose yesterday. My body is getting rocked!

9:00 am: Noble silence ends just in time to send us off to breakfast (after some withheld “good mornings” are joyously exchanged). Raw meals are the prescribed menu option while we are doing our training, and there is a great group of us who are diligently sticking to that plan. Bring on the coconut smoothies!

10:30-6 pm: Class time. Guest faculty members come in to talk about NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), yoga philosophy, alignment, teaching techniques, Ayurveda, and clean eating. We sit on bolsters on the floor during lectures and have already started teaching each other sequences and getting feedback on our approach. It’s cool to see how everything is beginning to tie together during these sessions.

6:00 pm: Food time!

7:30 pm – ???: “Still More” sessions. These are surprise sessions we don’t know much about. One has been a “get to know each other” activity with our mentors. Tomorrow’s, we have been told, is to review our morning asana practice that they are going to film so we can see what a class looks like after we’ve experienced it.
We sneak in another yoga class here if there isn’t a Still More Session in order to take advantage of the free classes at the studio we get as trainees. Hanging Restorative Yoga – don’t mind if I do!

10:30 pm: I get home to take a quick dip in the pool to cool off and calm my body down after a full day. I jump into bed – ready to do it all over again the next day.

—

Rinse and repeat for the next 25 days. Napping in the rice fields seems pretty nice right about now…

Taking on yoga teacher training is a big deal - we're cheering you on, Matt! What goals are you chasing right now? Are they going the way you expected them to?

I love the Run: Speed Short for many reasons. The wide waistband is made of soft and moisture-wicking Luxtreme (no muffin top here thankyouverymuch) and the seams are flat to reduce chafing. There's a little zippered pocket on the back of the waistband for a key and cards so you can grab mimosas coffee after your run. The 2 1/2" inseam is an ideal length for both quick training runs and on the day of your half marathon. I also like to wear these bad boys during summer at the beach - they are perfect to throw on over your bikini bottoms after a long day on the sand.

In order to celebrate Leg Season (that's what we're calling it now, right?) we have put together four run outfits featuring the Run: Speed Short in some of our favourite hues of the season: Aquamarine, We Are From Space, Parfait Pink and Beach Blanket Blue.

aquamarine

1. Run: Speed Short in Aquamarine (coming very soon...check back!)

2. Mizuno Wave Runner 15 - I LOVE these running shoes...good for mild pronators.

3. Pure Balance Water Bottle - the grippy handle is perfect during sweaty workouts.

4. Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Menthol & Eucalyptus Lip Salve - no chapping allowed!

5. Cool Racerback in Aquamarine (also coming soon!)

6. Run From Work Backpack II - color blocked and über functional.

7. Fly Away Tamer Headband in Aquamarine (yes, this is also coming very soon)

we are from space

1. Run: Speed Short in We Are From Space (coming soon!)

2. Shape Magazine - the recipes and tips in here are always on point.

3. Dense Foam Block - always good for deep stretches post-run.

4. iPhone 5 in White - let's be honest, this puppy never leaves our side.

5. Vega Pre-Workout Energizer - this will put a little vrooom into your engine!

6. Nike Free 5.0 in Black - these are a gamechanger. Buy a pair and thank me later.

7. Mula Bandhawear Thong in White - the most comfy thong on the planet.

parfait pink

1. Run: Speed Short in Parfait Pink (coming soon!)

2. Kate Spade Mikas Pond Lacey Wallet in Zinnia Pink - worth blowing your budget on.

3. Mula Bandhawear Bikini in Parfait Pink - I have junk in my trunk and these gave me zero VPL.

4. Run: Tame Me Tank - great for those with larger busts who want a little more coverage.

5. Pure Balance Water Bottle in Parfait Pink - hydrate, hydrate and then hydrate some more.

6. Nike Free 3.0 - I saw one of our managers wearing these and fell in love...vintage!

beach blanket blue

1. Run: Speed Short in Beach Blanket Blue (coming soon!)

2. Women's Ultimate Padded Run Sock in Beach Blanket Blue (ALSO coming soon)

3. Bath and Body Works Body Cream in Sea Island Cotton - this stuff smells good.

4. Run: Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve in Beach Blanket Blue (yup, you guess it...coming soon)

5. Zico Coconut Water - electrolytes are our friend in training season.

6. Light As Air Thong - so light you'll forget you're even wearing underwear.

New colours AND warm weather = good times ahead! See you on the streets, trails and seawall soon...remember to give the "runner's wave and smile."

Have you ever watched marathoners at the front of the pack whizz by with earbuds in and wondered what they are listening to? We always do – and so with this in mind we asked our three SeaWheeze run trainers Blue Benadum, Chris McClung and Jenn Howard-Brown to share their favourites with you. This playlist is a pretty eclectic mix, proving that no two runners have the same taste in music! We've compiled their most-loved training tunes into one 8tracks playlist - click here to listen.

jenn howard-brown

Florida Georgia Line - Cruise

Cayucas - High School Lover

Justin Timberlake - Damn Girl

Bruno Mars - Locked out of Heaven

C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat

Outkast - Hey Ya

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop

chris mcclung

Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (Chris: "for a little Rocky-style inspiration!")

blue benadum

Hall of Fame by The Script

My Body by Young the Giant

What is your go-to music when you run? Electro? Hiphop? Country? A mix? Tell us your favourites…we’re putting together a SeaWheeze playlist inspired by our guests and we’d love to hear from you!

michelina's SeaWheeze story

Where did you grow up? Brampton, Ontario – it's the fastest-growing city in Canada, look it up!

How did you sweat growing up? Were you a runner? I played competitive basketball – I could shoot well but running wasn't my strong suit on the court. My coach always told me I had to play smart because speed wasn't my forte!

Where do you live now? Beautiful Vancouver, B.C.

What made you decide to run the SeaWheeze this year? It all goes back to last year's SeaWheeze. At this time last year, I had goals to move from Ottawa (where I was living at the time post-university) to Vancouver. I saw some co-worker's Instagram posts of the SeaWheeze launch party last year and had major FOMO – it was then that I decided I was going to Vancouver to run. When I ended up coming here, I spent a day working with the social media team and discovered what I wanted to do with my career next. What was great about the experience is that my "online friends" became my real-life pals – we ran beside each other, worked together and had an amazing weekend. It was through these connections made during the SeaWheeze weekend that I achieved my goal of moving to Vancouver and getting a job in my new favourite city.

What is it that you love about Vancouver in the summertime? I discovered this city – the beaches, mountains and neighborhoods – via the SeaWheeze. It was an incredible way to drink in this city and I fell in love. I love that on one run you can see mountains AND the beach from downtown – it is so unique. The yoga scene here is incredible and the communities are great – there is a ton of diversity but everything is close together. Vancouver has big city feel but it's still small enough to feel at home.

What running goal are trying to accomplish this year? I have a lofty running goal that's actually going to take longer than a year. My friend Danielle and I set a goal to run five of the coolest half-marathons in the world over the next five years. Some we're thinking about include the Rock 'N Roll Marathon in the UK, the San Francisco Nike Half-Marathon and more. It's a great way to stay in shape and incorporate some great travel!

What is one goal you haven't reached that you are still trying to attain? This one eats at me big time. When I was 16 years old, we visited the Great Wall Of China on a school trip. Once I got the photo op, I quit climbing before I got to the top. When I think about this it drives me nuts and one day I will get back there and summit the highest point!

Are you a morning or evening runner? In Ottawa I had to be a morning runner because it is so hot in summer. I am so excited to be able to train at different times of day this Spring in Vancouver.

What kind of yoga do you do to complement your run training? Vinyasa Flow is the practice that I love (I practice at least two times a week) - I know my body will begin craving Yin as training gets more intense and then I'll switch over.

What are you going to eat the night before the SeaWheeze? Pizza and pasta, hold the wine. I am Italian after all!

We are going to be featuring different runners over the next few weeks who are running SeaWheeze - why they are running, some tips they have and what keeps them inspired. Are you running SeaWheeze 2013? Follow along to get amped up for the big day! If you are interested in participating in the SeaWheeze weekend but missed out on signing up, we still have tons on volunteering opportunities - come party with us!

At lululemon, our most important relationship is with our communities and our guests. We recently learned some information about some product that arrived in our stores and we wanted you to know right away.

At the beginning of March, our stores and ecommerce site received some black luon women's bottoms that didn't meet our high standards. The materials used in construction were the same but the coverage was not, resulting in increased sheerness. We want you to Down Dog and Crow with confidence and we felt these pants didn't measure up.

We keenly listen to your feedback and it is paramount to us that you know we're listening. We are 100% committed to doing the right thing for our guests and living our standards. It is with these intentions in mind that we've pulled the affected product from our floors and website.

We are working with our supplier to replace this fabric and other manufacturers to replenish the affected core items as fast as we can. What that means is there will be a shortage of these styles in our stores and online until our new stock arrives. We are also in conversation with our manufacturing partner to understand what happened during the period this fabric was made.

We are committed to making things right so if you purchased product from our store or on our website and you think it is too sheer, we welcome you to return it for a full refund or exchange. If you have any questions please click here for more information, visit any of our stores or contact our Guest Education Centre at 1.877.263.9300.

We’ve introduced you to the three amazing run ambassadors who will be leading you through your run training for SeaWheeze 2013. Now meet Kerri Kelly, our Official SeaWheeze Yoga Instructor! We love to incorporate yoga into our run training and we’ve built regular practice into the SeaWheeze training program to compliment all those miles on the pavement.

Kerri first found yoga in the late 90s after a series of running and sports-related injuries had her down and out. She quickly discovered the power of yoga, not only as a way to heal her body, but as a spiritual tool to change her life. Inspired by this, she left the corporate world to dedicate herself to empowering others through yoga, and now she’s bringing her knowledge to SeaWheeze 2013. Kerri has been teaching yoga for seven years and continues to explore many styles of yoga to ensure creativity and balance in her classes. She is an ambassador for our Cow Hollow store in San Francisco and will be leading yoga during the SeaWheeze weekend in Vancouver!

Q&A with kerri

1.How long have you been doing yoga?  I "checked" myself into yoga in 1999 after a serious of run-related injuries.

2. When did you start running? I've been running as far back as i can remember.  But it was in 6th grade that i discovered i was fast when i beat all the boys in our PT test.

3. Favourite city in the world? In this moment, I am in Varanasi, India and it is blowing my mind.

4. Guilty pleasure? OK. Here goes. I have been totally afraid to admit this. But i love sci-fi.

5. Favourite type of yoga for running? Balancing poses and core work really help reinforce "whole-body running" that not only makes us more coordinated, but more sustainable runners.

6. One thing you want our runners to remember this year?  Listen to your body.  It is brilliant and will tell you everything you need to know about being fast and healthy.

7. Who inspires you? Right now? Young girls in India.

8. One goal you have for 2013?  Let go and Let it ALL in.

 9. Anything else you want us to know? Yes. Self-care is everything. Build it into your cross-training routine...it will make all the difference (and you will be happier too!)

Watch our Facebook page for upcoming live chats with Kerri to learn more about the benefits of building yoga into your run training. 

Last week we introduced you to Chris and Jenn from Austin, TX – this week we’re excited to introduce you to Blue Benadum from LA, who will join them as an Official SeaWheeze Trainer and lead you through the run training for SeaWheeze 2013!

Blue Benadum (twitter: @BlueBenadum, Instagram: blue_benadum)

Blue knows the SeaWheeze well - last year, he placed second overall! He is a pro marathon runner living in Los Angeles and one of our elite ambassadors. He spends most days leading his elite running team LASP in hard pursuit of the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials and also coaching and training LA running teams, groups and schools. He’s currently working on his first book "Find Your FAST! -The Pursuit of Speed, a Runner's Obsession."

q & a with blue

1. when did you start running? As soon as I could walk!

2. what was your first half marathon? The first half of the San Diego Rock n Roll Full Marathon in 2006.

3. what made last year's SeaWheeze so awesome? I love the beautiful course, the sunset yoga, the concert and of course all the beautiful girls in luon!

4. what's your favorite pre-run snack? Oatmeal.

5. favourite movie? Last of the Mohicans.

6. worst run story? I was demonstrating how to do a progressive speed sprint interval to my high school cross country students last year. At the fastest moment, the parking lot took a dip and...wipeout! I was able to roll up to my feet and shake it off but I couldn't run for two weeks. My hip hit really hard. The kids were laughing but a little concerned! ‘What NOT to do when sprinting’ by Blue Benadum.

7. best tip for finishing a race feeling good? The more training the better you will feel after you finish. That, plus good nutrition of course.

8. what's one goal you have for 2013? I really want to chip a few more minutes of my finishing time in a key marathon to set the stage for an Olympic Qualifier in 2014.

9. what inspires you? I am inspired by the pursuit of pushing boundaries. It is a beautiful thing because it is relative to each of us. Everyone has their own limitations and regardless of what they are, those of us that work to push beyond them, find that we have something in common.

We think you should know: Blue’s running team, LASpeedProject.com, is part of a documentary where they will be aiming to set a 300 mile running speed record on March 29-30th from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with 4 guys and 2 girls. Talk about a BHAG!

SeaWheeze 2013 is just over 5 months away, but we just can’t wait to get started! The Get Sweaty Get Ready program starts on March 18^th, and we want you to introduce you to the four awesome trainers that are going to be taking you from here to the finish line on August 10^th.

This week, meet Chris McClung and Jenn Howard-Brown, who head up the Rogue Running group in Austin, Texas. They set a BHAG to bring 150 runners to Vancouver in August and kicked things off with a launch party last week - look for more of their inspiring story coming soon!

chris mcclung (twitter: @chrismcclung)

Chris was a retired (and recovering) soccer player at age 19 when he began running to stay in shape and quickly became addicted to the sport. Since then, he has run 10 marathons, struggled through 2 Half-Ironman events (w/o drowning!), and completed over 90 other road races and triathlons. Chris is one of the co-owners of Rogue Running, an Austin, Texas-based running store, training center, and community that is committed to changing people's lives through running.

jennifer howard-brown (twitter/instagram: @jennhb)

Jenn is a run coach for Rogue Running who is passionate about helping athletes find the joy in running. She has completed 14 marathons -- London, New York, Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, San Jose, Dallas and Eugene; more than 3 dozen half-marathons; 2 triathlons; and countless 5k's and 10k's. Jennifer began coaching for Rogue four years ago and has trained hundreds of athletes, who describe her as a Tiger Mom coach -- nurturing with a dash of drill sergeant.

q & a with jenn and chris

1. What made you want to be involved with SeaWheeze?

C: Fate? A calling? Changing lives through running and fitness is my passion, and for some reason much bigger than me, I was meant to be a catalyst to inspire others for this year's race. On a drive to an ambassador meeting at lululemon, I had this spontaneous vision of this tidal wave of people from Austin experiencing the journey to SeaWheeze together. Less than an hour later, I had put that vision into words, and that is when the BHAG was born. Now we have over 150 strong coming from Austin to do the race, and I am so excited to help others in the journey through the training program as well!

J: Joining an inspired group of runners and yogi's for a fun-filled weekend in a beautiful city was impossible to resist.  There is an electric hum buzzing about the SeaWheeze that I had to be part of.

2. What's your favorite race to run?

J: The Eugene Marathon in Eugene, Oregon -- better known as TrackTown, USA. It's a smaller race on a good course with reliably good weather in magical, running town, finishing on the track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where the running greats have run.

3. What's your favorite way to sweat (other than running)?

C: Chasing my children! I have two and four year old boys and a newborn daughter. They keep me on my toes!

J: A juicy, vinyasa flow class.  It's equally as a tough as a run workout without the impact.

4. Favourite thing about your hometown (Austin, TX)

J: The best thing about Austin is the "weird."  We pride ourselves on being a little quirky with our "Keep Austin Weird" slogan celebrating everything from our colony of 1.5 million bats living under the Congress Bridge to our Cathedral of Junk and our food trailer culture.

C: In my opinion, there is no better fitness community in the US than what we have in Austin. Whether you want to run, swim, bike, stand-up paddle, hit the gym, or do almost anything else, you can find a community of like-minded athletes who will surround you with love and lift you up. That and the BBQ and Tex-Mex food too!

5. Who inspires you?

C: The athlete's I coach. I love being a part of their journey from goal-setting to action to accomplishment.

6. Best piece of advice for a first time half-marathoner?

C: Be consistent and have fun! Find a local run group or get a group of friends to together to meet regularly. Choose shorter, fun buildup races that will provide milestones along the way. Oh, and smile more!

J: Have a positive, mental attitude.  Your body listens to your brain -- those unspoken doubts in your head affect your physical performance.  Stay positive and trust your training.  You will succeed.

7. Tell us one goal you have for 2013.

C:  To set a new personal best marathon time this year (under 2:46!) My marathon best came in 2004, just over 9 years ago. I have been close to breaking that time again, but haven't yet gotten there. This is the year that I do it!

J: I will achieve my Boston-qualifier in 2013, which means running a qualifying time (3:45) in order to register for the 2014 Boston Marathon.  (I need to PR by 37 seconds!)

We are super excited to meet those who will be following our program from home or from their local lululemon store. See you all in Vancouver in August! –Chris and Jenn

what does “vision and goals” mean, anyway?

how V&G came to be at lululemon

As a former competitive athlete, Chip has always been a big believer in setting goals. Prior to creating lululemon in 1998, Chip became very interested in the practice of goal setting and creating a vision - how we as people define and create what we want in our lives. When he saw the power these principles had in his life, he incorporated the practice of vision and goal setting with his team at lululemon. It has been a part of our culture ever since.

why we are sharing this with you

We have seen the power of setting a vision and goals all around us – triathlons, languages learned, health goals achieved, houses bought, job changes (both coming and going from the company)…we’ve seen magical things accomplished that once seemed impossible, or at the very least improbable! We are so passionate about this practice that we want to share it with the world.

the practice of vision and goals

Like yoga, creating vision and goals for your life is a constant practice. Being intentional about how you approach this process will help you get clear about what you want – and how you are going to make it happen.

1.     get connected to your vision.

Find a place you find relaxing and get yourself settled in (think tea, a candle…maybe even sweatpants). Next, close your eyes and think about what your ideal life would be in 10 years if anything was possible. Don’t get caught up in tactics – i.e. “but how would I pay for that” or “that seems unrealistic.” Focus in and think about what this life would look like without caveats.

Pssst....we created worksheets especially for this exercise. Get down on it!

Attention à nos amis francos! Veuillez télécharger les feuilles de travail ici.

2.     determine what your ten-year goals are from this vision (we suggest three areas of your life to begin: personal, health and career).

In order to begin the path to the ideal life you just imagined, we begin by setting ten-year goals. What does this mean? Take a look at your vision. Do you want to sail around the Mediterranean? A few things will need to happen: money for purchase and upkeep, skill…what else?  And what order do these things need to go in for you to be successful?

example:

ten-year goal: I sail the Mediterranean captaining my new sailboat by June 1st, 2023

3.     do the same with five- and one-year goals.

Okay, so here’s the reason we set goals backwards: your five- and one-year goals should support you in attaining your ten-year goals, consequently helping you to your vision. Let’s use our sailboat analogy again.

examples:

five-year goal: I take lessons from the skipper of an America’s Cup vessel by August 1st, 2018

one-year goal: I put $400/month into a high-interest savings boat fund

4.     what can you do right now?

Goals can seem lofty or even unattainable. 50% of the goals on your worksheet should scare you a little – it is when we set these audacious goals that we tap into the life we really desire. This can be both exciting and a little daunting, too.

So what can you do right now? Well, look at your goals. Do you need to be physically fit or have some money set aside to achieve them? Are you accomplishing them by yourself or do you need to enroll other people? Begin planning and executing the things you need to do today in order to get the ball rolling.

vision and goals worksheets

Having a dedicated worksheet or book devoted to your vision and goals practice is key. We have created worksheets to help you brainstorm and ideate on what your vision for your ideal life is, and then also included pages designed to help you create a framework for your goals going forward. Think of this booklet as your vision and goals “hub,” a place for ideas to begin and then take off on their chosen path.

What are your vision & goals and how are you getting there? Share them on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #readysetgoals - we can’t wait to see and hear what you've got cookin'!

When faced with an injury halfway through training for her first race, Robson Store educator, Cayley, made the  decision to listen to her body and be a stand for the 7500 other runners who would need her support that day.

sign me up!

When I first heard about the SeaWheeze, I just knew it was something I had to be a part of. I’d never been a runner before but if there was one race out there to inspire me to lace up my shoes and hit the trails, it was this one. I signed up without really thinking about what I was committing myself to (21.1 is about 16 more kilometers than I’d ever run before) but I had caught a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out) and there seemed to be only one cure.

Of course, after hitting that “register” button, I had all the reasons not to run, catch up to me – I’d never been in a race before (read: I’d never run regularly before at all) and I had no idea how to train for a half marathon. Lucky for me, I was invited to be a part of a special training group with Mike Porter, one of our amazing ambassadors at the Robson store. For three months, each of the five runners in the group would be receiving a weekly training program tailored to their run experience and their goals, as well as coaching, advice and support from Mike.

from 0 to 21.1 12k

I hit my training hard and fast; within just a few weeks I was running distances that I had never thought were possible for me. When I finished my first ever 12km run, I had such a sense of pride and accomplishment. After that moment, heading out for my runs was no longer a chore. So when I started to get a sharp pain in my left knee on one of my runs I started to get a little worried – running was something I had just started to enjoy and I wasn’t ready to give it up yet.

bottom line: listen to your body

When I told Mike about what I was feeling, the support I got from him was incredible. He sent me videos of exercises to try, kept me accountable to spinning as my cross-training so I didn’t lose fitness and recommended several different clinics for me to visit. Over the month of June, I saw a physiotherapist and a registered massage therapist more regularly than I saw some of my friends but the progress I was making was pretty slow. After a month off of running, I had a tough decision to make – I desperately wanted to run the SeaWheeze (especially after I’d convinced my sister and one of my best friends to run it with me) but I was still feeling that sharp pain in my leg and time to properly train was running out. I held off until the last possible minute but eventually recognized that I needed to give my body the time it needed to heal (which I’m still working on) without the pressure of a deadline.

this is my SeaWheeze

Once I made the decision to not run the SeaWheeze, my FOMO started to flare up again – I didn’t want to miss out on a weekend that I’d been looking forward to since I’d signed up in January. I stayed involved with the race through the Robson store and I was beyond excited to be at the Vancouver Convention Center on August 11th to cheer on the start and finish of the race. Once I had made my tough decision, I channeled my training efforts from running a half marathon to prepping for 7500 enthusiastic high fives.

i’ll runcouver again

I may not have been able to run in the main event this year but I certainly didn’t miss out. I learned a lot from my SeaWheeze experience – what I’m capable of and how to listen to and take care of my body. I know that I accomplished a huge goal by just learning to enjoy heading out for a jog, which is something that I’ll have forever. At the moment I’m focused on getting my knee in a good spot so that I can runcouver my favorite trails again soon. SeaWheeze 2013, here I come!

 It takes a lot to recognize when your body needs a break – and even more to overcome your own ego when faced with a setback. We think those who can’t run should cheer (or get involved in the race in some other way). How have you reacted in the past in the face of injury?

not about numbers

Andy never worried whether or not people would show up. “This wasn’t about attendance or hitting a number,” he said afterwards. ”It was about sharing an experience and inspiring people to get out of their comfort zones.”

go with the flow

Not everything went smoothly but there were multiple assistants to help guide the class, and as Andy says, “I just went with the flow. That’s what you have to do – go with the flow.” Over 200 people of all ages and abilities showed up to saluer le soleil with Andy and each other that day. Some came with mats and others arrived matless but every person had bare feet and an open mind.

advice for first timers

Advice to anyone thinking about doing yoga: “Just try it,” says Andy. If you’re in Quebec City or nearby, the next yoga on the Plains of Abraham takes place September 9th south of the Museum of Fine Arts.

• Learn more about Andy here
• Visit Andy’s studio in Quebec City: www.hotyogaprana.com.

After discovering one of my old dance recital VHS a few years back, I did two things. I wondered why my parents kept me enrolled in a dance program for so long and I vowed to stay clear of a dance floor for the rest of my life. That was until I discovered a fitness class where I found myself plié-ing and elevé-ing at the barre once more and, surprisingly, quite liking it. Our Boston-based Core Fusion Ambassador, Andrea Isabelle Lucas, takes us back to first position with the benefits of barre.

barre background

For decades, devotees have transformed their health through this practice, which provides the perfect balance of safe and challenging work through a blend of yoga, Pilates and ballet. Lotte Berk (a professional Ballerina) created this practice when she blended orthopedic exercises with her dance training while rehabbing an injury. These days we are seeing an explosion of Lotte Berk-inspired barre programs under a variety of names (Core Fusion, Nalini Method, Bar Method, Barre Fitness, Physique 57, Dailey Method, Rasamaya Barre, Pure Barre).

image: Pearl Distric ambassador, Denise Burchard

benefits of barre

Regular practice (three to five times a week) can increase muscle density, decrease body fat, improve flexibility and posture and rev up your metabolism. The hour-long class is a blend of strength training with our own body weight or light hand weights, interval cardio and lots of stretching.  The ballet-inspired workout focuses on incredibly efficient, tiny movements. Take our average sit-­up. There is about a one-inch range of motion that makes up the most challenging and beneficial part of that exercise – we’ll call it the sweet spot.  In a barre class, we’ll spend several minutes holding and working with tiny pulses in that sweet spot until our muscles not only burn but also shake with fatigue. Each muscle group is stretched immediately after it’s worked which promotes longer, leaner muscles and better recovery so we’re less sore the next day.

Don’t be fooled by its ballet roots, even though it looks graceful, it’s anything but effortless. Are you ready to return to the barre – even if your childhood experience was as embarrassing and uncoordinated as mine?