Whether you’re heading on vacay or out for a run – packing is a skill not easily mastered. We asked seasoned runners who have gone the distance (like, every distance) for their ‘take-it or leave-it’ run gear.

10 things to bring on your run

1. house key
Two things that suck: being robbed and getting locked out. Bring your house key.

2. money (cash or credit)
Good for emergency fluids (or recovery drinks), transit (hey, there’s nothing wrong with running as far as you can one-way and bussing it back) or making a SOS call (contrary to popular belief payphones still exist).

3. identification
You should never go anywhere without ID and your run is no exception.

4. ipod (optional)
iPhone, iTouch, iShuffle, i-can’t-remember-the-latest-gadget – whatever your tech heart desires, tunes add a little extra spring in our step and that’s music to our ears.

5. spf lip balm
Lip balm (with SPF) not only soothes lips (which can dry out after long periods of heavy breathing) but also protects your kisser from the sun. Bonus: It can also double as emergency Bodyglide for those “sticky” situations.

6. bandaids
Good for unexpected chaffing emergencies and spontaneous blisters.

7. fuel belt filled with electrolytes
Hydration is key.

8. gels
Our running guru Tess recommends one for every 45 minutes (plus one extra for good measure).

9. some dry socks (those of you blessed with a sunny climate, skip to number 10). 
We’ve been caught in one too many rainstorms to head out on a 42K run without at least an extra pair of socks. Dry feet are happy feet and happy feet mean strong finishes. ps. we have the perfect pocket to store them in!

10. bodyglide
Keep things going smoothly with a little extra help from our dear friend Bodyglide. You’ve already got 30K on your mind, you don’t need to be worrying about chaffing too.

So much stuff and no place to store it?  Check out the Stuff Your Bra Tank. 

September was full of fun yoga initiatives that brought us all to our mats as one. From Salutation Nation to the Global Mala, we celebrated yoga month with clear minds and open hearts. Here are some of our favourite yoga apps to help keep the ‘om’ going all winter long.

mindbody yoga – free

An office favourite, the MINDBODY yoga app puts every yoga class in the surrounding area at your fingertips. This is by far the easiest way to find a class on the go, wherever you are.

• uses your GPS location to find classes near you
• outlines class, studio and instructor descriptions
• Check out MINDBODY for pilates and fitness too!

relax & rest – $0.99

Enjoy guided mediation with the Relax & Rest app. The no-fuss interface of this simple to use app allows you to customize your mediation with ease. I melted into the five-minute meditation at my desk and found it to be a great way to recharge at work.

• choose from background music or nature sounds
• choose from three different lengths of guided meditation
• also available for iPad

pocket yoga – $2.99

With its sleek and simple design, this app has everything you could want without getting too complicated. The practices are all derived from the world-renowned school of Gaia Flow Yoga.

• choose between 27 sessions varying in durations and levels
• guided sessions with voiceover and animation for visual cues
• choose between two different sun salutation sequences
• view an extensive pictorial glossary of poses with descriptions and benefits
• keep a log of practice to track progress over time
• also available: Pocket Yoga Free and Pocket Yoga HD for iPad

hatha yoga – $9.99

Probably the most extensive and highly rated app in its class, the Hatha yoga app is a great alternative when getting to a studio just isn’t an option.

• choose from a number of classes ranging from 30-to-90 minute sequences
• stop motion visuals show how to get in and out of each posture
• voice over guided instruction
• create and save custom sequences with an easy to use interface
• play music from your own iTunes library

With October before us (and dare I say, the holiday season ahead) I think it’s safe to say that people are coming out of ‘summer mode’ and things are getting busy in both our work and personal lives. Creating balance is such an important part of being healthy and these apps help us to find the time to stay well rounded. What are some of your other favourite yoga apps?

want more?

• more great yoga apps reviewed by appolicious
• check out the Blissology Project
• enjoy our gift of online yoga!

Fear not, the days of pinching your screen and squinting your eyes on your mobile device are over.  We have officially optimized the lululemon.com website for iPhones and Blackberries (OS6 and up) and we couldn’t be more excited.

we've gone mobile

As of August 2nd, you can browse through our ever changing product selection and enjoy full access to our online store. You can stick around right through to the purchase of your order and, as always, enjoy our complimentary ground shipping.

get there faster

Did you know you can add lululemon.com right onto the homescreen of your iPhone? This makes navigating to our website fast and easy, and makes our website accessible just like an app.

Step 1: Visit lululemon.com on your iPhone
Step 2: Click the “share” button in the bottom navigation bar
Step 3: Choose “add to homescreen”
Step 4: A pretty icon will show up – and you choose what to name it!

Voila! A lululemon icon will show up on your homescreen! Now you can visit our site quickly and easily from your phone.

We’ve invited you along for the ride while we continue to optimize the rest of our mobile site and would love your feedback and suggestions. Up next? We are optimizing the blog for mobile (of course) as well as making reviews and social sharing easier on the go!

want more?

• Can't get enough of your iphone? check out Lesia's favourite apps
• Got a passion for app development like no other? Dream job alert!

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

Portrait radness courtesy of Camerabag

If something cool is on the rise, Lesia knows about it. She's the resident maven on the Digital team and the one for info on just about anything. Naturally, we wanted her list of favourite iPhone apps. Get out your phone and get ready for her list of must-haves.

lesia's favourite iphone apps

Outside of the standard must-have apps like Twitter, Facebook, foursquare, WeatherEye (way better then the weather app that comes with iPhone), IMDB, Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Cover Orange, Flashlight, Groupon & Tumblr, there are a few others I couldn’t live without. I've categorized them by price. Enjoy!

(free) - Just download and have fun!
($) - Minimum investment for maximum enjoyment. Expect to pay around $2.
($$) - Pricier but worth every penny. Expect to pay $5 or more.

fitness essentials

If you have goals to run a marathon, do a yoga challenge or reach your personal best, these apps will quickly become your best friends.

MindBody Yoga (free)  I can quickly and easily find the closest yoga class no matter where I am, Vancouver or abroad.

Run Keeper (free)  I just downloaded this one and it looks like amazing. I’ll keep you posted once I hit the pavement with the No Excuses Run Club.

ifitness ($) Stay motivated and get fit with this app. It's currently not available on the Canadian store but it's so good, I'd hate to leave it out.

Loseit (free) This calorie-counting app keeps you accountable. Set a goal and it will help you make it happen. (My husband lost 15 pounds with the baby. What more could you ask for?)

smile! (my favourite picture apps)

Pick some of these up before you pack your bags for that hot-spot vacation or yoga retreat. It’s impossible to choose one!

Hipstamatic ($) Their slogan says it all: digital never looked so analog.

Instagram (free) My newest download. I love how easy it is to share and add filters to Instagram snaps!

Camerabag ($) My first love, if you only have one photo app, this will treat you well.

Pano ($) Hello, PANORAMIC!

8mm ($) This is where all my spare time goes lately. This video app is brilliant. Add vintage effects to everyday iPhone video. It brings new meaning to way-back play-back.

Lesia + Instagram = happiness

edible apps

Jamie Oliver’s 20-Minute Meals ($$) Hands down the most thoughtful foodie app around, especially for a newbie cook.

How to Cook Everything ($$) Featuring the NYTimes Minimalist himself, Mark Bittman.

Epicurious (free) Get healthy recipes from SELF magazine or indulge your inner foodie with a treat from Gourmet or Bon Appetit. You can search by ingredients and get complete shopping lists. If only it made dinner...

Whole Foods (free) Not only can you find amazing healthy recipes, you can also search their database by dietary preferance. Low-fat, gluten-free and vegan? No problem.

current events

For staying in the know on current events, I check out Globe & Mail, NY Times, Mashable, Huffington Post, and Pop Sugar. Best of all? They're all free.

deep thoughts

Apps aren’t all about food and fitness. I know I can always check into these apps when I need a little bit of inspiration.

TED Mobile (free) You'll never be bored or uninspired again. A few faves: Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish, Ken Robinson’s talk on creativity, Sheryl Sandberg's (COO of Facebook) "Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders".

Seth Godin (free) I love to pop into this app to hear what Seth has to say about marketing & ideas. I’m never disappointed.

just because

Period Tracker ($) My good friend got me onto this one and I share it with every girl with an iPhone. They always thank me – ‘nuff said.

fab fashion apps

Wait! There’s more. In writing this, I’ve realized how many apps I’ve come to depend on and love. Last but not least, the beloved fashion apps I drool over. Again, all are free. ebay and Who What Wear are keepers. Style.com gives you the whole gorgeous site in the palm of your hand. Chic Feed aggregates amazing fashion blogs, most notably, the Sartorialist. Finally, Net-A-Porter. I love its wish-list function. 

Well there you have it. If I'm missing any of your must-haves, I'd love to know!

Lesia's BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) is to one day create an amazing lululemon app for you all to enjoy! Fingers crossed.

My name is Lesia (say it 'Lasha') and I'm the email specialist here at the lululemon Store Support Centre. I'm from Toronto, ON originally and have lived in London, UK, Santa Monica CA and now call Vancouver BC my home. I have 4 younger sisters, 1 daughter, and I'm married to a cool dude who is an 3D animator and fast runner. Here are a few of the things I love:

Yoga move: Tie between pigeon and dancer’s pose (love the stretch)

Workout accessory: The Mat – best yoga mat ever!

Magazine(s): Elle Collections, Lula, Dwell & I just downloaded the Vogue UK for the iPad, I’ll let you know how that plays out…

Clothes to sweat in: I’m equally in love with our always flattering, ever functional Wunder Unders + The Everywhere Yoga Jacket. They both rule and I could not live without them.

Activity: Hot yoga!

Tech gadget: Hands down my iPhone. I’m not sure how I ever lived without it.

Favourite app.: Luxe City Guides (the ultimate travel guides now on your iPhone - yes!) and How to Cook Everything (A girl’s got to eat and this is the best foodie app I’ve come across – Jamie Oliver has a pretty good one too.)

Place to run: Holland Park, London UK {when I lived in London, I loved running through Holland Park, it’s romantic and peaceful (in the heart of London – this is huge) and has wicked mix of rustic trails, gardens and architecture. If you’re ever in London, run Holland Park.

Current obsession: Tie between Broken Social Scene’s ‘Anthem’s for a Seventeen Year Old Girl’ and watching the Ted.com talks. I am equally obsessed with both at the moment.

Font: American Typewriter (runners up: Courier & Helvetica) *important note: that Helvetica movie is really good. Watch it.

Websites/blogs: This is always evolving as I’m always on the look out for inspiration but here are a few of my long standing go-to sites and a few newbies thrown in to keep it exciting.
www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
www.downtownfrombehind.tumblr.com/
www.fashionista.com/
www.kissssing.blogspot.com/
www.fifi-lapin.blogspot.com/
www.apartmenttherapy.com/
www.pinterest.com/
www.43things.com/
www.coolhunting.com/
www.smittenkitchen.com
www.fastcompany.com

Restaurant: In Vancouver: Vij’s (Organic + Indian = Happiness)

Way to get motivated: Nothing motivates me more than my super cute, super fun, super hilarious 2.5 year old daughter.

Place to unroll your yoga mat: YYoga, Flow, Vancouver

Way to celebrate: Veuve Cliquot & hugs

Book: I haven’t been the same since I read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini & Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

Stay tuned for more love lists, from lululemon employees all across the company!

I love that the collar on this pullover gives you the option to keep warm and cozy at the beginning of the run…

But also lets you cool down and feel a little more breeze for the end.

Cuffins! Admittedly they’re not quite applicable yet (at least for those of us living in Vancouver) but I can’t wait to keep my fingers toasty warm in those wee little mittens come November!

What I’m listening to when I’m running in my RUN: Hills Pullover II:

• A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley. A great starter song! “A little less conversation, a little more ACTION”!
• Good Vibrations by Marky Mark. To keep the running vibe going. “I wanna see sweat comin’ out your pores”… Long before lululemon was around, Marky Mark knew what was going on
• Fighter by Christina Aguilera. “You won’t stop me!” “Thanks for making me a fighter!” I finish EVERY run with this song! It’s the ultimate way to make it through those last few moments!

Interested in learning more about the RUN: Hills Pullover II? Visit your local store, or take a peek online: http://shop.lululemon.com/