Yoga on top of a mountain (NBD), at Wanderlust Whistler 2012.

Last August, I had a conversation with someone who was nervous about attending her first-ever Wanderlust - the yoga and music festival that has four North American stops in summer 2013.

“I don’t think I’m advanced enough to go,” she said. “Doing that much yoga is scary.”

Seeing as the yoga festival season is now upon us, I thought it was a good time to address her concerns in this blog post in case any of you have similar thoughts when you think about the possibility of attending all-day back-to-back classes at a Wanderlust festival near you.

wanderlust is for everyone

This is what I told my friend. Firstly, you need to know this: Wanderlust, just like all yoga, is for everyone. In any given class there are things you can physically do and things you can’t. Everybody will breathe together, everybody will move together, and if you need to take a time out in Child’s Pose at any time, nobody will judge you. Whether it’s your first class or your 5,000^th, you’ll fit in.

Various stages of handstands, Wanderlust Vermont 2013.

yes, you will be sore

Doing a lot of yoga will make even the most hardcore yogis feel muscles they didn’t know they had. Pro tip: when you build your schedule, balance your classes with meditations & speakeasies. Also, stay hydrated. Rest. Listen to your body, and if it’s telling you to go to the market place for gelato, do it.

like music? they’ve got music

At night, the yoga mats get rolled up and the musicians come out to play. Each festival has a different line up. There is no better way to cap off a day of yoga-ing than under a summer night sky with a community of like-minded folks, many of which will have Total Yoga Hair.

Michael Franti at Wanderlust Whistler 2012.

Don’t go to Wanderlust if you already know everything about yoga you need to know. Don’t go if you’re looking to get uninspired, because that is guaranteed not to happen. Oh, and don’t go if you’re not a little bit nervous about it. Wanderlust can crack you open and teach you whatever you need to learn, but only if you’ll let it.

#justmymat

The coolest part about Wanderlust Festival and yoga in general is that it’s a journey. You show up at the studio, at a big white tent, on the top of a mountain, on a hotel room floor, in your living room. Sometimes you don’t know why but you do it anyways. Join our community this summer and share your yoga journey, whether you’re attending Wanderlust or not. We know your mat has stories to tell.

We’ll be celebrating community with updates from each Wanderlust Festival here on the blog, written by a local host who will share their journey with you. Coming soon: meet our Wanderlust Vermont local host & storyteller, Elizabeth Crisci.

Wanderlust Festival has four festivals in summer 2013:

Vermont, June 20-23.
Colorado, July 4-7.
California, July 18-21.
Whistler, Aug. 1-4.

Learn more at http://wanderlustfestival.com

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We had a nice welcome party in La Jolla from the lululemon team. We really enjoyed the evening before the big race started.

We had big goals for this race with the favourite, Tejay van Garderen.

The last training before the race started in San Diego. I was in such a good shape that I even was too fast for this cop. Luckily he let me go after a long discussion.

Our world champion, Philippe Gilbert, carried many bananas for us. He left us early in the race for a nice reason. His wife had a baby on Friday.

Here I found my American love - this dog just wanted to kiss (Look at the passion in his eyes). I heard afterwards that he's a big BMC fan.

I raced my time trial in a very aerodynamic position but I went easy to save my energy for the coming days. Because Tejay van Garderen rode into the lead during this time trial, which means a lot of work for me to defend the yellow jersey.

I snuck the camera in the race to get a picture when the peloton crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. It was our last day of racing and a great experience to go over this bridge on the bike. The commissaires almost took me out of the race because I'm not actually allowed to take a camera in the race.

Me posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. I really like San Francisco and I want to come back here for a holiday.

Big celebration for the whole BMC Racing Team. It is always nice to have everyone on the podium because cycling is a team sport. We won the teams classification and the individual with Tejay van Garderen.

Ella, a writer on our creative team, caught up with global yogi Chris Chavez at his home in Istanbul, Turkey, to ask him more about a phrase he shared during a recent community class in Vancouver which inspired our team and turned into a Yoga Journal ad.

When our graphic designer Steph and I attended Chris Chavez’s packed class at the Vancouver Convention Centre, we weren’t thinking about creating a Yoga Journal ad. I was amazed with Chris’ ability to make a 400-person class feel like a private lesson with 399 of my closest friends, and Steph is still laughing as we watch the video now.

Q: Steph and I couldn’t stop laughing during your class. Don’t you think that yoga should be…serious?

A: I find that the quickest path to a student’s heart is through laughter. If the yoga is working I don’t think we need to take ourselves so seriously.

Q: What does it mean when you say ‘the yoga is working’?

A: If the yoga is working, our heart should be open and we should be less stuck in our head. We should be able to appreciate the diversity of expression in others. I guess that becomes the practice off the mat!

Q: As you joked and called out your many students by name, it became clear how important the relationship between teacher and student is. Can you tell us more?

A: Ultimately, you should be able to find a teacher that you can relate to. If you cannot relate to a teacher, what are you going to learn from them?

Q: Now the million-dollar question: Who is James?

A: James is a longtime student who has trained with me to be a teacher. He teaches yoga in prisons and he is a massive guy, really big and strong. When he comes to practice I like to connect with him because he is such a light spirit and such a big man.

During Handstand, I looked across the room and saw this big mountain of man hurling his legs up into space. If he didn’t keep it tight he was going to take like five people out around him. In that moment my words came out like that because they had to. When I teach, my main job is to get out of the way. I purposely don’t filter what I say because I want it to come from the soul.  (Editor’s note: James made it up into handstand without taking anybody out.)

Q: How do you feel about your words being immortalized in our ad and potentially being taken out of context?

A: Yoga teachers are sometimes put on this pedestal where we’re supposed to be a certain way and not say certain things. I don’t believe that the expression of the spirit has to be so serious. I can say some crazy stuff, but in there is genuine love for the students that I serve and my ultimate goal is to inspire them to access their own spirit. And by the way, pole dancers are some of the most awesome yogis I know!

Practice along with a video of Chris’ Vancouver class (and find his handstand instruction between 29:50 and 33:15).

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'!

Dance (on a shipping container) or run a marathon like no one's watching.

The answer to: "What are you thinking at Heartbreak Hill (aka Mile 21)"?

Why her mom runs.

Never, never give up. Our Detroit ambassador, Sue (on the left), ran the marathon with her aunt Sue, who finished chemo 4 weeks ago.

Who supports you in a marathon? Family, friends, and strangers.

It was No Stopping Monday.

"The world" and cookies. When life gives you lemons, you know what to do.

Love notes come in all forms.

Canadian Josh Cassidy near the top of the hill, before finishing to break the world record in the men's wheelchair race by two seconds.

Overheard at Heartbreak Hill: Go banana, go!

Neighbours: good for borrowing cups of sugar from, hosing you down in the middle of a marathon, and...

...handing you water when you need it the most.

How to cheer: make signs. Bring music. Scream your heart out.

Don't forget to have fun along the way.

With temperatures hitting the mid-80s (Canadian translation = around 30), the heat was intense, even as a bystander.

Friends don't let friends run up Heartbreak Hill alone. (Bare feet: noted.)

Boston ambassador Wayne Levy has logged more than 93,000 miles of running in his life (to date).

Go Wayne, go!

Molly from our community team with her run mantra...

... and running with her heart the next day.

To everyone who participated in the Boston Marathon this year: you inspire us. Thank you for the goosebumps.

The minute we mixed all-star athletes and badass bikes we were bound to develop a schoolgirl crush (sweat is the way to our heart, after all).

We are beyond stoked to support the Specialized-lululemon cycling team so we jumped at the first chance to spend a little one-on-one time with them. We headed down to Carlsbad, California to hang out with the ladies at their first-ever training camp. They brought the hard work, laughter and inspiring stories - we brought the yoga (special shout out to local ambassadors, Julie Rader and Katie Brauer, who led daily yoga practices for the team).

Here’s a glimpse of our time with the gals in Cali - we’re confident you’ll be inspired (and fall in love with them too).

Can’t get enough? We’ll be following the team on and off their bikes in the upcoming months. Until then... ride on!

Meet the new lululemon.com. To get to know her a little better we asked her a few questions (as we do with all new hires).

where did you grow up?
I grew up on the mean streets of Kitsilano, Vancouver BC. We didn’t even have broadband back then. If we were lucky we had dial-up once a week.

if you could have dinner with any three websites, decommissioned or current, which ones would they be?
1. Tim Berners-Lee’s original website, the first ever website. That was the start of it all…
2. elfyourself.com
3. 1000awesomethings.com

what’s your hidden talent?
My intuition. My friends call me the gift whisperer.

most importantly: dogs or cats?
(down)Dogs, obviously.

what would you do if you knew you could not fail?
I’d pursue a singing career. I recently released my first single – I think I have what it takes to be an electro superstar.

favourite website?
Is this a joke?

what do you consider your top strength?
Organization - I love lists! To-do lists, laundry lists, naughty or nice lists, wish lists…

my friends love me because…
I’m always almost always up for a chat (7am-6pm PST). Just call on me brother (or live chat), if you need a hand!

We always make sure our new hires get plenty of feedback to help their development. Any feedback you’d like us to pass along to lululemon.com?

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.

This essay about Kathy's achievement as a first-time mom and newbie runner was a timely reminder for us that Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8th. Trying not to love her story was nearly impossible - like training for your first marathon under the scorching Las Vegas sun.

marathon mama

by Kathleen Pugh, Georgetown ambassador, runner extraordinaire and Ava's mom

I never liked to run. My husband, Drew, was the runner. Faithfully, I watched and cheered as he crossed finish line after finish line while secretly waiting for him to see the light. That kind of activity was a little nuts in my opinion. Who would want to sweat like that?

After the birth of our daughter, everything changed. I had gained almost sixty pounds. The weight hung around like a bad houseguest who doesn’t know when to go. "Who is this stranger?" I wondered. My frustration was further compounded by our recent move from Washington, DC to Las Vegas. Life as I knew it was over and I was having an identity crisis. I was a fat, lonely, nervous new mom, lost in Las Vegas. Something needed to be done to free me from my funk. What would a woman in my situation do? Sign up for the Marine Corps Marathon, of course!

gutsy determination

“Are you sure about this?” Drew asked.

“Yes,” I snapped, and added rather indignantly, “What, you think I can’t do it?”

“You could, but when you run you sweat; you don’t like to sweat.”

I shrugged it off. After all what was a little sweat? That would be the least of my problems.

I trained during the summer, which in Vegas doesn’t end until Halloween. Have you ever spent a summer in Vegas? I don’t mean inside a luxurious, climate-controlled casino playing slots and dreaming of instant retirement while a cocktail waitress serves you chilled rum and cokes. I mean outside, pounding the pavement where it’s like an oven by 7am. You might think, so what, it’s a dry heat. But, like a food dehydrator on a late night infomercial, the dry Vegas heat sucked every molecule of moisture from my body, turning me into human beef jerky.

Image: flickr/Nicoli Chepe

running on the strip

To outsmart the punishing sun, I had to start before sunrise. I needed to run a route that was well lit where I could refill my water bottle and take bathroom breaks, so I ran under the neon sun of the Las Vegas Strip.

The strip is never boring. Stragglers from the night before stumble around in a drunken stupor trying to find their way back to their rooms. One time I saw a guy leaned up against one of the pedestrian overpasses sandwiched between two beautiful young blonde women with their hands in his pockets.  I ran past the threesome, and then looked back. The blondes were gone and so, I suspect, was his wallet.

With hotels that replicate Egypt, New York, Paris, Rome, and Venice, I traveled the world sans jetlag and cramped seating. I became so distracted and delighted by the grandeur of volcanoes, fountains, and pirate ships on the boulevard that I almost forgot I was running inside a hairdryer.

Rather than being enticed inside the casinos by promises of easy money, I was drawn in by the icy air that blew from their doors. Once I played a few hands of video poker on a bathroom break - I lost.  I’m sure the sight of a sweaty woman running past blackjack and craps tables at dawn left some glassy-eyed gamblers wondering if they’d seen a mirage.

As race day approached I started to panic. What made me think that I, a woman whose prior running experience consisted of running after buses and subways, could run 26.2 miles? Who did I think I was flying across the country to run a marathon? But, it was too late to back out. I’d already bought a cute new running outfit and told everyone I knew that I was running.

Drew flew with me to DC. This time he would be the spectator. Race day was perfect. The leaves had begun to change color and it was sunny and in the 60’s. While the runners around me complained about the heat I thought, “Piece of cake! Try doing this in 100 degrees!”

race day

As the race started I was filled with a sense of joy. I lost all the weight and my body and confidence were strong. The spectators, whom I privately appropriated as personal cheerleaders, shouted “Go Katy!” Wait a minute, I’m Kathy not Katy. What’s going on here? I looked down at my shirt. The “H” from the “GO KATHY” I had placed on my shirt with black tape had peeled off! I knew I should have written my name in marker, but I didn’t want to ruin a new shirt.

I felt energetic and euphoric as I ran through the streets of DC past our great American monuments. I imagined the city erecting a monument of me to honour this great feat. Sure Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR were great men, but they never ran a marathon.

Somewhere around mile 20 my euphoria and energy simultaneously screeched to a halt. I hit the much talked about “wall.” Hell, I slammed into it like a bad NASCAR wreck. Defeated runners were carried into ambulances while others limped around me. I would not be one of them.  I would run across the finish.

During the last mile, nearly on my knees in pain, I started to chant, “You are strong.” My spirits soared as I saw the finish. I ran through the pain remembering that someone said there would be free beer at the end.

As I crossed the finish, a young marine placed a medal over my head and with tears in my eyes I thanked him. It was one of the best moments of my life.  I sweat. I sweat a lot and I loved it. In this moment I had found myself. I was no longer a fat, lonely, nervous, new mom. I was a new woman. I was Kathy; still a mother, but also a strong, confident proud marathon finisher.

want more?

• Read more about Kathy in our Road to Boston blog series.
• Run an eight-minute mile with her.  She leads running camps in DC.
• Follow other mother runners. Check out this blog.
• Pick up a last-minute gift for your mom. Bath salts are so 1993.
• Apply to become an ambassador. Head to your local store or start online.

We learn a lot from our moms, like the importance of saying "please" and in some cases, how to fold napkins to create table-top origami. (A vital life skill, really.) In what way have you learned the value of leading an active life because of your mother?

In the third interview of our Road to Boston series, we caught up with Kathleen Pugh in her lead up to the big day. We chatted about preparation, motivation and running marathons at an 8-minute-mile pace. Kathleen’s story of how she came to run the Boston Marathon is as inspirational as it is touching. We got goosebumps.

the road to boston with kathleen pugh

Kathleen (Kathy) Pugh is new to the lululemon ambassador family. Her journey began thanks to her other family – husband Drew and daughter Ava who inspired her to pound the pavement. After trekking across the country and back, she found a home at our Georgetown Store. She's run more long-distance races than you could shake a hydration pack at and now, Kathy has turned her attention towards inspiring other women to run their personal best through her EZ8 Running Camp in DC.

Who inspired you to start running?
My husband Drew and daughter Ava both inspired me to run.  When I met Drew, he was a runner.  I'd show up at all his races, waiting to snap a picture as he crossed the finish line.

It wasn’t until years later when Ava was born and I had gained almost 60 pounds that I got serious about my running. We had moved across the country, leaving jobs and friends behind. Somewhere in my postpartum haze I thought it would be a great idea to run a marathon.  Training gave me purpose.  I’d load Ava into the baby jogger and tell her we were going to ‘work’.  She has always known me as a runner and now, at age seven, she asks when we will run a marathon together.

Why Boston?
Actually, I had never thought about running Boston until I was out on a long training run last summer with the DC Road Runners Club.  I started chatting with a woman who asked what marathon I was training for.  I told her how excited I was to have finally received a spot in New York, my hometown marathon. She gushed similarly about her hometown marathon, Boston.

Drew and I made plans to run the Boston Marathon together. I didn’t qualify in New York but Drew did (I missed the Boston Qualify by over 15 minutes).  I was thrilled for Drew, but disappointed. I wanted us to run together but needed to make it happen before his qualifying time expired.

Obsessed, I signed up for the National Marathon the following March.  I trained through blizzards, ice storms and freezing temperatures only to be greeted with a 70 degree race day and more disappointment.  The next day, I signed up for the Steamtown Marathon. I qualified for Boston with more than a minute to spare. Drew and I will run together.

What’s your goal for the race?
My main goal is to enjoy the race and take in as many of the sights and sounds of Boston as I can.  However, since they changed the qualifying times, I feel compelled to try to re-qualify according to the new standards.

What has yoga done for your running regime?
I have a love-hate relationship with yoga because I get annoyed watching other people bending their bodies into unbelievable positions while I’ve never been able to touch my toes.  I really want to like it and reap the benefits, so I just started attending a Hatha-style class.  I feel pretty good about it. It helps me relax which is what I want out of the whole business.

Where do you run on days when you feel you can conquer anything?
I’m lucky to live and run in Washington DC.  I typically run on the National Mall when I want the feeling of being able to conquer anything. I run past the Supreme Court, Capitol Building, White house, Washington Monument, Lincoln Monument, then back up Capitol Hill where I often sing to myself School House Rock style, “I’m just a girl on Capitol Hill!”  I’ve been caught up in protests, rallies, motorcades, and military exercises with helicopters landing in front of me, and rather than get annoyed that these things have gotten in the way of my run, I think of how lucky I am to live in a place that allows its citizens to be heard.

What yoga poses keep your training on track?
Savasana.  Remember I’m doing yoga to relax!

When you’re not training you’re…
When I’m not training, I can be found on the Mall training other women to run fast and injury free in my Women’s Running Bootcamp- EZ8DC.  Other times I can be found hanging out with Ava and Drew exploring the Mall, travelling to new places, drinking great wine, eating wonderful food, attending the theater, reading or working on my writing.

What do you look for in training and race gear?
I look for training gear and clothing I don’t have to fuss with.  There’s nothing more annoying than having to pick shorts out of your butt when you are running, so thank you lululemon for making comfortable, highly functional clothes that don’t ride up and that make me look fabulous while I’m working up a mean sweat.

What’s next for you after Boston?
I said Boston would be my grand finale for marathons but my training partner convinced me to run the Chicago Marathon in October.  Since I train women to run an 8 minute mile in my boot camp, I’ve also made it my goal to run every race distance at an 8 minute pace. So far I’ve done it for the 5K, 10K, 10 mile, and half marathon distance, so all that’s left is the marathon.

visit us in boston

If you’ll be in Boston for the marathon, come say "hi." You'll find us at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo and at our Prudential Center store. We’ve planned tons of stuff to do from April 15th to 18th; the deets are on the store’s Facebook page. And on the day we'll be at Heartbreak Hill – when you'll need your friends the most.

want more?

• Join Kathleen Pugh in DC and train to run an 8-minute mile.
• Make sure you've packed the necessities for the Boston Marathon.
• Meet your local ambassadors. Find out who’s teaching classes at your local store.
• Read about our other Boston-bound ambassadors: Sue Anne Clark and Gina Dicello.

Rediscovering herself and racing together with her husband were huge motivators for Kathy. What motivates you more: turning a tough situation around or having your eyes on the prize?

As a child, the dark was something to be feared, held at bay by the magic of nightlights and parents' stories. As a teenager 'after dark' represented party time and freedom from those prying parental eyes. The black is back! Are you going to run and hide or just keep on running? (We suggest the latter.)

So as you can probably gather from the lack of colorful stretchy pants, our website is currently undergoing some behind-the-scenes renovations. Does this have you down? Me too - but what better way to turn that frown upside down than a good workout with a playlist to help you battle the technology blues. By the time you've finished sweating to this bad boy, our site may just be back up and running. (Okay, not quite, but you know what we mean.)

"Meet Me Halfway" - Black Eyed Peas
Okay, so my cool factor just dropped by about 98 degrees....but if you could see my co-worker Gordon workout on the stationary bike to this ditty, you'd swear it was the hottest thing ev-a. Great for warming up!

"Black and Blue" - Miike Snow
These Swedes make every song feel like summer. Warm up to this guy before a long run or while driving home after a satisfying yoga sesh.

"Black Velveteen" - Lenny Kravitz
Our pal Lenny tries a keytar on for size - and you know a guy that can make heels and scarves look dude-ish can pull it off.

"Out Of The Blue" - Julian Casablancas
We know our website might have struck some of you by surprise, but no matter - let Julian Casablancas pump you up. Just like those worn-in groove pants, this ditty will be one of your favorites in no time at all.

"Hurricane Jane - Twelves Remix" - Black Kids
These guys from New York are SO fun live. If you get a chance to see them in concert, do it - you'll sweat so much you'll swear you're at Bikrams. Werk!

"Talk Like That" - The Presets
No, this isn't the lululemon apocalypse - but this track from the album 'Apocalypto" might have you think so. This is a wickedly great song that will get you moving in a serious way.

"I Believe In A Thing Called Love" - The Darkness
Ever seen the video for this track? Justin wears a white jumpsuit. You know what I am scared of wearing and would motivate me on the hardest run? A WHITE JUMPSUIT. I rest my case.

Happiness comes from within

"Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
Before Ozzy Osborne was just some old British dude shuffling around a big house muttering about small dogs & gardening, he was the baddest man in rock 'n' roll. This sucker will get your heart racing even if you aren't exercising.

"99 Problems" - Jay-Z
This banger off Jigga's Black Album was SO big that people literally wanted problems so they could identify with the track. In related news, counselors everywhere rejoiced.

"Black Betty" - Ram Jam
Okay, so this is a one-hit wonder...but it's AWESOME, so who cares. This tune is sure to get your temperature rising on intervals.

"Black Dog" - Led Zeppelin
Trying to push yourself up that last hill? Let Robert Plant's maniac voice scream through your headphones and drive you home.

"Everlasting Light" - The Black Keys
Stride through the end of your workout with a smile on your face thanks to this rad track. You might even just press repeat and go a little longer.

"Turn Your Lights Down Low - Remix" - Bob Marley featuring Lauryn Hill
One of the most chillin' songs ever, turn this on and bliss out - it's  perfect for unwinding and living in the moment.

want more?

• Banish darkness with last spring's colourful playlist.
• Get to know your black luon. Read about our technical fabrics here.
• Explore more than black luon. Visit your local store to see our latest gear.
• Check out how the latest renos are coming along.

We came so close to including "Dancing in the Dark"; what else do you think we missed?

Confused by those special little abbreviations on our hangtags?  Want to learn to educate like the pros in our stores?

Say hello to our crash course on lululemon product lingo. We use abbreviations in our product names and on our hangtags to tell you what kind of technology makes each garment special. Consider this your go-to education guide to knowing exactly what you’re excited about.

Click on the terms below for the full definition.

quick-jump guide

(scroll down to read the full definitions)

• I, II, III, or IV
• *Br
• DWR
• *[Fabric name]
• *Org
• *Pique
• *Ruffle
• *R
• *RVRS
• *Sparkle
• Special Edition
• SL,SS,LS
• *T

an in-depth guide

Take a read below:

Generation of garment (I, II, III, IV)
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro. No matter how you say it, these little Roman numerals are how we indicate a new version of a much loved item. Every season, we count on your feedback to figure out exactly what you love and what can be improved. Our quest never ends when it comes to fit and function and I, II, & III mark the way.

*[Fabric name]
Whenever you see the (*) followed by a fabric, it indicates that this fabric has been used to create the product. It can represent the main fabric used, or a secondary fabric used only in sections. *Tweed, *Mesh, *Rib and *Org are all examples.

Brushed (*Br or *Brushed)
Brushed promises a warm, soft layer against your skin. Specifically, the fabric's bottom layer has been agitated and brushed to create a cozy, super-soft feel.

Durable Water Repellent (DWR)
Fabric has been treated with a finish that causes water to bead off of the surface to keep you dry!

Water repellant vs waterproof: Our Waterproof products have an outer shell capable of repelling water AND taped seams to keep all water from penetrating. Water repellant garments do not have taped seams.

Organic (*Org or *Organic)
Certified Organic Cotton is an exciting addition to our amazing fabric line. Read all about this breathable natural option in Elissa's "(fall)ing into organic cotton" blog.

Pique (*Pique - pronounced "pee-KAY")
Our pique luon fabric is luon that has been woven to give a more textured look and feel. It’s like wearing your favourite knit sweater or pants with the superb 4-way stretch and sweat wicking abilities you know and love.

Ruffle (*Ruffle)
A textured detail to add originality to your athletic gear!

Sparkle *Sparkle
Subtle silver-coloured threads woven into the fabric make you shine on the outside, too.

Special Edition *Special Edition
A new detail, feature, or pattern puts a twist on a core item.

Reversible (*RVRS)
Your outfit possibilities double, thanks to our reversible options in both pants and jackets. Our flat-seam technology enables us to offer two unique looks in one.

SL, SS, LS
We love to provide our guests with all the options. You can choose between sleeveless (SL), short sleeve (SS), or long sleeve (LS) to ensure the right product for every workout.

Regular (*R)
This indicates our standard inseam. For ladies, the inseam is 31.5" (size 2/4 = 31"). Men can expect 33". Take a look at our size chart for more info.

Tall (*T)
Those with wonderfully long legs need not worry – a tall length is made just for you! Women's *T inseam is 35"  for sizes 4 & 6 and 35.5" for 8-12. Men's *T is 36".

And there you have it. Now take your new-found knowledge and shop fearlessly!

Learn more about our different fabrics plus washing and care instructions.

The challenge that created a change in my life.

With 2010 soon coming to a close, I can't help but get retrospective. Working for a company like lululemon, setting goals and then reaching for them is a part of our daily conversations. Whether I am walking into the office or visiting one of our stores, goals are posted on walls for everyone to see. One of my challenges has been setting realistic health and fitness goals for myself.

At first it was daunting. Was I seriously going to carry a large gym bag to work with me everyday just so I could go to yoga? The challenge was there and to overcome it I applied a well known mantra: dress for success. I started to get strategic with my luon to maximise my outfits. By being just a few layers away from participating in a circuit training class or run, I could no longer give myself an excuse not to follow through. Cheers to getting a little creative with your clothing and sweating once a day along the way!

This year's favorite pieces for making like Clark Kent:
-Scoop Neck Tank
-Wunder Under Pant
-Flow Y Bra
-Premium Technithong
-Power Y Tank
-Cool Racerback
-Wunder Under Crop

My 5 year vision:

I live in New York City. I work for a lovely Creative Director at Vogue Magazine and though my Chuck Taylor's are more often than not replaced by 4 inch heels, my roots will always be in luon.

2011 is just around the corner. What are your health and fitness goals for the new year?

Name: Linda Wong
One year goal: I run an ultramarathon* by March 2011.
One year goal: In 2011, I qualify for the Boston Marathon.

(*Ultramarathons are anything longer than 26.2 miles. Read Brian's post on the secret world of ultra running for more info.)

Five year goal: I run the Great Wall Marathon in China by 2015.

Running this marathon is special to Linda as she hopes to travel to the race with her family supporting her, and turn it into a shared experience with them too.

Ten year goal: I am involved in an organization dedicated to changing the face of women in sport.

• Read Linda's ambassador profile
• Learn more about goal setting: What is a goal, exactly? And how do you create powerful goals?

2011 is just around the corner. What goals are you setting for the new year?

There seems no better way to maintain balance during the holidays than tree pose! The beauty of it is that you can take it to any level you desire based on your practice or how you’re feeling that day.

why tree pose is a great yoga pose for the holidays

Tree pose is an all-levels yoga pose that helps you re-centre, and maintain balance and peace within yourself.

Start standing and step your right foot onto your leg with any of these 3 options:

• "Holiday Sapling": Toes on the floor.
• "Presence” under your tree: Arch on the calf.
• The "Giving Tree": Carefully pull your foot all the way up your inner leg!

*You can place the foot anywhere and still gain all the benefits of this pose. But to protect your knee joint, please avoid the knee!

Once you've found your balance, feel free to grow your tree. Any arm variation will do from prayer at your heart for inner reflection, to growing the arm branches of your tree to the sky for jubilant celebration.

Repeat on each leg and enjoy. Namaste and healthy holidays to you and yours!

Special thanks to Ingrid for guiding me through this pose and this post.

What yoga pose keeps you centered through the holiday madness?