Our first Digital Storyteller, Elissa, is officially on maternity leave now, appropriately, right before Mother's Day. In her goodbye blog post, she reflects on her pregnancy so far and how the advice given to marathon runners is also apt for the 40 week experience.

pregnancy: the other marathon

I have never considered myself a runner and now  I can play the pregnancy card and dodge offers to meet for a run without batting an eye. I'm an active person - my mom modeled that for me -  but my idea of jogging is winding country roads listening to Simon & Garfunkel.

As lululemon's Digital Storyteller, I have had the amazing opportunity to research running and share the stories of many athletes.  I covered our ambassadors who ran the Boston Marathon and I put together some posts to help you all get ready for the races you've been training for since the new year. Thanks to inspiring people like Jenn Thiel and Kathleen Pugh running has started to look more appealing.

As I head off on maternity leave, I'm realising that my experience of pregnancy seemingly runs parallel to the experience of training for a marathon - or, conversely, how all you marathon runners out there may be better prepared for pregnancy than I ever was.

pace yourself

You can do amazing things, 42 kilometres or 40 weeks, but you're not invincible. Give yourself some grace and pace yourself for the long road ahead, whether it's paved and lined with water stations or bumpy (literally) and full of surprises.

eat well

Everything you reach for impacts your body's ability to perform so choose wisely. (Oh, and don't be afraid to break the rules sometimes...just make sure you're not cracking into the cupcakes before your morning coffee break. You've been warned.)

listen to your body

Our bodies are miraculous; capable of doing things we can't even imagine. They often know exactly what they need. The trick is slowing down enough to listen to what they're saying and then obeying.

do yoga

It's as perfect a complement to rigorous marathon training as it is to nurturing a little life. Stretching has saved my body from many perils in the past and has been especially important while preparing for motherhood.

drink water

You know that line from the manifesto that talks about how water flushes toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp? It's true. Training for a marathon highlights the importance of staying hydrated and when you're pregnant, your brain needs all the help it can get to stay sharp.

Thank you Elissa, for all your love and compassion (and the hard work that accompanied them). As you approach the finish line of this 'race', we wish you bucketsful of luck and happiness for what lies ahead. Happy Mother's Day!

want more?

Get more of Elissa's story. She never applied to work here. Read the blog.

Meet all her lovely co-workers. Learn their dance moves.

Read our manifesto for more of life's little lessons. 

Treat your mom like a princess. Make her a delicious brunch.

Our ambassador Holly brings her practice to the Soho community

Before you can set powerful goals, you need to identify what your values are. We asked to get a peek at Holly’s recent pursuits. Her response? “I am in the process of altering my goals AGAIN.” No problem - that's perfect. We explored what it takes to get clarity on the goal setting process. She thinks of it like trying on clothes. We like the sound of that.

Setting goals is a ongoing process for me. Sometimes defining them in words can be daunting. I’ve come to think of it as trying on clothes – there’s no need to commit, you can just see how they fit. By saying your goals out loud and writing them on paper, you try them on. Some fit better than others and that’s ok. Through the process of goal setting, we find our authentic voice and can articulate what we want to live for - but it isn't without effort. It’s something I’m working on right now. It is not easy. Things worth doing are seldom easy.

where to start

Sometimes we can get stuck on where to begin. A good place to start is to identify what moves you. I’ve discovered there are a few themes I live by, like a personal manifesto. They cultivate my inner space and create my outer experience.  They are my foundation for setting powerful goals. 

holly's themes

• The world is coming from you, not at you.    
• Love is more powerful than fear.  
• Gratitude is the greatest currency.  
• Be kind and gentle with yourself. 

I'm focusing on these as I create my future. Time to grab my journal and hit the dressing room, so to speak.

where to go from here

• Get the basics on goal setting. We can help.
• Re-ignite your goal setting fire. Read this post.
• Check out what else Holly is up to in Soho and beyond. Visit her site.

We’re inspired. Still haven’t penned your goals? No worries. Start by focusing on what inspires you. What will you try on? 

After working for lululemon for about six months, the manifesto has really been creating an impact on my life. One phrase in particular really speaks to me: do something once a day that scares you. I thought about it and told Nick I was in for the GR20. We both agreed that if we were to attempt completing this hike, we would have to make it epic.

180 km, 4 days

To save our time and bank accounts we would give ourselves only 4 days to finish the 180km trail with over 25,000m of elevation change. Most people take about 15 days to hike the entire GR20 but we figured that a couple of young guys who can run a marathon under 3 hours at any given time should be able to tackle a few mountains in 4 days.

As we started to research and plan the trip, I soon realized how difficult this would be. We would be carrying our backpacks the entire way with all our food and gear. The route climbs and descends 2000-4000m each day on rugged terrain. Just to prepare, I did almost all my training runs in the months leading up to the trip, including a few marathons, with my backpack on. As my departure to Europe drew near, I will admit that I was filled with fear and uncertain of what I would be capable of doing.

day 1

Nick and I began our adventure just before 6am. Right away, we knew we were going to be in for a long few days. There was no room for excuses; we just had to keep moving. The experience was the most challenging and difficult that I have ever experienced, as well as beautiful and inspiring. I pushed myself through fear and pain and found I was capable of much more than I gave myself credit for.

day 2

By the end of the second day, I could barely take another step because I was so exhausted and sore. We had no choice but to continue since there was no road access until we finished the following stage. Once I was moving again, I loosened up and from then on, it was just about getting to the next stage.

days 3 and 4

I hiked for an average of 15 hours a day. On the last day, I had 51km to cover until I reached the end of the trail in Conca. I knew that I would not make all my connections to make it back home if I did not get to the end before the next morning. I kept moving forward, fighting through fear and fatigue, until I finally finished at 1am, 19 hours after I started out that morning.

I worked tremendously hard, and broadened my comfort zone exponentially. Every kilometer of the trail was a fight and I am so grateful to my friend Nick, who challenged me to do something that scares me. After GR20, running 100 miles in one day doesn’t seem so scary. Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out.

Friends are more important than money.

Even before I started working for lululemon I was inspired by this quote. To me, it serves as a gentle reminder of one of my goals.

My personal BHAG (big hairy audacious goal): I will book a trip with my best friends once a year.

In May, nine of my friends strategically coordinated our vacation days so we could spend a long weekend in California together. I can now check off my big, hairy, audacious goal for 2010.

We flew from Chicago, Chapel Hill, New York City, Denver and Indianapolis to gather in San Francisco and explore the beautiful city.

We experienced the most amazing food, culture and scenery followed by a sensory-overloaded visit to Napa Valley.

The weekend was capped off with a visit to lululemon athletica Union Square, where my friend Madeline recently transferred from the lululemon Boulder store in Colorado.

Reuniting with Madeline!

I had such a blast helping my friends find their favourite items.

My friends wanted to see what a day in the life of a lululemon athletica assistant store manager is like (that’s my job! But in Denver, Colorado at the Park Meadows store).

Two of my runner/marathoner friends Mia and Katie, were so inspired by Union Square’s Run Club that they plan to visit the Bucktown and Halsted lululemon athletica stores back in Chicago to form connections there!

No matter the cost, no matter the constraint, it is my goal to visit with these lovely ladies each year.

I tackled my goal and we had a blast in San Francisco. Where should we travel to next year?

Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself (for real this time).

What a concept! So simple and yet so remarkably true. Finding your sweet spot in life is all about uncovering the sweet spot in you. And why not really go for it? If there's one thing I have learned, it's that anything is possible, including that big, bold, juicy slice of life that you've always wanted. So today, I not only committed the day to totally, completely taking care of me, but I also set aside time to write down the things I don't like about myself (while  always remembering that I have the power to change everything). End result: all the fluctuations in life (good and bad) don't feel so extreme, because you are at peace with the whole package.

So, living out this part of the manifesto meant I had to be really clear and honest with myself. That included admitting to some lingering body image issues and formulating a plan to get myself to a place where I love my outside as much as my inside. This plan includes: a full body assessment to be performed by my good friends at Endorphin Junkies, as well as a nutrition overhaul by powerhouse and Dailey Method Guru and good friend Danica Howlett. And the last piece of the puzzle was personally committing to changing my lifestyle. What that looked like was a heartfelt talk with my man, and planning out realistic >meals and a balanced fitness routine that I am able to stick to. The icing to this cake of change is also establishing a support system in my life to encourage me (and hold me accountable).

A couple of learnings from this full body/mind dismantle:

• Loving yourself means committing to participating in your own life.
• Learn to forgive and grow from perceived failures (we often forget that these feelings pass).
• Identify flaws and what you are doing with or about them.
• Learn to interrupt my inner voice, especially when it starts going on those long-winded rants about you not being good enough, or in control, or perfect (you know the usual cycle of darts you throw at yourself).
• I learned that I can talk myself in or out of anything. Someone once told me that you can rationalize and justify all day long, all life long and do nothing to live a better life. Or, you can begin to realize that you actually hold the secret within you to take your life or at least your attitude towards life in any direction you choose.
• Don't be afraid of opening your heart to the experience that comes with darkness and pain. Things happen in life...lots of things. Those non-ideal moments don't change or become you, they grow and teach you.
• Your outlook can be one that will strengthen your character or one that will make you crumble. It has the power to color every word you speak and every emotion you experience. You have the power to change, choose and become the person you always wanted to be.

Up next… Write down your short and long-term GOALS four times a year. Two personal, two business and two health goals for the next 1, 5 and 10 years. Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer.

Follow my journey on Twitter @olimaughan!

Meet Oli, who'll be living the lululemon manifesto every day for 30 days!

Let the countdown begin! Send in your suggestions. This is as much my challenge as yours because you know I’m not doing this alone… Challenge me, test me, encourage me to do something you’ve always wanted to do and have never tried: hiking the Grouse Grind, stand-up paddle boarding, taking that photography course that you (and I) have put off for four years. Let’s go on a journey!

The inspiration for Oli's challenge: our manifesto!

This is for you. This is for me. If I can do it, anyone can. For those who would like to join me in this challenge, send me your setbacks, your stories, and your pictures. Make sure you include the manifesto quote that you’re focusing on! Let’s do this together and put it out there for the world to see. Better yet, meet me there! I will be formulating a plan based on your votes. I’ll let you know where I’ll be and invite you all to kick yourself into a life you absolutely love!

Live in possibility. Let this be the start of your best life.

Want to suggest a manifesto challenge for Oli? Leave a comment here or on Oli's blog, where she'll be updating daily, starting August 1!

How many times have you seen the line, “Sweat Once a Day”? It's on our manifesto poster, our reusable shoppers, in our store’s display windows and used daily by people in our company to remind each other to get out there and sweat a little.

A dose of daily inspiration from our lululemon manifesto.

I used to hate sweating. The second my body started to reach the point of perspiration on the treadmill, I would jump off and call it a day. I robbed myself of a true workout session and was okay with it.

Then I was introduced to lululemon athetica and a group of people who showed me how to sweat and embrace it. And guess what? Now I enjoy it! Crazy to think back to three years ago at the girl who wouldn’t be caught dead sweating.

I'm no doctor, but I know the benefit of a good work out.

why you should sweat once a day

• it keeps your body cool
• releases toxins
• sweat's naturally good for the skin, softening and smoothing it
• proof that you're burning calories

So whether you run your heart out, sit in the sauna, dance like no one is watching or hold your chaturangas a little longer, embrace the moment and enjoy your sweat for the day.

Biking along the Burrard Bridge

Yogis practicing outside

Hitting the trails for a sweaty run in Whistler

What are you doing to sweat once a day?

Asmin, in her Olympic gear

what is your lululemon story?

Being not just the one & only, but also the first ever colourist at lululemon is very exciting for me. I have the privilege to take initiative and make things happen. Although there is a lot to do, I really look forward to "colouring up" my lululemon world. It's challenging, but all of the teams are working together and I'm learning and solving problems everyday.

which line in the lululemon manifesto rings truest for you?

This is a tough one to answer. I can't decide between "Friends are more important than money" or "Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks." I'm living the first and learning about the latter everyday in my life.

Asmin with friends at Kits Beach

so far in your life what has been the "perfect day"?

I'd have to go with the day I hiked up to Kbal Spean in Cambodia with my friend and a bunch of local kids we met on the way. We brought free pencils to give to any kids we met on the trip. When I called them and showed them the pencils, they immediately came to us and lined up to recieve the pencils with both hands out. Then they taught us how to count from one to ten in Cambodian language. A day with sunshine, good exercise, great sight-seeing, lots of laughters, good friends, and a little good deed as well!

what is something unique or surprising about you?

I guess it's the combination of many little things (isn't everyone unique because of the many little things in them?)... I'm AB negative, which is not common. I have absolutely straight hair, which many people envy, but sometimes I want it to be curly! And... I'm super organized. People keep telling me that I'm so organized that it surprises (sometimes scares?) them.
Other than that, I've been a part-time tour guide in Taiwan. I did it because Taiwan is such a beautiful island and I wanted to visit different places. Also, I worked for the 2010 Olympics at the Main Media Centre. Simple and small tasks, but I put on the "Game Face" everyday!

An extra organized desk

If you want to add your own touch of colour to our lululemon team, check out www.lululemon.com/careers today.

We love the “oohs” and “ahhs” we get from our guests the first time we hand them their first lululemon shopper. Instantly guests want to know: what are these phrases, what’s the deal with this bag, and why are you sharing it with me?

In sharing our shopper with all of our guests, we are sharing a piece of our culture and inspiration as a company. We have traditionally printed our shoppers with the lululemon manifesto, which is a series of statements that embodies our company's vision, culture and beliefs.

We love to see our guests carrying our shopper to and from yoga or around town, as it's a constant reminder of our vision to create components for people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives. The lululemon shopper is made of polypropylene, which is a plastic polymer that is 100% recyclable, does not absorb water, and is very durable.

have one already? opt out!

We know many of you already have a shopper or two, or five, and so we’ve added an “opt out” feature at the end of your online transactions with mother earth in mind. So if you already carry your groceries in your shopper, un-check the box that would send you a new one!

carry on and spread love

Our shopper has been spotted all over the world, and it encourages strangers during a six-hour layover to “breathe deeply and appreciate the moment" or to "sweat once a day" on vacation. We'd love for you to send us a photo of where your shopper has been, where it’s going, and how you are spreading love! Send your shopper photos to onlinecommunity@lululemon.com, post it on our Facebook wall, or tweet them, and we’ll share your inspiration with our guests for the next week.

Why not ride your bike to work and share with us how your reusable shopper keeps you green!

Spread the love and carry on! Namaste.

A passion for dancing up a storm.

What came next was meeting some of the most inspiring and outstanding people I’ll probably ever come across in this lifetime. Oh, we hired hundreds of new, fabulous lululemon faces, and we launched exciting attraction programs too... the work was about as challenging, fast paced, and action packed as anyone could hope for! But an itching desire to strike out, take risks and have a grand adventure always slumbered within me, and I knew deep in my heart of hearts that there was something more, waiting for me, somewhere across the Atlantic.

The people resource team.

As a hopeless romantic I had spent my entire life wishing, dreaming and hoping that someday I’d live in Europe. However, I never really took any steps to make these visions a reality. It wasn’t until I learned and understood the skills of goal setting, received some incredible coaching and encouragement from Susanne Conrad, and created a vision board with my People Resources team, that it finally sunk in that I needed to DO IT NOW.

So I did.

Ashley achieving her goal to live in Europe 2 years earlier!

Fast forward to present day, March 2010, and I have leapt over the pond and landed myself smack dab in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. By some force of fate, luck or magic, I have managed to stay a part of the lululemon recruitment team and continue to work remotely; providing creative project management for our key 2010 initiatives. Technology really is an incredible thing, when someone can log in to say hello to their favourite coworkers each morning via Skype, and at the same time, live out their wildest traveling dreams.

Ashley living in Scotland.

So far, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Chamonix (France) have been the hosts of my traveling office. In early March, I’ll be working from Spain, and I have an ambitious list of places that I plan to spread some lululemon love in the months to come!

A new life with a new view.

If you have big, wild, crazy dreams I recommend that you don’t delay.

Make a decision. Take a leap. Do it now.

A vision board makes your goals and dreams reality.

You only have one life to live, and trust me, it can be pretty darn spectacular.

It was the fourth-largest race in the United States and lululemon athletica Ala Moana was ready. Our crew came out in full force for the 37th Honolulu Marathon, an event attracting nearly 24,000 runners from Hawaii and around the world.

On the morning of the marathon, we set the alarm clocks for 4 a.m. and headed out to the race course to find the most prime location to cheer on the runners. Armed with lululemon manifesto posters, a stereo and ipod to play motivating music for the runners, cowbells, huge speed shorts, not to mention our voices and hearts… the Honolululemons cheered for almost three hours straight! Using our manifesto signs, we reminded everyone to "Sweat Once a Day," "Breathe Deeply," "Choose a Positive Thought," and "Love!"

From some of the most elite runners in the world to walkers to wheelchair racers, we reached out to and supported each and every marathon participant - 23,469 people to be exact!

'Sweat once day' signs encouraging people to hit the pavement harder.

Whether it's one of the biggest marathons, our store's run clubs, or a yoga class… as part of the lululemon athletica community, we aim to build relationships with people like you. We hope to spark authentic conversations, encourage you to set a goal and to motivate you to take that first step towards a new life. Find the store nearest you and just ask.Tell us your story. Share your goals with us. We are your cheerleaders, your supporters, your motivators, and we hope to change the world… one cheer station at a time.

Who are you cheering on?

Like your first day of high school, your first kiss, your first day on a new job, or even a first date; there's a sense of excitement, nervousness and curiosity that makes you feel alive. My first yoga class was pretty much scripted to fall along these same 'first time' lines.

A friend of mine convinced me to attend a Bikram class. I come from a team sports background, and flexibility really was never my strong suit. So standing next to my friend - who used to be a dancer - and trying to do a simple forward bend to touch my toes was a bit embarrassing. The class was filled with yogis who easily balanced on one foot and could fold in half with little push (or physical pain).

I felt out of place... for the first 15 minutes.

Then something clicked. As I sat cross-legged - my blood pressure had dropped and I needed a bit of a break - and watched everyone else balance on their seemingly effortless yet completely graceful Dancer's pose, I realized that no one even paid me any mind. The fact that I was taking a break didn't bother them or their practice. Their energy was focused on something uniquely their own, and I was completely relieved and very intrigued.

Do one thing a day that scares you! It doesn't matter how difficult that one thing is, or how much energy it takes. Yoga has profoundly changed my life, and I'm certain it will yours too. Just give yourself that chance to become truly at ease with the energy and realize that you're just one person in this great, big, giant pool that is the universe, and that stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging your body, mind and soul is the only way you'll ever know the greatness you can achieve.

We're not meant for mediocrity, we're meant for greatness. Be great; even if all that means is stepping into your first yoga class and learning the beauty of your first savasana.

Namaste.

One of the quotes from our manifesto is "Do one thing a day that scares you" - and I totally do. I am the first to jump off a cliff into open water, I will show up into a foreign city with no plans, and I actually embrace failure like it's a trophy. My friends know I have this weird rule where I am willing to try anything three times. So I never thought I was afraid of anything. But through digging deeper and figuring out what type of listener I truly am, I discovered I am afraid to succeed.

Hmpf! Afraid to succeed? I had never heard of this before. I would constantly hear the cliché I'm afraid to fail - but that phrase has never left my mouth.

I have viewed every failure in my life as a learning opportunity. Every time I didn't get the marks, I didn't get the job, I didn't get the guy, I didn't get something, I knew that there was a plan for me and I just worked harder and made my goals bigger, better, more bad asser. I would then achieve better marks, nail a cooler job, and - um, still working on the guy area! Some goals I achieved and others I reworked, but I never took the time to stop and pat myself on the back or take in the acknowledgement from others for things that have gone well. I simply pushed it the back burner and said "Next!"

I recently had the chance to spend some time with an amazing group of managers from lululemon for a breakout session with Andrea Bennett (lululemon's Canadian training manager) and Susanne Conrad. When you look Susanne up on lululemon's company directory her title couldn’t be more fitting: Director of Possibility. She is full of sass, has the spirit of an uninhibited five-year-old, the vocabulary of your best girlfriend after a night on the town, and someone you could have tea with and not realize the cup had been empty for hours.

Susanne led the group on a path of discovery and development, and what happened during this time has completely shifted my mindset about success. I realized I had been telling myself it wasn't okay to totally own the great stuff in my life, truly take in compliments, or party it up when everything's awesome! I thought that no one wanted to be around someone who is full of themselves... right?! But the truth is, no one wants to be around a person who can't stop and acknowledge their own hard work.

This experience was literally the best slap in the face I have received: a wide open five-fingered whack right to the internal thought process that gave me permission to stop and tell myself: "Self, you kicked ass!! You did good."

Meet Shannon, our amazing St. Louis Showroom Manager!

What is your role at lululemon?

Community Creator (a.k.a St. Louis Showroom Manager)

What is the difference between a showroom and a store?

A showroom is a "cozier" version of a lululemon store; small and intimate, and more boutique-like... it’s like stopping by a friend's home to catch up and see what’s new. We operate just like a retail store in terms of offering tons of great product, but we spend as much time out in the community as we do in the showroom, so our hours are a little funny as we are not open every day and may close early for private events and trunk shows. We do our own painting and arranging. Some may call it "kitschy", but I prefer "homey", perhaps even "endearing". The showroom atmosphere engenders such a personal guest experience that ultimately creates authentic relationships. It's so amazing!

How did you come to lululemon?

I received my first pair of Groove pantsa few years ago and fell in love with the product. After completing my Masters in Spanish Literature and realizing the academic route was not for me, I began researching companies and met MK Letchworth who came to St. Louis to open the showroom here – her energy was INCREDIBLE and her enthusiasm for lululemon, contagious. It was an instant connection; we had so much in common! I applied online for positions in New York, was contacted by lululemon and ended up finding the best fit and opportunity right here in St. Louis with the fabulous MK (now lululemon masonville assistant manager!).

Tell us about your community:

St. Louis is friendly, loyal and authentic. It is a cosmopolitan city with world-class restaurants, museums, sports teams - but all coupled with a quaint, small-town feel. In terms of health and fitness, this is a running and fitness community where yoga is really taking off!

Inside the St. Louis Showroom!

What is a typical Wednesday like for you?

No typical day really – but in general I rise early, take a cardio class or go for a run, eat breakfast, participate in a conference call, grab a coffee and head to the showroom where I hang out with friends and make new ones talking about the latest and greatest lululemon gear, fave yoga class, new restaurants, goal setting, etc., and receive new product! After work I will drop in on a yoga class (or as of November in St. Louis, run with the lululemon run club!) make dinner and spend time with family and friends.

How do you usually sweat once a day?

I love to run, spin, practice yoga and take crazy cardio classes with some of the amazing instructors we have in St. Louis.

Why do you have the best job in the world?

Because I enable people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives by being a hub of health and fitness knowledge in my community. We offer complimentary yoga and fitness classes and educate the community on super high performance gear for however they choose to sweat!

No two days are ever the same. I wear stretchy pants to work and get paid to work out and have authentic conversations with people about health, fitness and living a GREAT life. My company is constantly challenging me to create a life of possibility and never settle for mediocrity, providing me with the developmental tools and support to make that happen! And, seriously, our manifesto includes such words of wisdom like "Dance, sing, floss and travel"and has monthly challenges that include dancing the running man once a day!

What piece of advice do you have for future showroom managers?

Be yourself and have fun. Sounds simple, but you are hired into this incredible company because you are incredible, so just keep doing that thing you do. And, well, if you are not having fun every single day, then you are doing something wrong. Get out there and connect in your community - love, laugh, sweat and breath deeply every day! Honestly, just read the manifesto, it’s all there!

What makes your showroom unique?

Simple - our community makes us unique: from the educators to the guests, to the ambassadors and R&D team, to our fantastic Central West End neighborhood. There is no showroom like it!

What's your Big Hairy Audacious Goal!?

My BHAG is to bring lululemon into Spanish speaking countries, uniting my passion for the Spanish language and culture and sheer enthusiasm and desire to continue to spread the lululemon love… en español!

See the amazing opportunities at lululemon with the new showrooms opening up!