WHY WE LOVE THIS

We get it. Sometimes going ‘au natural’ is just the right choice. We designed The Pure Mat with two layers of natural rubber and a grippy textured surface making it Bakasana and Savasana ready. The closed cell construction means sweat won’t absorb into the mat so it’s easy to clean and easy to share. We also engineered two different thicknesses of The Pure Mat (3mm-5mm) because sometimes we like a little more cushion and sometimes we want to lighten up. This mat is the kind of natural goodness that really floats our boat.

JOANNA - Product Editor

Natural rubber is a soft and stable surface. It gives The Pure Mat the kind of cushiony feel that makes you want to Down Dog. The ultra-grippy surface makes it easy to get a grip - even when things get sweaty.  Natural rubber does have a slight scent that will fade over time (turns out first impressions aren’t everything). Just roll it out and let it breathe before you head to class.

Ahh... summer. Chris leading us through an outdoor class last July.

We talk about possibilities a lot at lululemon. It’s a simple idea, really. We all have opportunities to create amazing things out of nothing – things that may have not otherwise existed. Our global ambassador Chris Chavez knows how it's done. He recently turned a potentially mundane thing – lunch at the office – into an inspiring experience for all of us. Ninety minutes was all it took. 

We want to thank Chris for bringing us together to move, sweat, and laugh. Chris, you’ve taught us that our practice is bigger than our mat. Possibilities abound – even at lunch.

In her class, there are always a few moments where students are pushed beyond their limits, and it has nothing to do with a yoga pose.

Danielle creating the space for students to be open.

When Danielle makes her students connect, I am not talking about a simple “hi”, but the point in the class where she tells you to find someone and make eye contact with them -- a little stare-down with a stranger in the class. It may seem easy, but in every class you can see a room full of eyes struggling to stay calm and welcome someone new in. To be able to stop, stare and not be shy to look away is pretty tough!

Every class I walk away holding my head up a little higher and inspired to connect with new people.

Here are the words that the class left with: “Yoga is like life. Sometimes you’re going to get it and sometimes not, but you've got to keep trying.”

Who are you making a point to connect with?

“In the cherry's blossoms' shade, there is no such thing as a stranger," says yoga teacher Peg Mulqueen over the loudspeaker. I join her voice to chant 'om' with over 1,000 brightly-clad yogis here to practice yoga during the peak of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC.

Peg leading over 1,000 people in yoga.

A whole bunch of warriors.

We are no more than fifteen minutes into the practice, and I have already violated pratyahara, or control of the senses, because I am definitely not keeping my cool. With the awe-inspiring National Monument, American flags, and a big, cloud-filled sky looming over a record-breaking crowd, I find it hard to focus on the practice.

The best way to spend your Saturday afternoon.

I cannot help but scan the energetic rows of down dogs and warriors surrounding me, and the rock star yogis from near and fear. On stage practicing are this month’s Yoga Journal cover model Faith Hunter, David Kyle, a world famous yogi from Puerto Rico, and Kaitlin Quistgaard, Yoga Journal’s Editor-in-Chief.

Faith doing lotus pose.

The event was organized by lululemon athletica Tyson’s Corner manager, Laura Mann, with the support of lululemon athletica educators from all over the DC region. Our region came together to maximize our word-of-mouth persuasion and online community, garnering 1,200 confirmed guests on Facebook alone in the days leading up to the event.

The amazing lululemon team!

We chant a final 'Namaste' just as the sun peaks out from behind the clouds. A warm breeze sends cherry blossom petals fluttering around us just as we bow our heads. Ah! Now this is yoga!

Namaste.

I just received the most amazing present. It's small enough to fit on my key chain and the benefits will follow me everywhere. Intrigued?

The Gift Of Yoga is from lululemon athletica in partnership with YYoga and will be offered from February 12-28, 2010. This gift of unlimited yoga is being shared with the residents and visitors of our beautiful city. If you have ever been curious to try yoga, learn about the benefits of yoga, or check out a new studio, please visit your nearest lululemon store location and pick up your Gift Of Yoga fob. The fobs are available as of today, Feb. 5.

Welcome to Vancouver!

Pick up your Gift Of Yoga fob at a lululemon athletica store location: Kitsilano, Oakridge, Park Royal, Robson, Metrotown, Coquitlam, lululemon lab, Whistler

Save the information package. It has a handy map of lululemon and YYoga locations as well as YYoga schedules.

Fill in the attached waiver, detach and submit it to YYoga at your first class

Attach the handy fob to your keychain . It is your pass to unlimited yoga at YYoga from Feb 12-28, 2010. Guard it with your life.

Take off your shoes, roll out your mat, and stay a while.

P.S. Due to the overwhelming response from our guests regarding the Gift of Yoga program, we have a limited amount of passes remaining.

For guests with passes who are attending Gift of Yoga classes at the YYoga studios, please note that classes are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Slipping and sliding is for the water park, not for yoga practice!

For my hot yoga classes I bring my yoga mat and a large beach towel to layer on top. I don't usually have any issue with slipping but after hearing rave reviews from my fellow lemons about the skidless towel, I was convinced to try it. My review? AWESOME. In addition to the extra grip, the material helped absorb all my sweat so I couldn't slip.

Gone was the distraction of having to rearrange my towel after a few poses or staring at beads of my sweat. Getting a grip never felt so good!

Why We Made This:
-Is the only tool created to prevent slipping while practicing yoga. It's super absorbent, and puts a -hygienic layer between you and the yoga mat or any exercise equipment.
-The nubs are made with 100% silicone, healthy for mother earth.
-Mat size: 24" x 68"

Want your own skid-free experience? Visit your local lululemon store or check it out online. Check out some more photos from my test drive below:

You aren't sliding around at all on this thing! Even when wet!

The mat doesn't bunch up!