Fall is a time of both nostalgia and renewal. It’s also a time of many marathons – and with these two themes on the horizon we thought the time was right for a fresh playlist, yes?

We’re clearly not the only ones reflecting because the new music out right now is something of a mid-2000’s renaissance. The Killers, Bloc Party, Young Jeezy, Stars…all we need now is for The Postal Service to come out with some fresh tracks and the revival will be complete (while we’re thinking of it, that’s not such a bad idea, Ben Gibbard *cough cough*). The best part is that along with all of these old faves, the trend in new music has a suspiciously 90’s feel. I think it’s time for me to rescue my Sophie B. Hawkins t-shirt because I smell a movement.

run into fall marathon playlist

1/ grimes - genesis
Warning: this song is kind of weird but in the BEST way. Originally from Vancouver, Grimes went to university in Montreal, enrolled in some Russian Literature classes (honestly, I can’t make this stuff up) and discovered along the way that she’s a musical wunderkind. Take that, Crime & Punishment!

2/ the killers – flesh and bone (jacques lu cont remix)
Brandon Flowers and the boys are back with yet another album filled with soaring rock anthems. They’re touring this fall through North America…go see them if you get a chance. It’s worth it.

3/ air traffic controller – you know me
The best new female voice in indie music since Jade Castrinos came bursting into the mainstream singing “home is where I’m with you” for Edward Sharpe (and 100,000,000 YouTubers). This group is going to get up to big things, mark my words.

4/ pretty lights – hot like sauce
Samples from every genre of music are layered over a sweet beat to create a curiously enjoyable sound (Pretty Lights kind of remind me of some of the old trip-hop groups from the 90’s). This song is perfect for grinding out a long hill in the middle of your race.

5/ moon boots – got somebody
This is one of those songs that doesn’t seem monumental when you first hear it…and yet it gets under your skin and makes your iTunes “Top 25” list out of NOWHERE. Have I mentioned the 90’s are back?

6/ calvin harris – sweet nothing featuring florence welch
The reigning king of electro collaborates with everyone’s favourite ethereal rock star, Florence Welch. This track kind of feels familiar but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing; filled with soaring vocals, sweet beats and bass drops, “Sweet Nothing” is perfect for finding an extra gear just when you need it.

7/ miguel – kaleidoscope dream
“Sure Thing” was the come-out-of-nowhere surprise hit of 2011. Miguel has gone back, studied his dad’s Isley Brothers records and made a really badass new album. Jump on it.

8/ stars – hold on when you get love and let go when you give it
Canadian duo Stars are back after a hiatus and they sound just as sweet (and a wee bit less emo) as before. Put this puppy on when you seen the finish line – your heart will rise right out of your chest.

9/ muse – madness
I’m not sure if I’m excited about the new Muse album or if they’ve jumped the proverbial leap into self-indulgent prog-rock territory (and not in the awesome Meatloaf way). That being said, just because it’s not “Stockholm Syndrome” doesn’t mean that it sounds like Savage Garden (or does it?!) I’ll let you be the judge.

Getting race ready for the half-marathon in SanFran this weekend? Check out our Grant Ave store event, A Night in Neon, to celebrate all those kms you've clocked.

Imagine yourself at a rad outdoor concert: the music moving through your body, basking in the sunshine with friends all around, sharing an experience you can barely describe but can't wait to instagram. That's a summer paradise and the inspiration behind the Toronto community event, Yoga Unplugged.

why we made this

Yoga Unplugged is a weekly yoga series co-hosted by the downtown Toronto lululemon stores and yoga studio 889 Yoga. This series is special to us for two reasons. The first is that we have the opportunity to share 889's outdoor deck in the heart of downtown Toronto with our yoga community - think calm within the chaos. The second reason we love it is that every week is different, with a new soundtrack and theme.

the playlist

We've flowed to Bon Iver by candlelight, danced it out on our mats to Do You Love Me by the Contours, and "strike a pose" took a whole new meaning for a Madonna jock yoga practice. Instructors have total musical freedom over their tune selection, and every week has been a hit. What I love most about the class is that the instructor has been so completely inspired by the artists represented on their playlists. This is their moment to share 60 minutes of meaningful movement with us, which often includes a little dancing on the mat.

concert highlights

Like a true concert series, we’ve documented Yoga Unplugged before, during (oops), and after the practice (Lollapalooza and Osheaga last weekend, anyone?). Check out our highlights from #yogaunplugged:

join us

Our series is ongoing every Saturday until our finale on September 1st, and all you need to know is posted at facebook.com/yogaunplugged. We unroll our mats anytime after 3:00pm, and the experience begins at 4:00pm. You can find the Thompson Hotel at 550 Wellington St West in downtown Toronto, and more information about one of our favourite yoga studios, 889 Yoga.

With just two weeks left to the SeaWheeze and our hardest training run out of the way (congrats btw), it’s time to focus on the fun stuff… like getting together the ultimate race playlist. Here’s a list of 13.1 "take-my-aching-body-over-the-finish-line” songs curated by the folks who know running best, you guys!

13.1 songs for 13.1 miles

1. Dog Days Are Over – Florence and The Machine
2. So Close – Calvin Harris
3. My Body – Young the Giant
4. Run The World – Beyonce
5. Black Betty – Ram Jam
6. Midnight city – M83
7. Work Hard Play Hard – Wiz Khalifa
8. Promises – Skrillex
9. Let it Go – Dragonette
10. Let it Roll – Flo Rida
11. Run This Town – Jay Z Ft. Rihanna
12. Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga
13. Bombs Over Baghdad – Outkast
13.1 Run Forrest Run Remix …Seriously? Who comes up with this stuff!

True story - 13.1 songs will not be enough to get ya through 13.1 miles. Fear not, we’ve purposely built in time for you to unplug and take in the full SeaWheeze experience. We're with Aerosmith on this one... you won't want to miss a thing!

My love affair with music started in the womb. My parents played Gregorian chants on headphones for my listening pleasure as I floated in my mum’s tummy. Music was always playing in our house growing up. My father was known for his mix tapes in the community. He’s made over 200 mixes in his day.

When I took my first class at Jivamukti Yoga, I fell in love. I could tell the teacher had thought out how her playlist set the tone for the class. Two things made vinyasa my yoga style of choice: 1. breath-based movement and 2. music is an integral part of the practice. A good playlist is one that takes you on a journey.

creative process for yoga playlists

It usually starts because either I hear a song that inspires me to move, there’s a theme I would like to work with, or there’s a bhav (mood) I’d like to create. From there I go through my music files and find other songs in the same genre or that have the same bhav (mood). You can also find like minded songs through ‘Genius’ on iTunes. Depending upon the BPMs of the song, it goes into one of four categories of the playlist. From there, you create the rest.

The opening is usually one to two slower songs to set the stage while you’re doing your surya namaskars. The next three songs start upping the energy. The third part is the peak/meat of the playlist. These songs will have the highest energy of the playlist, 30-50 minutes. Peak pose is usually around the 55 min mark of a 90 min class. After the peak pose, we move to the floor series: backbends, hip openers, twists and forward folds. During the floor series I begin I bring down the energy by slowing the tempo. The first two songs of the fourth part are bit slower than the peak and by the end of this part, they are super mellow readying for the shavasana song. What’s great about doing it this way is I rarely need to look at a clock while I teach as I can tell what time it is by where I am in the playlist. My playlists are usually 75 min long as I factor in 5 min for intro at the beginning and 5-8 min at the end for meditation and closing prayer. I also have a shavasana playlist just in case I need a bit more music at the end and my current playlist is over.

the class break down

0-10 min (Sun Salutation As)
Slow music to ease into the flow, usually accoustic, one person singing if any. Folk and classical pieces work great here. (Bon Iver, Arvo Part, Susheela Raman, Iron & Wine, Jamie Woon, Krishna Das, Bill Withers)

10-30 min (Sun Salutation Bs, standing series)
Down tempo, lounge music, R&B (Thievery Corp., Erykah Badu, radiohead, Bonobo, Bill Withers, Shaman’s Dream, Dj Shadow, Underworld)

30-55 min (standing series, moving towards peak pose)
A bit more upbeat or stay with lounge depending upon what your peak pose is. I usually have a house song as my peak song if the peak is a very energizing pose, inversions/arm balances. (Junior Boys, Amma, Antibalas, Beat Pharmacy, Girish, Gazal, Cheb I Sabbah, Gotan Project, Spy from Cairo)

55-65 min (backbends, floor series)
Back to down tempo, lounge, instrumental (Finley Quaye, Fat Freddy Drop, Portishead, Cat Power, Nightmares on Wax, Alif Tree, Tony Allen, Massod Ali Kahn)

65-75 min (shavasana)
Chillest song of the playlist. (Jai Uttal, Sade, Brian Eno, Amrita, Ben Leinbach, Shanti Shivani, silence is also great)

example playlists

Playlist name: Rain
I created it during the winter here in Vancouver, when we were in a particularly long spell of rain. The gift the rain gives us the opportunity to go deep inside. This playlist was to do exactly that. The peak song was Nina Simone’s, ‘See-Line Woman’. Besides that song, all the others are slower, setting a more earthy practice.

Holocene - Bon Iver (5:41)
That Home - The Cinematic Orchestra (1:53)
(First two songs above are mellow)

To Be Alone With You - Sufjan Stevens (2:48)
Close to Me - Elk City (5:16)
Brothers On A Hotel Bed - Death Cab for Cutie (4:31)
The Dress Looks Nice On You - Sufjan Stevens (2:32)
See-Line Woman - Nina Simone (2:38)
Gabriel - Lamb (4:19)
For Emma - Bon Iver (3:41)
His Master's Voice - Monsters Of Folk (4:50)
Time And Space - The Cinematic Orchestra (8:31)
'Round Midnight - Thelonious Monk (5:23)
Oh, Lonesome Me (Ft. Lucinda Williams) - M. Ward (6:06)
Don't Explain - Nina Simone (4:22)
A Thousand Tiny Pieces - The Be Good Tanyas (3:46)

Playlist name: House
I like to play this one when I’m working on inversions and arm balances as it’s very high energy.

Something About Us - Daft Punk (3:51)
manvantara - bliss (9:28)
The Messenger - New Funky Generation (3:48)
This Is The Time - Dubtribe Sound System (4:48)
Free (Deep house remix) - Jill Scott (6:21)
After Hours (Various Artists) - Bedouin Cafe (4:00)
2 Please U (Losoul Surreal Visits Dub) - Freaks (2:59)
Someday - Beard (5:23)
On My Own - Amma (6:00)
The Rhythm In Your Mind - Dubtribe Sound System (7:28)
DJ Kicks - DJ Kicks (6:19)
bangla soul - baul dimension (4:24)
Silent Stations Pt 1 - Project JPO (7:27)

Playlist name: Yuppers

‘Yuppers’ was inspired by the first song on the list by Steve Gold. I heard it in Seattle when he gave it to my teacher, Shiva Rea. It brings back such beautiful memories for me and I find it so powerful. I play this one when it’s a heart opening/backbending themed class. Every song on this playlist is a homage to one of my teachers. This is only a 55 min playlist. I usually stop it for a bit after the final backbends so students can really sit in their experience of the heart openers. I put it back on when we get into hip openers.

Let Your Be Known Remix - Steve Gold (7:10)
Ganapati - Susheela Raman (6:44)
By Your Side (Neptunes remix) - Sade (4:00)
Sometimes - Raphael Saadiq (4:07)
Diferente - Gotan Project (5:22)
Stay For Awhile (feat. Angie Stone) - Anthony Hamilton (4:02)
100 Yard Dash - Raphael Saadiq (2:19)
Until The Morning (Rewound By Thievery Corporation) - Thievery Corporation (3:39)
Ernie - Fat Freddy's Drop (7:17)
Fire And Rain - James Taylor (3:26)
Sea of Love - Cat Power/Myra Lee (2:18)
Into Dust - Mazzy Star (5:37)

where i get my music

Many people ask me where I get my music. I am blessed to have a couple friends back in NYC and San Fran that share what they’re excited about every so often. They’ve also come to know my tastes and send me things randomly when they think I’d dig it. Compilations are a great way to find out about new music (ie buddha bar, asian travels, punjabi lounge, Shiva Rea’s compilations are great). Genius in the iTunes store is also good. I’m from the electronic era so I love world beats mixed with electronica. Too many words in a song can make you feel like you’re competing while teaching. There are times when I love hip hop and other genres with a lot of lyrics if I’m teaching an intermediate/advanced class as I don’t have to talk as much. However in open level classes, I prefer playlists with less lyrics in the peak part of the class as I’m usually cueing a lot.

the most important thing

The most important thing to remember when making a playlist is that it should be music that inspires you! If you’re inspired by the music, it will come across in your teaching. There’s nothing worst than being in a class with elevator music (that’s what i call music playing softly in the background). Either play music and have it enhance the class, or don’t play it all. Music has the ability to take us deeper into our experience and it has the ability to take us out. So be conscious of how the music is shaping the experience.

Practice with Clara at Wanderlust Whistler this summer in August, and check her personal site http://www.pixieyoga.net/ for upcoming teacher trainings, retreats, and inspiration.

Like any kid growing up, the music my parents played had a profound effect on me. My mom was (and is) a huge lover of jazz, the British Invasion and Motown. My father’s taste, however, isn’t defined so much about genre as it is by location.

Dad grew up in Manitoba and is, in my mind anyways, the walking definition of a “Canadian” person. The man is a walking billboard of canuck clichés – he adores hockey, maple syrup, coffee from Tim Hortons, plaid, fishing and CBC Radio 2. Actually.

Where this is most evident is his musical taste. Yes, my Dad loves him some Dire Straits and Eric Clapton, but on road trips his Winnipeg roots came shining through. We grew up singing in the back of my parent’s station wagon to acts like The Guess Who, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot...and yes, even a little Rush.

In the last few years, Canadian acts have blown up around the world in every genre. From Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen and Deadmau5 to Alanis Morrisette and Sarah McLachlan, Canada keeps pumping out hitmakers. Maybe it’s because of the music programs offered in schools…or maybe it’s that it is too cold to do anything else. Either way, we’re into getting our groove on north of the 49^th Parallel. Download our Canada Day Playlist to kick off the long weekend right.

happy canada day playlist

tragically hip – my music at work
Kind of like Midnight Oil in Australia, Tragically Hip is HUGE in Canada…and kind of medium everywhere else. I’m talking Phish-Grateful Dead levels of fanaticism. Warning: this song may cause you to put lager instead of beer in your water bottle and increase your desire to go camping.

metric – stadium love
Metric has consistently been one of Canada’s favourite live acts of the last 5+ years. Their lead singer Emily Haines has a delicate-sounding voice…until they turn up the amp and start getting buck wild on stage. From ballads to bangers, every album of theirs is gem-filled.

arcade fire – the suburbs
Obviously these kids don’t need a huge introduction, what with their eight billion Grammys and magazine covers. What DOES need to be said is how unbelievable their output over the last five years has been. In my opinion, “Suburbs” is the best front-to-back album of the last decade.

grimes – oblivion
This young chanteuse just exploded onto the scene and if the Kate Bush-esque “Oblivion” is any indication, we’ll be hearing from her a lot more. Born in Vancouver, Grimes first started making tunes in the prolific music scene in Montreal when she was at university.  Check out the music video for this…it’s at a monster truck show. Exactly.

wintersleep – nothing is anything (without you)
Kind of like a mini-Tragically Hip, Wintersleep has been a favourite of Canadians from Victoria to Truro for the last seven years. It’s perfect music for everything from run training to long weekend campfires (or both…use your imagination).

loverboy – turn me loose
Mike Reno and the boys exploded onto the rock scene in the early 80’s and, well...that’s kind of where they stayed, leather pants and all. I asked my spin instructor to put this on a playlist and consequently fist pumped through the entire class. Get into it.

crystal castles – good time
This electro act from Montreal might seem crazy…because they kind of are. I saw Alice Glass perform last year injured from a car accident, and instead of calling in sick she performed like a woman possessed. Pro tip: check out their song “Not In Love” featuring Cure frontman Robert Smith - it's an instant classic.

drake – headlines
One minute, Canadians were watching Drake on the classic teen show “Degrassi High: The Next Generation”…and the next minute he was rapping with Lil Wayne. Huh? Turns out he’d been making mix tapes the whole time he was growing up on our TV sets. This is my current favourite.

MSTRKRFT – heartbreaker (featuring john legend)
These DJs are big in Canada and absolutely HUGE in Europe (no, I’m not just saying that). I put at least one of their songs on every one of my workout playlists with good reason…they churn out some of the most catchy beats in the business.

chromeo – when the night falls
Another act of Montreal, another set of dudes up to cool stuff. They have found a cool way to bridge the electro dance movement while still showing their reverence for old school funk samples – no group has used a talk box this aggressively since Zapp (google “Computer Love” and you’ll see).

the arkells – michigan left
Straight out of Hamilton, Ontario, The Arkells are one of Canada’s hottest indie bands going. Their wandering ballads and melodic guitar licks pay homage to more than a few acts from the past (I’m looking at you, Neil).

feist – i feel it all
Leslie Feist is carrying on the grand tradition of female singer-songwriters in a glorious way. Poignant, distinct, curious, uplifting, prolific…her music just pierces my heart. I saw her perform with Burton Cummings on British Columbia’s 150^th anniversary on the steps of the parliament buildings in Victoria and tried not to cry the whole time.

neil young – cinnamon girl
What do you say about the guy who has been in Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and also had a completely badass career on his own? He beats to his own drummer, is worshipped by multiple rock gods (just ask Eddie Vedder) and still namedrops his Winnipeg roots in songs. Neil Young is a national treasure, end of story.

bryan adams – it’s only love (featuring tina turner)
No Canada Day playlist would be complete without a little bit of Bryan Adams in the mix. Not only did he start a fashion movement, this dude is still selling out stadiums with his accessible working man rock and ballads. This little ditty with Tina Turner still sends my heart a flutter every time I turn on the AM dial.

hey ocean! – big blue wave
This band from Vancouver has been blowing up recently – we love them so much that we invited them to play with FUN. at our SeaWheeze party on August 11^th. I’ve been playing this on repeat on summer runs - the thrusting beat makes me want to keep putting one foot in front of the other. For an extra dose of Canadiana, go on YouTube and find the Hey Ocean! cover of Arcade Fire’s “Sprawl II”…it will make your day, mark my words.

Happy Canada Day everyone – get out to your favourite lakes, oceans and parks and celebrate what makes this place so special.

music and yoga: a strange evolution

The yogis who practiced in the palaces of Mysore, India in the early 1900s probably never expected that yoga would be taught at the top of a ski resort in Whistler or Tahoe to the sounds of Thievery Corporation, yet the evolution seems so natural when you step back and look at it. When I presented at Wanderlust last summer it felt like a modern Woodstock.

Both Wanderlust and Woodstock have music playing late into the night, along with vendors and caravans of smiling, free-spirited people talking of peace and love. What’s different? The brown acid of the 60s has been replaced with downdogs, Trikonasanas and Tantric philosophy.

yogi rock stars

Even though many in India view yogis as wandering ascetics in spiritual pursuit of Moksha or “release” from the trappings of material possessions and the ego, there are armies of “yogi rock stars” who are content in the limelight, sharing their passions around the globe. You’ll see them hobnobbing with musical celebrities at yoga festivals this summer, no doubt.

No matter what your opinion of Yoga Rock Stars, the fact is that yoga and music are both great gifts for the elevation of the spirit.

Think about the many days you've found yourself in a mundane space and then that perfect song comes on the stereo that stops you in your tracks, and has you singing along in your head or even out loud. Your heart feels lighter, your pain fades away and gravity somehow tugs you down less.

This is the great gift of yoga, as well. Like music, it too restores our positive perspective, celebrates the splendor of life and the radiance of the heart. After just a few sun salutations all of us have wondered, “What was I worried about today, anyway?” Our body becomes an antenna that picks up the music of the soul.

conduits

My current personal definition of yoga is that “Yoga is the art of getting out of your own way.” Good musicians know this, as do artists and athletes. When they are in the zone and playing something powerful, you will notice their eyes are closed. They are open to something coming through them. Reflecting back on these moments they ask themselves, “Who was playing this music?” They are masters of being a conduit.

And this is what I tell people in our Blissology Yoga teacher trainings. Of all the things a yoga teacher has to perfect, the main one is how to be a conduit for the force of love, joy, awe and bliss. I think that the best yoga teachers, like great musicians, get out of their own way. They are not encased in ego, but they let something powerful flow through them.

This is why one of the best Savasanas I had was accompanied by musician and yogi Michael Franti on the Jivamukti Yoga DVD. He channels something in his music that is also there in the words and energy he uses during Savasana.

Let’s celebrate this great union of music and yoga. In the words of Hafiz, “let’s set this dry, boring place on fire.” If you attend one of these great music and yoga festivals, you will see that the Cosmic Dance of Shiva has evolved to the beat of our modern era, and it’s a great thing. I say, “Let’s ROCK!”

Come rock out with Eoin Finn at Wanderlust Whistler this summer or visit him at blissology.com for inspiration, teacher trainings, workshops and more.

While my yoga teacher has been drilling the concept of non-attachment into my brain for the past few years, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some pretty serious expectations for an awesome time. Is it even possible for 4 days of yoga, music, meditation, mountain hikes, farm-to-table dining, and organic wine tastings not to be incredible? I didn’t think so either.

what i'm excited about

Although I’m looking forward to almost every aspect of the experience, here are a few things that I’m especially excited about (in a non-attached kind of way):

1. The morning meditation hike I signed up for with Garth Stevenson (whose album I’ve been obsessed with for months).

2. My Saturday afternoon Love, Light & Flight: AcroYoga Therapeutics class. The description reads: “In this class we’ll teach you how to base and fly Therapeutic Flying postures that will elevate your massage experience to new heights.”. Amazing.

3. Winderlust! A local wine and beer tasting after a long day of bandha work? Sign me up.

4. Taking my practice outdoors—nothing beats the warmth of the sun in savasana.

5. Allowing yoga to be my #1 priority for 4 straight days. YES.

how to follow along

I’ll be posting about my journey here on the blog, but here are a few other ways you can follow our Wanderlust Vermont journey:

Daily updates on our Youtube channel.
Frequent tweets via @lululemonlive.

Last year, Alexis advised people heading to Coachella on the plateaus and pitfalls of getting awesome in the music festival circuit. She wrote her entry from a wistful yet wise point-of-view, dispensing such sage advice as “your sunglasses will be in every photo – if they are the weak link in your bag, fix it” and “fanny packs are critical for hands-free partying.” This year she is attending Coachella and shares her motivations for returning below.

The countdown is on, my friends. Seven days!

I have been to Coachella before. In fact, I wrote a blog post last year about my experiences in Indio and how to best prepare for the ensuing mayhem. While experiencing some remorse over not going again, I reasoned that I had made the pilgrimage to Coachella before and that it was time to cross other goals off my list.

I was wrong. What I realized while gazing at my pal’s mobile uploads all festival weekend (yes, I am a masochist) was that sometimes an occasion is so awesome that hitting it twice is the right answer.

So now what? My ticket, accommodation and flights are booked. My mates and I are already planning the Ace Hotel and Trader Joe’s visits. I’ve replaced 2011’s acronym F.O.M.O. with W.W.Z.S.D. (what-would-Zoe-Saldana-do) for outfit inspiration. All that’s left is the music.

Oh yeah - the music! With all the VIP-poolside-margarita-hotel-hopping-palm-tree distractions, it’s easy to forget that Coachella is all about the tunes. Last time I went, my buddy Eric made a playlist that we ended up playing on repeat the entire weekend. It was a great way to get familiar with lesser-known acts; to this day I still associate Bloc Party, Wolfmother and Gnarls Barkley together with our 2006 Coachella “soundtrack.”

Without further ado, here is my 2012 Can’t-Miss Coachella Playlist. It’s impossible to get all of my favourite acts on one list (the festival really is THAT big) so feel free to add your favourites and get the party started.

2012 can’t-miss coachella playlist

*Please note: due to certain, ahem, “restrictions” we are no longer able to list these songs in downloadable playlist format. We are working on a solution soon so we can continue sharing the sound love with you.

santigold – disparate youth
Santigold is probably in my top three of artists I am most excited to see. The buzz surrounding her live shows is ferocious.

the weeknd – the morning
The Prince-esque guitar, the unabashed crooning, the auto-tune, the collaborations with Drake…invest in The Weeknd because this show is guaranteed money in the bank. Do yourself a favour and listen to some Frank Ocean while you’re at it.

the black angels – young men dead
I first got to know The Black Angels after one of their songs was featured in Red Bull’s seriously awesome “Art Of Flight” snowboarding video from last winter. If the apocalypse comes as promised this year, “Young Men Dead” will be my soundtrack.

justice – civilization
French people know how to dance. They know how to party. They can wear scarves without looking like twits and eat cheese without gaining weight. Let’s just face it: they’re cooler than the rest of us.

pulp – common people
Between Madness, Tim Armstrong, Mazzy Star and Pulp, the old school acts at Coachella this year are legit. Watching Jarvis Cocker strut his stuff is a can’t miss.

beirut – santa fe
Santa Fe = the catchiest song of 2011. Beirut is producing some of the most innovative music in recent memory. Get into it.

miike snow – paddling out
Okay, I already loved Miike Snow in a borderline-creepy way…and then they released their most recent album and full-on obsession gripped my headphones.

kaskade – 4 am
Kaskade may fall into guilty pleasure territory (see also: David Guetta and Avicii) but I don’t care. We all know these shows are going to be the hot mix so pack your dancing shoes and let’s make it happen.

explosions in the sky – your hand in mine
If you’re looking for a timeout from beat-heavy hip-hop and electro dance parties, check these guys out. Their most recent album is interesting all the way through and only gets better with every listen.

childish gambino – freaks and geeks
The lyrics to this song are so clever. I have a feeling that Childish Gambino is going to be huge so catch him here for “I saw him when…” memories years from now.

bon iver – calgary
It’s always an incredible experience watching an artist perform at the pinnacle of their career. Justin Vernon is known for his interesting live collaborations - let’s hope he has some tricks up his sleeves.

radiohead – weird fishes arpeggi
Thom and the crew are known for pulling Neil Young-style “we’re not playing anything but our latest album’s tracks” antics on tour…but if I have one wish it’s that they put this gem on their playlist.

dr. dre featuring snoop dogg – nuthin’ but a g thang
While you may not listen to these dudes on the regular anymore, this is a Coachella must. Snoop’s never been caught slippin’ – make sure you aren’t either and make this show a priority.

azaelia banks – 212
This is going to be a CRAZY SHOW. Believe it.

the horrors – still life
A favourite of music bloggers everywhere, this could be the sleeper hit of the entire festival.

girl talk – play your part (part 1)
The raging debate about the legitimacy of mash-up artists aside, Girl Talk is going to be a PARTY. Get sweaty in the crowd or safely observe how crazy humans can get from afar.

david guetta featuring kid cudi – memories
78 million views on YouTube can’t be a coincidence. Guetta is FUN – get over the street cred and turn up the party (this also applies to Kaskade, Avicii and anything else that hurts to the hipster bone).

florence and the machine – cosmic love
This show is going to be one for the books. Let’s hope the festival planners put Florence and company on during the gorgeous Indio sunset.

st. vincent – marrow
Every track on St. Vincent’s third album “Strange Mercy” is absolutely magical. Check her out if you need a little mellow time in between party acts.

m83 – wait
I’m already getting goose bumps just thinking about this being performed.

Hopefully this playlist will give you ideas for your own list.  Alexis will be one of 20,000 girls wearing a fringe purse, jean cutoffs, bohemian blouse and taking Instagram photos (she knows she’s being SUPER original )– give her a high five if you see her in Indio!

We love Chris Chavez – so much so that we’re always calling him up to play when he’s in town. The yoga instructor and longtime lululemon ambassador opened up his house (and heart) and let us peek into his life as a yogi. *Spoiler alert: it involves a dedication to practice, a lot of travel and even a little beer.

you’re a yogi-on-the-go if we’ve ever seen one. Got a favourite destination you’ve travelled to?
We get asked this a lot and I think I have favourite things about every place that we go. One thing about travelling is that you have to make every place home. If you don’t you become very “un-rooted” in yourself and you start to get stressed out. I try to look forward to the place we’re going next and start saying in my mind “oh, I can hardly wait to see so-and-so or go eat here or pick up fresh bread there.” That just helps me get rooted.

we’re always so excited when you’re in town, what’s your favourite thing about Vancouver?
The seawall! Is that what you call it? When we arrive that’s one of my favourite things to do. You know, drop the stuff, put some walking shoes on and just walk the seawall. Also, the yoga studios here – I think they add a quality of life that most cities in the world don’t have.

is there a pose you resist the most?
YES! Those are the poses that whenever my wife leads a practice she purposely includes. I’m always like… “argh I hate this pose, I hate this pose!” Typically it’s deep backbends that I avoid the most. What’s interesting is that it’s those poses that I say “okay I’ll be a real yoga teacher when I can do this pose.” Then every time I hit that pose the mark just moves a little bit further. I think it’s what keeps me excited about the practice and growing as a student as well.

we know you’re a musician yourself, do you have a favourite band or song?
Favourite band or song, umm, I go through periods. Lately I’ve been on a Coldplay/Snow Patrol kick. Right now when I wake up in the morning I’ve been putting on… I think it’s called “Crack the Shutters”… I start making breakfast and put that on and then I’m like “don nah nadkjf dfggf” (trying to sing along) and I don’t know any of the words other than "CRACK THE SHUTTERS, bah…de...dem!” and then I just let them take it from there…

what's the last movie you saw?
Ah the last movie I saw… in its entirety? It was probably like, the Hangover (laughter).

What are you doing on August 23-26, 2012? The first-ever Wanderlust Festival in Canada is taking place in Whistler, BC, and we couldn't be more stoked to be hosting this huge yoga and music experience in our own backyard.

what is wanderlust?

Yoga. Music. Dancing. Mountains. Put all those together and add amazing yoga instructors, top musical acts and DJs, inspiring speakers, and your friends, and you've got the basic ingredients for a Wanderlust weekend. Feel free to improvise on this recipe to create the weekend of your dreams!

There are four Wanderlusts in total:

Stratton Mountain, Vermont - June 21-24, 2012
Copper Mountain, Colorado - July 5-8, 2012
Squaw Valley, California - July 26-29, 2012
Whistler, British Columbia - August 23-26, 2012

Yoga. Mountains. Need we say more? (photo from Wanderlust 2011 c/o Tom O'Neil)

yoga teachers at wanderlust whistler!

Here are the teachers that will be moving you through four days of downdogs and sun salutations at Wanderlust Whistler, including many from our ambassador family!

Baron Baptiste
Eoin Finn
Janet Stone
Lisa Black
Tina James
Anne Marie Kramer
Danielle Mika Nagel
Reno Muenz
Maria Filippone
Rameen Peyrow
Tiffany Cruikshank
Clara Roberts-Oss
Meghan Currie
Julia McCabe
Mike Nichols
Nico Luce
Cameron Gilley
Sjanie McInnis
Jeff Mah
JP Tamblyn
Ichih Wang
Mara Branscombe
Kevin and Hali Mcquillan
Chris Chavez
Carina Raisman
Ryan Leier

view a timelapse of the wanderlust experience

what you need to know (in a nutshell)

1. Wanderlust Whistler is taking place Aug. 23-26, 2012
2. Tickets will be available February 21 here: www.wanderlustfestival.com
3. All other details about who, what, where and when can be found here.

'memba last year?

Squaw Valley Wanderlust 2011: A Summary
Exploration at Wanderlust Vermont

Mark your calendars, grab your friends and see you in Whistler!

Are you frantically trying to get your house together for a holiday party before your friends arrive in an hour?

We get it. Three weeks ago, you serenely sent invites to all of your nearest and dearest for a cozy night of merriment and cheer. Now, the night is here and you’re frazzled, running around vacuuming/blowdrying/cheeseplating before the first chime of your doorbell – and then, to top it off, you realize that you haven’t put together any music. Not to worry, friends; we know how busy you are, so we’ve taken the liberty of putting together a playlist of our holiday favourites for you.

uber-festive holiday playlist

Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
This woman knew Christmas – heck, she backcombed her hair in the shape of a wreath for the entirety of her career. That’s what I call commitment!

U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Call me biased but I have this strange notion that spending the holidays in Ireland would be incredibly festive. Perhaps it has something to do with the large number of pubs…

Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord
I like to put this track on, throw on my best sequined sweater and eat sausage rolls with friends. This may sound weird…but I dare you to try it and disagree.

The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick
One of the best holidays I ever had was spent in a Santa-themed bikini in the tropics, hanging ornaments on a palm tree. Enjoy this surf-flavoured holiday song that comes with subliminal Vitamin D.

Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas
Burl Ives IS Christmas. End of story.

Wham! – Last Christmas
If the sight of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley prancing around a ski lodge doesn’t make you feel happy, I’m afraid I don’t know how to help you get festive.

Nat ‘King’ Cole – The Christmas Song
The classic feel-good song of the holidays. This version is my favourite because Nat ‘King’ Cole’s voice is smoother than double-crème brie. (Are you noticing a pattern here?)

Kanye West – Christmas In Harlem
In the past, I have struggled to enjoy newer Christmas carols because they just don’t seem, well, Christmas-y. This has changed now that I’ve heard Kanye, Alicia Keys and Jim Jones talking about hot chocolate being “dericious.”

Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
If the thought of the AM radio dial is what helps you get in the mood, then look no further; Bobby Helms is just what the doctor ordered.

Paul McCartney – A Wonderful Christmas Time
You work on the appies and sugar cookies, leave it to Sir Paul to ensure everyone’s simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

The Eagles – Please Come Home For Christmas
The Eagles may be famous as the “Boys Of Summer,” but they prove their multi-season resilience with this modern holiday gem.

Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
This epic masterpiece never gets old, kind of like crochet tops and daisy dukes.

Dean Martin – I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
If Frank Sinatra is “The Chairman of the Board,” then Dean Martin is “The Chairman of Always Having A Drink In His Hand & Having His Celebrity Roasts Re-Run A Billion Times.” That being said, his brand of swagger really sets the holiday mood.

Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
The holidays can bring out the highest and lowest of emotions. If you are down in the dumps (as opposed to Down Dog), let Elvis commiserate with you.

Vince Guaraldi – Skating
This is my favourite song from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ the album that accompanies the classic TV special about the beloved animated beagle, Snoopy. Coincidentally, this is also a very tranquil song to pass out to after one-too-many eggnogs.

Nothing says, "peace and joy," like a roaring fire on local cable…so if you’re feeling stressed, take a moment, breathe deeply and turn on the Yule log. We swear it works every time.

Girls in Canada have been dancing, figure-skating and plié-ing in ivivva for the last two years. We know how hard it is to moonwalk over the 49^th Parallel, so to make things easier ivivva gear is now available online in the USA.

To kick this party off, we thought we would put together a playlist of our current favourite tracks for girls to shake their tailfeathers to…and for nostalgia’s sake, we threw in some of the songs we loved so much when we were girls.

Dance. Sing. Floss. Travel. Then dance some more!

ready, set, dance playlist

what the kids are listening to these days
Katy Perry – The One That Got Away
Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Selena Gomez – Love You Like A Love Song

old school goodness
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
Madonna – Holiday
En Vogue – Free Your Mind
Kenny Loggins – Footloose

And as an added bonus (because why not, right?) – here are two holiday songs for you to croon to this coming season!

Justin Bieber – Under The Mistletoe
Wham! – Last Christmas

Grab your hairbrush, your girlfriend and perhaps a little liquid courage and dance this Friday night away.

Fall is such a deliciously complicated season. Crisp air, back-to-school memories and leaf-covered streets are a constant reminder of the cycle of life. To complement these visceral feelings, nostalgia for summer magic fills our hearts with bittersweet memories and gratitude. Consequently, taking quiet moments to renew our yoga practice and set our intentions never feels more ‘right’ than in autumn.

The wild and exuberant songs we loved in summer suddenly don’t fit anymore; instead we crave music that suits our reflective mood. Combining yoga and introspective music creates a unique space for us to access our spirit in an authentic way. Our Ear Warming Fall Yoga Playlist is layered with warmth and complexity perfectly suited for a restorative fall at-home yoga practice. Oh, and we finally figured out how you can download the whole thing!

ear warming fall yoga playlist

St. Vincent – Surgeon
Anyone who toured with Sufjan Stevens is going to have nomadic themes running through their work. St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, sounds like Kate Bush’s delicate little sister who sparkles herself in fairy dust. This track floats and meanders but instead of sounding wayward, St. Vincent’s voice glides through each beat on its own sensual clock.

Active Child – When Your Love Is Safe
Lyrics about realisation and self awareness are layered over eclectic, ambient electro beats to sum up a story of loss and learning. If you get a chance, check out Active Child live – they put on a rad show.

Beirut – Santa Fe
Combining soaring vocals and weird Gypsy-tinged instrumentals, Beirut makes some of the most poignant, interesting music on the scene. His voice is distinct but not jarring; he sounds like a Martian from the Roaring Twenties – and that is a compliment.

Mary J. Blige – All That I Can Say
Mary keeps it real as usual, telling us how she spent her whole life looking for meaning - and the day she stopped searching for it, the meaning came and found her.

Bon Iver – Calgary
The current king of the indie scene has brought the heartfelt singer-songwriter genre back to the mainstream. It’s no wonder; the lyrics to this song are gorgeous, weaving between allegory and literal references in a way so earnestly romantic that it breaks your heart.

Brandon Flowers – Only The Young
The frontman of the massively popular group The Killers, Brandon Flowers is searching more than ever for something. Here he talks about second chances and filling dark corners with light.

Radiohead – All I Need
Who we are on the mat is who we are off the mat. When this realisation happens, it is both powerful and revealing. Are you often late to class? Do you rush through poses, trying to perfect them on the first try? The parallels that can be drawn between yoga and ‘real’ life are remarkable; all we need is our yoga mat (and maybe some reminders from Thom Yorke) to work on our whole selves.

Feist – The Circle Married The Line
Leslie Feist has the uncanny ability to write songs that satisfy the cravings in our head. You know when you’re listening to a song and a string of notes are played – and it’s like they were engineered to be the exact ones your brain wanted to hear? This is Feist’s remarkable gift. This song’s chorus has reverse scales that will make the hairs on your arms stand at attention.

Beck – Lost Cause
When a relationship has gone past the point of no return, we can feel it in our hearts and in our bones. Beck perfectly sums up the ironically sweet misery of the letting go process.

AA Bondy – I Can See The Pines Are Dancing
Wildly underrated, AA Bondy makes a declaration with every line he utters in this cozy little ditty. He is arrestingly self-possessed (“I am a fire and I must burn today”) and surprises us further by cooling down his smoldering tracks with Dick Dale-esque surf guitar riffs.

Kings of Convenience - Homesick
This Norwegian duo uses their voices to complement their music, rather than compete with it. This balance and harmony work perfectly to create meaningful, pastoral tunes perfect for deep stretches and grateful thoughts.

May this playlist warm your heart and ears as you take on another crisp fall season.

want more?

• Check out some of our other rockin’ playlists

For GEC educator Laura, motivation comes in listening to her body being pushed beyond its limits. For her colleague Tess, nothing takes her beyond mile 22 like the sound of a solid beat that’s about to drop.

running: with or without music?

laura runs to the beat of her heart

My life is noisy. I’ve got people talking, phones ringing, dogs barking and neighbours who think that karaoke at midnight on a weekday with the windows open is a good idea. There’s very little quiet in my life. So, when I run, I choose to do so sans music. Now, don’t get me wrong – I love a good tune and when I started running, music was my motivator. But as running became easier and part of my regular routine, I discovered that I preferred quiet over music every time. I say quiet rather than silent because running is not a silent activity. I love hearing the subtle sounds of my feet hitting the pavement; my heart beating in my chest; my breath steadily inhaling and exhaling. These are the sounds that motivate me now.

run without music to:

• appreciate the sound of your body working hard to keep you going – breathing never sounded so good.
• be alone with your thoughts - you two could use some alone time.

tess runs to the beat of music

When I first started running, I swore two things: I would never run with other people and I would never run without music. These rules served me well for the first seven years of my running career. However, when I joined a running group in 2010 while training for the Paris Marathon, I broke rule number one and, with it, cast aside rule two since it felt anti-social to run with my headphones. In 2011, I was the only one on my team training for a full (marathon) and I found myself spending a lot of lonely kilometres out on the seawall. It was time to dust off the old mp3 tracks and turn back to my beloved playlists. Running with music not only keeps me company but helps me to escape my head. For the same reason I love listening to music during savasana, I love to have tunes act as “white noise” while I melt into my run.

run with music to:

• keep your pace and motivation steady.
• fall in love with albums all over again – Beck’s “Guero”, anyone?

but of course, safety first

Only use your headphones during daylight hours and when running in traffic-calmed areas. Make sure to keep the decibel level reasonable so you’re still in tune with your surroundings. If you do a lot of trail running, put the headphones away so you can hear Mr. Grizzly Bear coming before you end up nose to nose.

The great question remains: with or without music? Do you swear by your prized playlists or get carried away in the quiet of running? Join the conversation on Facebook.

want more?

• need new beats to kick it up a notch? check out our playlists
• ask a runner: how to stay motivated
• Whitney hits the trails running

If you’re anything like me, you get bored of the same workouts. From week to week, my favorite ways to sweat include yoga, spin, bar classes, running, swimming, dancing, and methods not appropriate for a public blog (hi Mom!). If a friend approaches me with a new wacky workout, I get excited to break up the monotony of my routine with something designed to shake me out of my comfort zone.

The same thing applies to a good run playlist. Don’t get me wrong, when the sweet chords of “Don’t Stop Believin’” come through my ear buds, I do an air-guitar slide with as much excitement as the next girl. But having the same tunes repeat OVER AND OVER in your head isn’t going to inspire you to run faster – it’s going to have you plateau and head home early.

update your run playlist

Infadels – Love Like Semtex
Once again proving that British musicians just “get it more,” this 2003 jam jam is still en fuego 10 years later. This high energy number is as good a lead-off batter as Derek Jeter – the perfect catalyst to your new running playlist.

PNAU feat. Ladyhawke – Embrace (Miami Horror & Fred Falke Remix)
Looking to start a neighborhood jazzercise class on your parent’s front lawn? Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – Shine Blockas
Gucci Mane has an ice cream tattoo on his face. In related news, Gucci Mane has AN ICE CREAM TATTOO ON HIS FACE.

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (RAC Remix)
These Irish dudes know how to fire it up. An added bonus: the lead singer has been known rock an extended TAMBOURINE solo at concerts. If that isn’t hard as #$!% I don’t know what is.

Theophilus London – Why Even Try
Like Theophilus says, timez are weird. Who would’ve thought that the most ethereal and ambient song listed here would’ve been a hip hop track?

The Temper Trap – Fader
Someone might want to look into some sort of Australian musical steroid conspiracy, because ALL of the music coming out of Down Under is completely, butt-kickingly amazing these days. Download this whole album – it’s a keeper.

Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight
Were you born in the wrong era? Well throw this puppy on your playlist ASAP – it pairs a sweet 60’s girl-group chorus with run-worthy beats.

Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I’ll admit it: I always liked Arcade Fire, but I was never the uber-fan that most of my friends are. Then I heard this song and my life changed. Yachtzee!

Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)
Kid Cudi did what every kid with a Hype Machine account & a dream wishes for and invited his hipster besties onto his hottest track. The results are a confusingly great recipe for sweating it out.

MSTRKRFT feat. John Legend – Heartbreaker
If you’re looking to get into electronic music, which coincidentally is perfect for sweating, try MSTRKRFT. Along with Cut Copy and The Presets, you’ll be ripping it up in no time – this track is a good segue if you’re already a fan of the radical John Legend.

Crystal Fighters – In The Summer (Picture House’s “Summer in the Balearic’s” Remix)
French electro is the triple espresso of the music world. Let this track be your much-needed hit of adrenaline when times get tough.

David Byrne & Brian Eno – Life Is Long
The Emperor of Cool has a catalogue of hits just perfect for an early morning soul-searching jog. This is my favorite ditty for an open-minded sweatathon.

Bon Iver – Towers
Two words: instant classic. Knowing this gem is waiting for you at the end of your run will make you go faster than ever.

Imagine looking forward to your run because you can’t get that unexpectedly catchy song out of your head. Music playlists are like a potluck dishes: some will make you dive for a glass of wine to drown your taste-buds and put them out of their misery; others  are so good they'll have you fencing with plastic forks for the final, delicious mouthful. That being said, who cares? This is a minimal commitment: you aren’t painting your walls silver or getting a pixie cut. So freshen up that iPod already and listen to some things you might normally skip. Who knows, maybe you were a rapper in a former life…you won’t know until you’re rhyming your heart out.

want more?

Check out some of our other rockin' playlists