you asked

Baron Baptiste’s Vinyasa Flow is amazing! I always tend to attend these styles of classes but am wondering what other styles might be similar to his power flow class? Any recommendations? Also, Moksha seems to be offered in a lot of studios. What exactly does this style emulate? - Sarah

a yogi answers

Well, as a Master Baptiste Teacher I LOVE the Baptiste flow, too! There is something exceptional about the Baptiste flow and how challenging and inspiring it is that I just can’t find anywhere else. If you can find teachers that have trained with Sean Corne, Shiva Rea, Brian Kest or Dharma Mittra, you will enjoy their style, too!

Moksha is a style of yoga based off of the Bikram series but with a strong emphasis on environmental consciousness. Just like Baptiste Yoga, Moksha is also very accessible to all levels of students and is a great way to be introduced into the world of yoga. The main difference is that Moksha is a set series of poses like Bikram and Baptiste is a Vinyasa or flow style of yoga. There are just so many styles of yoga, just like there are so many styles of music and art and dance. The important thing is to find a teacher and style of yoga that resonates with you, stimulates your inner inquiry and awakens your soul!

- Kinndli, lululemon Oakville ambassador

what is ask a yogi?

Ask a Yogi is a yoga advice column that is published on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. If you have a yoga question for future yoga panels, please email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

Inside The Studio, lululemon's newest strategic sales partner

Let’s back up a bit. Wondering what strategic sales is? Strategic sales partners are yoga, Pilates, fitness, Bar Method, Dailey Method, spas and other various fitness and health studios that we've partnered with. They give our guests access to our products right where they sweat. Many of our strategic sales partners are in regions where lululemon stores and showrooms haven't yet opened up.

Back to our newest strategic sales partner: meet Ann Asquith, founder of The Studio.

Ann with a Pilates student. P.S. Spot the manifesto!

A former bank manager, at age 50 Ann was introduced to Pilates. Immediately she was hooked, and in less than three years she was teaching locally. This past September, Ann made a total career change when she decided to ditch her business suits for stretchy pants, and opened her very own studio: sharing her love for Pilates with the world. This past February, she added lululemon apparel through our strategic sales program out of The Studio, which is staffed by the children of her students. How’s that for building community!?

Faded Zap and Senorita Pink: how to brighten up the Yukon Winter!

Ann's passion: Pilates.

We are thrilled to be a part of the Whitehorse community through Ann’s studio. If you’re interested in trying Pilates, visit the web page of your local store to find the closest facility (under "local resources"), or let one of our superstar educators tell you about their favourite place to practice. To find your nearest strategic sales partner, visit "Other lululemon locations" under the store finder at: http://lululemon.com/stores/

Here at lululemon athletica’s Store Support Centre, we have a truly wonderful yoga and fitness program. Five days a week, instructors come into our light-filled studio to conduct classes consisting of various styles and degrees of difficulty throughout the day – and all you have to do is grab a (provided) mat and show up. With all these resources at my fingertips, you’d think I’d be the downest dog in town, right?

Wrong. Exceedingly, surprisingly, embarrassingly incorrect.

It’s time for a shameful admission: In my four months of working here thus far, I have NOT been to a yoga class at the Store Support Centre (editor’s note: those meowing noises are the symphony of a litter of inflexible kittens pawing their way out of the bag).

Alexis is going to her first yoga class today!

It didn’t start this way. I had the best of intentions, sure. But like many of you, I was so caught up in the workings of my new job that I completely forgot what attracted me to lululemon in the first place.

The reason I’m sharing this with you is to prove a point – this can happen to anyone with the best of intentions, even someone working in a building BASED around yoga. It doesn’t matter how near or far you are from your yoga facility, or gym class; how cold it is outside, how much work you have, or how your running crops are in the wash. If you want to make excuses, you can.

Clichéd, but true: you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Well friends, get ready, because this old chestnut (neigh?) is getting ready to take a trot (scratch that: CANTER!) through the Hatha fields on Monday with Ingrid, one of our lovely instructors. As for her correcting my woeful use of animal metaphor, it’s too soon to tell.

What are you going to do today with no excuses?

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.

Above: Lindsay keeps cool in a pair of Boogie On Shorts and a Power Y Tank.

Adding heat to certain things introduces an element of fun: popcorn kernels, a relationship, even the yoga room! My first hot yoga class was not what I expected and I felt muscles the next day I didn’t know I had. I avoided hot yoga for a few weeks, but then decided to try another class with a different style. I felt more in tune with my body and its needs, and I now have a newfound love for the heated room.

For those who haven’t tried hot yoga, here are some tips for first timers that want to give it a try.

Do your research

What are some popular hot yoga studios in your community? Ask friends that have been to a hot yoga class and see how they liked it. If you like structure and routine, Bikram may be for you. If you prefer a little more variety each class in poses and intensity, try Moksha. Many studios have a one week unlimited class pass for beginners, so don’t be afraid to ask.

What to bring

A yoga mat, water, towel, and an open mind. If you’re a quick sweat-er, join the club! Start with a regular beach or shower towel beside you, but you might find it beneficial to lay it across your whole mat. Some prefer a yogi-toes towel because they add extra grip to your hands, feet and mat.

What to wear

Comfort is key. I personally love my Cool Racerback Tank as a staple top. For bottoms, I alternate between Boogie On Shorts for a closer fit, and my Rock Out Crops for more coverage on my legs. Both items are moisture wicking and four-way stretch, perfect for a heated class. If you prefer natural fabrics, try lighter weight cottons like pima cotton.

Before class

Avoid heavy meals 2 hours before your class and try not to snack anything too big right before your class. Arrive 15-20 minutes before your first class. If you happen to catch your instructor before the class begins, let him/her know it’s your first time! Find a space either in the middle or the back of the room so you can follow along easily and have a good view of the instructor. Relax ☺

What to expect

You’ll get sweaty and hot quickly so sip water when you need to. More importantly, breathe deeply. The heat will alter your breaths so make sure this is top of mind. And never do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing. Child’s pose and savasana/corpse pose are encouraged when you need a rest.

After class

The heat from hot yoga is meant to detoxify you. Make sure to drink plenty of water after your class. Notice how you feel that evening and the following day before you attend another class.

The greatest thing about hot yoga is that anyone can try it, and anyone can do it. You don’t have to be experienced or flexible, just open to a new experience that could add a little hot fun in your life!

Dancers rejoice! Our version of the little black dress has arrived!! Dancers spend hours upon hours focusing and critiquing their lines in the mirror. Naturally, they’ll want to sport clothing that fits the lines of their bodies. So what do I suggest, you may ask? The Super Sweat One’R!

When dancing in the studio or frolicking in the park (I can’t be the only one who does this), you want to be comfortable in your clothes and like the way you look. No dancer wants to worry about material that will inconveniently ride into inconvenient places!

This black one-piece is the perfect outfit for a dance class. What’s important to think about is how this little number will fit your body while dancing. At first glimpse, it appears you’re wearing a long tank with shorts underneath.

However, you will be pleasantly surprised that if you do a penché - or for the contemporary dancers, a roll on the floor, your core will still be covered and the lines still smooth and continuous. Made out of circle mesh and luon to keep you cool, I’d suggest wearing it for ballet (if your teacher isn’t strict on the pink tights/black body suit rule), contemporary, jazz, and yoga of course. The strap under the bust provides support while the shoulder straps dive down to the lower back. This is visually the most appealing detail of the one-piece because it shows off the lines and musculature of the back.

For a closer look check out your local store or our online one:
http://shop.lululemon.com/Super_Sweat_OneR/pd/np/540/p/1431.html

Above: Georgia gives nude yoga a try in the privacy of our office yoga studio.

My friend who lives in New York City just told me about a studio in her neighborhood that offers naked yoga - classes that cater to those who prefer practicing yoga without clothes.

The idea of stripping down to stretch truly shocked me. I realize that many people view the body as a sacred temple, but downward dog in the buff? There are days when I can barely manage my muffin top during yoga class, let alone letting it all hang out.

Whether the classes are transforming or titillating is up for debate, but studios that offer naked yoga classes claim the classes are non-sexual. I do see the freedom in the classes, moving your body in its natural state and accepting the way it looks and feels as you flow from one position to the next. I guess it's the sense of vulnerability that freaks me out, a comfort level that I'm not quite ready for just yet. Trust me, I'll be sticking to my standard favorite yoga outfit: groove pants and Tri Y tank. The outfit is like my second skin, so comfortable you almost feel like you’re naked… and that's good enough for me.

Above: Jeremiah enjoying a somewhat private nude yoga session at the lululemon head office.