Tahoe, you took our breath away! The combination of your bright blue waters and 5000ft elevation had us wheezing for air and scrambling for descriptive words. I’m pretty sure ‘oh em gee’ isn’t an adjective but it’s all we could manage around each bend of the lake. Truckee – we loved your small town single street vibe, your wonderful community and wicked French Margaritas – here’s what went down at the second stop of our #vannaontherun roadtrip.

if you happen to find yourself in tahoe (for 24 hours or less)…

eat
Cottonwood is the place to be on a Thursday (or any day) in Truckee! Pull up a seat on their patio, wrap yourself in a Mexican blanket and settle in for a night of fun times and French Margs. Make sure to order food, if you’d like to keep your feet on the floor. The butternut squash enchiladas come highly recommended and seem to do the trick.

sleep
Cozy up at the Cedar House Sport Hotel. In true euro style, each bed comes with two duvets, taming even the most aggressive cover stealers and ensuring a great night sleep. Its proximity to the Cotton Wood is also a bonus – trust us.

sweat
Studio Tahoe and owner Shaelah Morris stole our hearts. Her super sweaty, soul-filled, heated Vinyasa Flow class was as challenging as it was fun. Shout outs to the Studio Tahoe community for leading us on a hike to Eagle Lake – a moderate 45-minute climb in Emerald Bay. Crystal clear waters, cliffs and waterfalls? What a beaut.

coffee
Coffeebar. Simply awesome name, simply awesome coffee.

shop
Downtown Truckee has one main street lined with a ton of cute little local shops. Be warned, most of the stores close up around 5PM. You must check out Bespoke Stuff & Things (which has only been open for one week!). It’s  owned by the loveliest couple, their son and their wiener dog Lulu (some coincidence!). 

 ’Til next time Tahoe! Who’s ready to get bendy with us in Bend?

Has anyone else schnitzeled and Seawheezed this week? How’s your training going?

Dear San Francisco, you really weren’t kidding when you said you had hills. Seriously – you tempted us to take a toboggan to your streets (what can we say, we’re Canucks, we know a good downhill thrill when we see one). We loved your charm, your trollies and your sourdough. Here’s what we got up to during the first stop of our #vannaontherun road trip.

If you happen to find yourself in San Fran (for 24 hours or less)…

eat
A toss up between A16 and Plant depending on what your in the mood for. The Funghi and Bianca pizzas at A16 were the real deal and washed down nicely with a solid glass of vino from the wine bar. Plant’s vegetarian fare will appeal to veggies and carnivores alike. Fresh juices and delicious sandwiches – hit up the Embarcadero location to have your meal served with a view.

sleep
We settled into the Sir Francis Drake hotel just fine. Clean, friendly and accommodating with just the right amount of character. Special shout out to our Beefeater/doorman friend  who was more than happy to ‘stretch it out’ with us.

sweat
Get a two for one deal by checking out the Golden Gate Bridge via an early morning dash across it. It’s a great out and back 5k route and the only excuse we need to hit the sourdough bread basket hard.

Note: we didn’t have a chance to hit up a yoga class but we’ve heard YogaTree is rad.


coffee
We take our fuel really seriously – diesel for Vanna, Blue Bottle lattes for us.

sweat treat
We stumbled upon the cutest little cupcake shop in Cow Hollow and would go back in a heartbeat if only for the neon pink glowing washrooms and funky décor. Of course, the cupcakes didn’t disappoint either. P.S we’ve heard Tartine Bakery is simply the best so it’s definitely on our list for the next time we’re in town.

Peace out SanFran – it was a slice. Next up, Tahoe!

We’re gearing up for a road trip and we couldn’t be more excited. We’re driving Vanna (our beloved, manifestoed, complete-with-a-yoga-platform-on-the-roof van) home from San Fran to Seattle and hitting up some sweet places along the way – hey, it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.

San Francisco, Tahoe, Bend, Portland and Seattle – we’re coming for you!

We’ll be getting sweaty in studios, tearing up run routes, hitting local hotspots (tweet us your recos)…and, yes, likely doing some touristy things along the way too (can you really blame a lifelong MK&A fan for wanting to see the Tanner household? No.)

Follow @lululemonlive for in the moment updates and check back on the blog as the #vannaontherun story unfolds!

Catch yah on the flip-side USA!

finding inspiration in all the right places (aka twitter)

I have a confession.  While I enjoy quotes, lyrics and inspirational messaging very much, I like to come across them by accident. Call me quixotic but I like inspirational material to make an immediate and surprisingly profound impact in the moment. This is why I love Twitter – in between the random musings of pals and the relentless take on the day’s events by various personalities, I follow a few yogis, athletes and musicians online. These special people often talk about their practices or training schedules – and sometimes they share musings or quotations (their own and other people’s) that strike a chord amongst the mad goings-on of the Twittersphere.

Here are the people that consistently inspire me to learn and reflect:

Elena Brower, @ElenaBrower

Without question, Elena is one of the coolest yogis on the scene (feel lucky, New Yorkers who get to practice with her!) She is so real online that it feels like I know her just through her tweets. She shares her experiences and thoughts in an accessible way that always seems to have relevance in the moment.

Alex Mazerolle, @girlvanayoga

Vancouver yogi Alex Mazerolle founded Girlvana Yoga to be a place for young girls and teens to discover yoga in a relatable and authentic way both online and in the studio. She is a must for daily inspiration and also for all the young folks in our lives who are just getting into their practice.

Marianne Williamson, @marwilliamson

Spiritual author and lecturer Marianne Williamson spits hot truth all over my Twitter feed on a daily basis. Her messages are simple, yet eerily effective; many times  I have dreamt out the window thinking and feeling a whole different way after glancing at one of her anecdotes.

Baron Baptiste, @BaptisteYoga

I completed an intensive Vinyasa retreat with Baron last year and still find myself thinking about what he said to us over the course of the weekend. He has the uncanny ability to sum up a profound ideology in a few words in a way that is immediately striking and powerful – and very, very yoga.

Danielle LaPorte, @DanielleLaPorte

This woman defies categorization. She’s a motivational speaker at events across Canada and works as a life coach – and many more things I’m sure I’m not doing justice to here. What I do know is that her Twitter feed is always filled with juicy nuggets that knock me on my butt and get me thinking in a whole new (and usually healthier and more awesome) way.

Who do you follow on Twitter for inspiration (and maybe perspiration)?

cheer station* stats**

# of people: 203
% cheer-induced sore throats the next day: 98
# of cowbells : 119
# of cowbell injuries: 1
# of rain sticks: 1
# of smoothies served by The Juice Truck: 550

*The lululemon cheer station at the 9km mark of the half marathon.
**All stats unofficial but as accurate as possible to the best of our knowledge.

Inspired to #runcouver, too? Visit seawheeze.com – T-minus 94 days and counting!

People who run marathons are incredibly fit, incredibly inspiring and, well, simply incredible. People who run ultramarathons are all of the above with the  (and we mean this is the best way possible) addition of incredibly crazy. We asked ultramarathoner and SoHo store ambassador, Tom Cripps, a few questions about going the distance.

an interview with an ultramarathoner

what do you run for?
It continually evolves for me. Sometimes I love the solitude. Sometimes I love the company. Sometimes I love the grit. Sometimes I love nothing about the run at all! There’s nothing like getting out of the city, hitting a trail and tearing up a dirt path. I don’t meditate but I guess you could liken it to that. For me, running is a release, an adventure and a killer workout too.

what exactly is an ultra?
Depends on who you ask, really. The actual definition is anything further than a marathon… so if you jog to the beer station after running a marathon, you could say you ran an ultra (and congratulations on that extra effort too!). Some people say it’s got to be a race that’s at least 50 miles. I think the best definition is 50k (about 32 miles) or more. There’s a lot that goes on between mile 26.2 and mile 32 and I think the mentality for most runners switches from speed to survival around here.

what inspired you to go the extra distance?
Like a lot of people, I did the ‘I want to run a marathon’ thing. Then I ran one. For two weeks after, I promised myself I would never do it again. After while I started to miss the commitment and the feeling of accomplishment. Then, I read the book (Born to Run – Christopher McDougall). I had no idea humans could even run much further than a marathon let alone 135 miles in the middle of Death Valley in the heat of summer. I was just so intrigued I had to try it myself. I am still as intrigued today as much as I have ever been.

let’s talk logistics – do you run the whole time? how do you eat? hydrate? go to the bathroom?
I have never actually run 50 miles non-stop – I have run 32 non-stop but that was around Manhattan so it was pretty flat. 

Eating can be a chore for me as after a certain amount of mileage not everything wants to stay down. Hydration is really important too and getting the sodium levels right is pretty critical. There is an ultra golden rule that if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated so I try to take a good sip of water every 10 minutes or so. As for bathroom, I guess men are like dogs. The world is our potential urinal. As for women, there seems to be more logistics involved but the concept is exactly the same.

running an ultra feels like the ultimate goal – how do you push yourself beyond that?
One of the goals I’m working on is to run an ultra marathon on all seven continents. I love to travel as much as I love to run, so this should save me some time and give me plenty of ammunition to bore people with when I’m old.

rumour has it you’re headed to china for a race soon?
In a few weeks I’m running The North Face 100km in China to raise money for LearnToLive. It’s a cause focused on providing sustainable healthcare and resources to areas in North Sulawesi (Indonesia) where there is absolutely zero history of any healthcare. The organization sends health workers and engineers to North Sulawesi for one month on an annual basis to diagnose, treat and educate these communities. This is kind of an intangible benefit but I also believe this experience provides these workers with a unique perspective that will simply make them better at what they do.

Are you ready for race season? We’re getting serious about our training (and cheering). Only 95 days to go ‘til The SeaWheeze!

When you’ve been travelling, your body can get confused. How do you explain “missed flight” and “jet lag” to your joints and ligaments? Our mission when we landed in Amsterdam last month (en route to Belgium to support the Specialized-lululemon cycling team): find yoga.

vondelpark: yoga found us

The scene: a misty early morning in Amsterdam’s urban park.
The stalkers: two bleary-eyed Canadians on rented hotel bikes, yoga mats in tow.
The yogi: We came across Ciara, who recently completed her yoga teacher training in India, and had to stop to take some stealth footage.

svaha yoga

After Vondelpark, we flowed and twisted in Wouter’s class at Svaha Yoga.

The neighbourhood: Jordaan, a central, walkable neighbourhood with cute shops.
The studio: a well-established studio in Amsterdam (with two locations). The Jordaan studio has two levels, and feels cozy and eclectic.
The yoga: All kinds of yoga are practiced here, from Ashtanga Vinyasa to Restorative.
Things I loved: harmonium playing to open and close class, chandeliers and a colourful roof, and lavender-scented eye pillows for savasana (side note – I want to make these – does anyone have a recipe?).

delight yoga

The second studio we visited on our DIY yoga tour of Amsterdam was Delight Yoga, where we took a yin class with Skadi.

The neighbourhood: Centrally located on the Weteringschans, in a heritage building with no signage.
The studio: Three floors, high ceilings, steep staircases, beautiful, light and modern.
The yoga: Multiple styles offered, including Ashtanga, Anusara, and meditation.
Things I loved: The most beautiful change room and reception area I’ve ever been in, sparkly class tokens, the sweet-spicy tea after class.

Skadi guided us through restorative poses and the 1.5 hour class went by in a blur – in fact, I may have fallen asleep completely but I’m not quite sure. I just know that when it was over, my back was smiling.

a few more reasons to pack stretchy clothes on your next trip

• downdogging with locals = direct access to local recommendations for the best coffee or post-yoga apple pie
• finding the yoga studio is an adventure on its own and a guaranteed way to discover new neighbourhoods.
• your body will thank you.

These are only two examples of the many studios and styles of yoga that Amsterdam offers. What’s your favourite Amsterdam studio, and why?

A curious lizard walks across the floor as we settle into Savasana cooled by a Bali breeze, listening to the hum of cicadas. At the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud — a celebration of music, yoga and art — nature is all around. Mix in thousands of yogis from around the globe and plenty of scrumptious food and, well, it’s over-the-top good. Oakridge Store ambassador, Chantal O’Sullivan, and Northern Australia community guru, Lindsay Udell, share with us their top five memories from the festival.

chantal’s top five

1. Dodging chickens, dogs, potholes and so many people, zigzagging through traffic on the daily 20-minute scooter ride from Ubud to the festival. It’s a beautiful and terrifying ride. I miss it already.

2. Sitting on a beanbag in the outdoor lounge area, sipping on coconuts with friends, new and old, and taking in the scene. So many interesting people all gathered together to learn. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

3. Taking part in 108 sun salutations taught by teachers from around the world — including local favourites, Eoin Finn and Tina James. Set to live music, surrounded by the lush green of Bali, it doesn’t get more uplifting than this. And I have never sweat so much in my life.

4. I loved, loved, loved all the classes I got to take in. As a teacher, it’s a real pleasure to be a student. Every class was a gift and an opportunity to slow down, to learn. Or as Eoin Finn said in his Hug-It-Out Hammock Yoga Blissfest: “You just need to slow down, breathe and get under a tree.” (A palm tree in Bali did the trick nicely Eoin!)

5. Bali, all of it. I’m smitten. From the smiling people I met daily to the delicious food, it’s a place that is easy to love. ”Terima kasih” or thank-you. That’s what I kept thinking and saying all through my trip. Thank you Bali. I’ll be back next year!

lindsay’s top five

1. Being able to go straight from a sweaty class into the pool — much needed on day one after Les Levanthal’s class.

2. The amazing yoga-dance party led by Angel & Matt of Future Sound of Yoga. No better way to close day two than dancing with friends old and new.

3. The post Savasana bliss following Simon Low’s Yin class that lasted an entire day. I don’t think I snapped out of it until the next morning!

4. Tickling as a yoga posture in Eoin Finn’s class. It’s good to do a class that brings me home when I’m all the way across the world. (Ed’s note: Lindsay’s a Canuck rocking it out in Aus – and living the life).

5. Learning a new language, connecting with a new culture and a getting to practice in a space that overlooks a rice paddy.

Anyone else have a chance to attend the festival? What were your favourite memories?

Your studio is called One Yoga for the People. What’s the philosophy behind the name?
Yoga is for the people, regardless of age, gender, social status, financial situation, height, weight, etc. I chose the name One Yoga a few years ago for my yoga school in Saskatoon. The name symbolizes our interconnection of all beings, the oneness of mind and body (in the heart) that yoga brings, and the truth that we all share One Love.

Why is it important for you to have a donation based studio?
We realize that people often stop coming to classes because they are broke or struggling financially and we want to be available regardless. Yoga can be a tremendous support in times of trouble and we believe so strongly in its power that we will give classes for free if we have to.

We’re always looking for great books. What are you reading right now? Feeling The Shoulder of The Lion and The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks are two books that are either at my bedside, in the yoga room or in my backpack. I’m also reading Start Something That Matters written by Blake Mycoskie (the guy who started TOMS shoes!).

Tell us about your charity! What makes you so passionate about kids yoga?
I few years ago I started a charity called Vinyasa Yoga for Youth. It empowers youth ages 3-23 through the practice of yoga.

Gandhi said, “peace begins with the children.” I believe that through yoga, children can learn to be their highest selves, not the selves that succumb to negative influences and peer pressure.

One Yoga recently worked on a design collaboration with the lululemon lab. What interested you in working with the lab?
When I walked into the lab, I felt the positivity, vibrancy and creativity that the staff there had. I wanted to be around the people working there. I loved that they were working directly with other yoga practitioners and teachers in the community and designing based on their feedback.

What did you learn?
I learned how supportive the lululemon community really is. The crew at the lab really wanted to work together to create new, innovative clothes that can be worn in or out of the studio and that they weren’t afraid to colour outside the lines and be creative with what they were making. I can’t tell you how much fun it was to do the collaboration!

We hear you’re teaching at Wanderlust Whistler this summer! What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to seeing all of the yoga peeps from all over Canada and the U.S. Many of my teachers/students/friends from other studios around North America are coming to hang out, practice and dance! I’m also stoked that Michael Franti is coming to rock with us!

I’ve noticed that there’s almost always music playing at OYFTP. Do you have any favourite songs to practice to?
For Vinyasa practice, I’d say Hijomalind by Sigur Ros, Exercising by Lee “Scratch” Perry, Lotus Flower by Radiohead and I’m also loving Holocene by Bon Iver.

For Savasana, definitely Healing Room by Sinead O’Connor and Beth Rest (Piano Version) by Bon Iver.

Curious about all the brainstorming going on in the pics? Check out the Liberty Crop, one of the lululemon lab and One Yoga collaboration pieces!

What did you get up to last weekend? Lateesha, a key leader from lululemon Soho, practiced with global yogis, declared new goals and got her dance on with a live DJ and drum circle. Read on for her other New York Yoga Journal conference highlights.

making new friends at the photo booth
I spent much of my weekend at our photo booth, where yogis looking for a place to relax would stop by, like the group looking seriously yoga-stoned after their all day intensive with Ana Forrest. Yogis from all over the world visited to have conversations, make new friends and strike a pose. The atmosphere was so fun which is probably the reason I pitched a tent and camped out here all weekend!

getting my dance on
Dancing at a yoga conference? This was no ordinary dance party. Part energetic yoga class, part free form body bumping dance party and a whole lotta fun. Elena Brower, Dana Flynn and Shiva Rea lead the evening and created a space that was both meditative and playful. How often do you get to meet up with hundreds of friends (both old and new) to shake your booty to a live DJ set and drum circle? Highlight of the evening: the entire class on their mat singing along to a soulful version of Empire State of Mind. A New York moment that can never be repeated!

creating a life i love
On Sunday, our eastern U.S training manager, Tricia Prange, shared tools to make powerful choices and build a future that inspires and moves us, at our Create a Life You Love workshop. If you missed it, check out our goalsetting page for some of the juicy info.

practicing with seane corn
My 10-year vision includes having Seane Corn on speed dial and the opportunity to practice with her was by far the highlight of my YJC experience! Each year Seane’s organization Off the Mat, Into The World sponsors an international service project called the Global Seva Challenge that challenges yogis to raise $20,000. I plan to raise the funds and join OTM next year in India to raise awareness for the issue of sex trafficking worldwide.

Sounds like fun, right? If you live on the West Coast, good news! The first-ever Yoga Journal Conference in San Diego is happening July 12-16. We’ll be there with bells bandhas on.

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

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

Why her mom runs.

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

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

It was No Stopping Monday.

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

Love notes come in all forms.

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

Overheard at Heartbreak Hill: Go banana, go!

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

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

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

Don't forget to have fun along the way.

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

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

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

Go Wayne, go!

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

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

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

On May 17^th 2012, it’s your sports bra’s time to shine…

the itsy-bitsy-teenie-weenie bikini fear
Last May, as summer was approaching, I was overwhelmed by my annual beachwear anxiety. You know, that moment when you realize bikini season is right around the corner. Usually, I’m filled with dread but this particular year, there was a fire inside of me to change how I felt about myself. As a fitness instructor, I needed to own up to my role as a leader so I encouraged my riders to step out of their own comfort zones by facing a fear. I set a private, personal goal for myself to face my biggest fear of revealing my midriff. Why was this so scary? What was I trying to hide? I challenged myself to teach one of my SoulCycle classes wearing only a sports bra. When the class was over and I was still wearing my lame, gold jacket (yes, this class was Rihanna-themed), I was not only disappointed in myself but I felt like I had let down those riders who looked to me as someone who practices what she preaches.

s

the midriff movement
At that moment, I realized that I could not face this challenge alone, I needed the support of my peers. The only way I was going to be able to overcome my biggest fear was if an entire class would join me by riding in their sports bras too. A simple, personal goal quickly turned into a small movement when two of my personal heroes, NBC’S The Biggest Loser Season 11 finalists Olivia Ward and Hannah Curlee got on board. On July 29, 2011 we bared it all in a class and stories from women across the country  who participated in their own mini Sports Bra Challenges came pouring in.

turn your dreams into plans
That July, I became an ambassador for the lululemon Union Square store. Through a goal coaching session (which includes the terrifying task of writing down my goals and discussing them) it became clear to me that I was not through with The Sports Bra Challenge. I wanted to continue to challenge, support and help women and men all over the country feel comfortable in their bodies and to embrace who they are. I decided that I was going to recreate The Sports Bra Challenge on a much larger scale and make it more accessible to people all over the country. That’s when my dream started to become a reality.

putting a spin on it
What started out as an event quickly turned into a foundation. In January 2012, I created S.E.A.K. Foundation; a non-profit organization that empowers people to be confident in who they are through educational programs and events focused on physical and emotional health. The Sports Bra Challenge is now an event that provides the funding for SEAK to implement after-school programs for teenage girls in New York City to develop their sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

the 2012 sports bra challenge
On Thursday, May 17, SEAK Foundation presents The Sports Bra Challenge 2012. This one-day outdoor fitness event will consist of two large-scale SoulCycle classes, a Vinyasa Yoga class and a (free, kids-only) signature Pound Class through Crunch Fitness. All proceeds from the event will benefit City of Hope’s Positive Image Center and SEAK Foundation.

Come one, come all and get ready to grin and bare it. Registration for the event starts today!

In between classes today at the New York Yoga Journal Conference, I took a few minutes to challenge friends both old and new to a game of Truth or Dare. The game turned primarily into “Truth”, with only one dare issued (pending photo evidence), and things quickly got real.

have you ever faked an om?

“How do you fake an Om?” – Heather, lululemon Lincoln Square

“I’ve quietly Ommed, in my first few classes ever.” – Dana, lululemon Madison Ave.

have you ever passed gas in class?

“I can’t think of anything I’ve ever done that doesn’t involve me farting.” – Matt from the Himalayan Institute

“My bandhas keep it in.” – KB, lululemon Madison Ave.

have you ever faked an om?

“Heck yes. Made the ‘Om face’ and all!” – Bev, lululemon graphic designer (on the right), with graphic designer Steph who has been dared to do some public yoga (please check back).
Update! Here is Steph doing Child’s pose at MoMA:

have you ever passed gas in class?

“No. I don’t demo so that helps control the bodily functions.” – Andrew, photographer and lululemon Garden State

has a student ever passed gas while you were adjusting them?

“Yes.” – Matt Giardano, lululemon Soho ambassador & acroyogi

Moments after answering this question, Matt was inverted on a chair:

Tomorrow we’re hosting a vision and goals workshop at 1:45-2:45pm lead by Tricia, who will definitely not ask you embarassing questions and post them on the internet. See you there or on the mat!