When I first gleaned the potential power of goal setting, I didn’t yet work for lululemon. After a fellow design student raved about her new pants, I decided to pick a pair up for myself, and I discovered a magical source known as the lululemon manifesto. The exact wording of this is buried behind a veil of thick fog but I do recall it made reference to goal setters in university outperforming their fellow alumni years later to a staggering degree. Needless to say, my first attempt at goal setting was anything but SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely), but it was a start in the right direction and I continued to dabble in goal setting from then on.

Two years later, I found my first full time gig at the very same place I first heard about the power of goal setting, lululemon athletica Yorkdale. After many a great experience in the store, (and my mum thought all that luon® wasn’t the best use of my student loan funding - ha!) it seemed like a great place for me to get my start in life. It was at this point I found myself surrounded by greatness and those heavily invested in my continued development. With much coaching I had a clear 10 year vision, a hedgehog and a list of goals to get me there.

I set a two-year goal of working for Holt Renfrew in inventory systems and processes and a five-year goal (in 2007) of moving to Vancouver to work for the lululemon Store Support Centre analyzing operational systems and processes. At the time, both of these seemed like a stretch since Holt Renfrew is notorious for nepotism in its hiring and I had never even been to Vancouver.

No less than 8 months after setting these goals I was hired at Holt Renfrew as an EDI Coordinator (Electronic Data Interchange, a system that ensures accurate and timely delivery of inventory). Less than three years later, I find myself living my five-year dream as Ecommerce Operations Coordinator at lululemon athletica. The moral of the story? I’m a living example of how quickly things can come in to your life when you have a clear vision and are setting SMART goals to get you there.

Do you want to learn some of the great tools Sheena used to achieve her goals? Check out our goaltender website: http://goals.lululemon.com/

Ahhh, the gusset. What, you may ask, is a gusset? Well, it’s a magical patch of material made to help you leap, lunge, squat and move with more freedom. You may not realize the comfort and coddling that the gusset provides until you experience it yourself.

Most pants are made with two seams (front to back and from one leg to the other) that intersect right in the crotch area. Here at lululemon, instead of the standard 4-way stop crotch seam, we incorporate a crucial technical feature to increase mobility, as well as improve the fit and comfort while wearing our pants… it’s called the gusset.

No camel toe here.

In the world of sewing, a gusset is a piece of fabric placed between a seam to provide expansion or reinforcement. The diamond-shaped patch is sewn between the legs – preventing a tight fitting short, pant, or crop from riding up during exercise. The glory of the gusset lies in helping you stay focused on your movement instead of being distracted over a little irritation down there, or heaven forbid, the dreaded camel toe.

Our lovely gusset so you can bend and stretch comfortably.

An added bonus is that most lululemon gussets are made out of Coolmax, a breathable fabric that helps you stay dry while you’re working up a sweat… so that the only thing you have to worry about when exercising is your actual workout. So next time you pull on a pair of lululemon shorts, crops, or pants and prepare to get your groove on, take time to gawk at the glamorous gusset before going on your way.

Curious about some of the other cool features we have? Check out the features and benefits section: http://www.lululemon.com/education/info/features

I never liked the word ’should’. Although words may be just words, I find you put a lot behind them, both consciously and unconsciously. To me, ’should’ is surrounded by negativity: guilt, frustration, self-doubt. Even when used in a seemingly positive sentence like, “Oh you should go for that job, you are brilliant!”. The word adds pressure to the person’s decision to make the ‘right’ choice. But if we eliminate that word, we embrace the opportunities that lie before us, not making either right or wrong, merely a path we choose.

‘Deserve’ is an amazing word. Just this last week, I started substituting it for the word ’should’, to an amazing affect. I found that it gave me a new sense of motivation when I realized I deserved greatness in my life. Honestly, this can apply to all areas. For example, washing dishes is my absolute least favourite chore to do. Too often I find myself having this conversation while sitting on the couch: “Oh, I should do the dishes… but I don’t want to… gah but I really should do them…” etc. However, when I say, “I deserve clean dishes!”, I’m like “Yeah!! I do!” and set about cleaning them.

I took this and applied it to my writing, my workouts, free-time, the lot! And I have to say I clearly notice a vast improvement, especially in my happiness and feeling of vitality. You all deserve an amazing life, the life you truly want. I challenge you to join me, in a ’should’-free diet!

I ran the San Jose Rock n Roll Half Marathon recently. I’ll discuss my performance later in the post, but I had to get some thoughts out of my head and onto the screen (pen and paper in the past, right?).

Every time I go to an event, or race…if you prefer to call it that, I am touched, moved and inspired. This starts the day before the race: race packet pick up day!

the day before

You can feel the energy of anticipation from tens, hundreds or thousands of people, whether it is their first race or their 100th.

As I stroll up to the packet pickup table, I can’t help but move with a sense of confidence. I can’t help but smile as the volunteer hands this seasoned volunteer his race number. This is it: all of the work you put in to the days, weeks and months before, culminating in just a few hours. I thank the volunteers for their time (required!) because these people make the races we love so much fun.

I walk the expo floor, searching for the coolest new athletic gear, like most endurance geeks do. I rarely find anything I haven’t seen before, but alas, I did get something and put another item on my wish list! I bought a Power Balance band, this little wristband that is supposed to help with your electrical field and balance. The expo conjures up memories and emotions of races past and as I leave I call my best friend, reminiscing about our first half marathon four years ago.

race day

Race day is here! This is it: graduation day. You put in the work and this is the easy part (most of the time). The energy reaches its climax when the starter’s pistol sounds. Off we go! The fun is trying to harness your excitement in the first mile, to remember your pace!

For this race, I ran in a faster group and couldn’t help but feel more alone despite the other 9,000+ runners. The silence of fast runners was draining! The best part about running in slower pace groups is the eavesdropping on neighboring conversations and engaging in your own friendly banter.

I run with a purpose. I’m out to do my best each and every time I tie my shoes. I also run for fun. I smile and thank all the volunteers, I high-five the kids and cheerleaders lining the street. Their energy and support carry me in every race. It is so cool that random people are cheering you on as if you were Michael Jordan on the court! As the miles add up, so do the thoughts running through my mind. I am no longer running on the initial anxiety, but more so on pure guts and personal pride. I have a goal and I will attain that goal or be damned trying. At mile 12, it is almost over, I’m almost there and my body is begging me to walk…but I won’t. I feel the nervous energy of the racers around me, each running for the best finishing time of their life. I turn on the juice, and start to pick people off. “Go Jonny Go! Hold that pace! You are an animal!” I finish and feel accomplished, I’ve more than reached my goal, I kicked its ass.

Wait! I’m not done yet! I haven’t told you why I just put my mind and body through the spin cycle.

1) I did it to inspire. I not only run for myself, but I run for those who can’t as well as those who won’t. I run with the hope that my athletic pursuits will inspire others to make the most of their wonderful bodies. The abilities we each have are amazing and a gift. Why not use them? I think I inspire others with the desire and will to push beyond what we THINK is possible. Why be mediocre when you can be great?! No one can tell you when you are great or not, that is something only you will know. It is easy to answer with one question…Did you do your best? If you said anything other than an ecstatic YES!, then you weren’t great, and only you know it. Give it your all, and see what mental and physical rewards you will reap…I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

2) I race to be inspired. On the walk to my car, I look at the faces of the people still running, two hours after I had finished. I can’t help but cheer and clap them on. Most of them don’t look like “athletes” but they are and not because anyone said they were, but because they are doing it. At times I have to take a deep breath. Everyone has a story for why they are out there. Is it to raise awareness for a cause? For someone who couldn’t be there that day? To challenge themselves? For the free stuff? My eyes fill with saline (just a little)…as I couldn’t be more inspired by these people. I’m inspired that people are living…and choosing such a fun way to live.

So folks, keep moving, keep grooving and keep inspiring me to be great. I promise to do the same.

I guess you could say I race because it makes me smile, and we could all use a good smile. Why do you race?

Want great insight on listening to your body and resting between runs? Check out Janice’s blog: http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/run-hard-rest-harder

“So what do you do?” Such a common and automatic question when meeting someone new.
“I’m in retail,” I answer, but always felt compelled to add, “but it isn’t your normal retail store”.

Three years ago I knew nothing of lululemon, luon or Groove Pants. One of my Canadian girlfriends mentioned it one day. “What a weird name,” I thought to myself.

“Oh my God their pants are amazing!” she said and continued to rave about them. I thought she was insane going nuts over a pair of pants. That was until I tried my first pair of Groove Pants on and nodded, “Ah, I see what all the fuss is about now,” as I wondered where they had been all my life.

Fate had it that that summer I was looking for work and came across a rare advert for lululemon looking to hire now. What did I have to lose? My friend had gone on about them and I needed a job. Right from the get go however, I realized there was more than met the eye. My ‘interview’ was held outside, sitting on some steps in Mountain Square in Whistler. As soon as the woman interviewing me started talking about goals and goal setting, I had fallen in love. With the company holding so many similar ideals and aims as my own, it was like the guidance I had been searching for was right before me.

Jenna taking part in a yoga class with everyone.

Some of her co-workers.

Cheering for our elite ambassador!

Now, it’s a year and a half later and I looked back on my time so far with lululemon and realize what an amazing company I work for. I have done guerilla yoga, cheered at the World Cup bobsleigh and skeleton races as a LEAF (lululemon elite ambassador fan), taken my hand to visual merchandising, organized a yoga stretch event before a running race, strutted my stuff on the catwalk at a fit and function show, let my creativity bloom as a blog artist and now helped as a team wear judge. My job title? Educator!

Opportunity is always there for the taking. All you have to do is have the courage to step up.

Andrea and Elizabeth doing dancer’s pose.

Proudly driven down from Portland to San Francisco by Andrea Hehr and Elizabeth Brotz, we present the lululemon love van! “It was a reminder of what I’m here to do. The company that we work for continuously amazes me and it was a sweet journey with a dear friend. We covered every discussion under the sun,” said Andrea.

Speaking of sun, you can do sun salutations on the roof of this van with its unique yoga platform.

Other awesome features
- Bio-diesel eco-friendly design
- Microwave
- Sink and fridge
- 40″ plasma
- Wi-fi
- Killer sound system

Our sweet wheels are ready to hit up all the yoga classes!

Welcome to the inside of our lululemon van!

Our lovely manifesto.

Wrapped in our manifesto, this van brought upon sudden awe and dropped jaws from onlookers and drivers along the freeway. “You could see the wheels start to spin…them asking themselves…when was the last time I did one thing a day that scared me?” Andrea.

After working for lululemon, we become immune to the boldness of our manifesto because it really becomes part of our everyday life.

Northern California should watch for us as we explore the region in our lululemon love bus - we’ll be hitting up all the coolest events and riding in style. Get ready to be inspired.

Climb on up and join us for a sun salutation soon!

Time stood still. I was floating through the air upside down and actually took the time to think that I might die. I thought of the many things I still wanted to do, places I wanted to see. The cool things I was happy I’d done, and the many people in my life with so much love to share. It was not my day.

A second later I hit the ground head first from 10 metres above. My back explodes at L-1 like a pop can a kid jumps on and the vertebrae above and below break in nine places. I am stuck upside down in wind blown corn snow up to my ears and cannot move.

I am airlifted out of the glacier to the Whistler Health Clinic where my fears are confirmed Although I am alive, I am paralyzed from the waist down. Later that night I am sent down to Vancouver to be patched up to live in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.

Luckily, the doctors were wrong, and my spinal cord injury is incomplete vs. complete. But luck is an understatement. Nine years later, although I am considered 40% paralyzed below the waist, I have learned to walk again, learned to cross country ski, and even learned to snowboard again. Not everyone can do what I did. Most people with a spinal cord injury do not have the opportunity to get any muscles back and even if they do, they don’t get enough of what they need to walk.

So, I am lucky, but I worked hard at it. I set goals. I stayed positive and looked at the world with what I could do, not what I couldn’t do. I took up yoga and believed that I could think my way into a pose even if I couldn’t do the pose. I thought to myself to just try every day to do more, to learn more, to be strong and understand that if I fall down, it is because I am pushing the limits. In fact, I learned to walk again by falling down and getting back up and falling some more. Metaphorically I believe this is what success is all about – falling down and getting back up until you don’t fall down anymore.

Staying positive and looking for the positive aspect in everything I do is my key. I like to say I can turn two negatives into a positive. It sounds corny, but I believe it and I believe in myself. It doesn’t mean I don’t ask for help. It means that because I try to help myself in a positive manner, others will believe in me and help me too. All I need to do is ask.

Last month, I received an email from my super cool friend, Olympian Nicole Forrester, asking for people to climb the CN Tower with other national team members to raise money for the United Way - a charity I have always believed in. They help people ask for a better life, thus helping communities and families throughout the world.

I wasn’t sure if I could do it, so I drove down to Vancouver and trained in a stairway doing 20 flights at a time and taking the elevator down and doing it seven more times. I figured I could do it, the 147 flights of stairs (1776 steps), in about 35 minutes.

Tyler and his team about to climb the CN Tower!

A group shot of the amazing athletes before climbing the CN Tower for United Way.

The team cheering for a great cause.

When I took the challenge two weeks ago I blew my attainable goal out of the water by clocking a time just under 20 minutes. Kayak Olympian and World Champion Adam Van Koeverden did it in about 14 minutes. Paralympian Stephanie Reid Lakatos ran it in about 17 minutes on her below the knee carbon fiber prosthetic, young Leah Robinson did it like me with some paralysis in her right leg and Wilfredo (Papito) Moré Wilson did it with just one leg and two crutches - was I ever impressed! As you can see, we are all capable of achieving greatness. As Muhammad Ali said, “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

So here I am: climbing new mountains every day. Although there are several hundred things I can’t do, there are several millions I can continue to do. I can’t run and I can’t jump but I can get up and be happy every day. I can set goals and achieve the seemingly impossible and I am not afraid to try. So in March of 2010, look for me racing in cross country skiing at the Paralympic games. I hope you are able to climb your mountains and leave the pebbles behind.

Namaste - Tyler

Check out Tyler Mosher’s fan Facebook page for updates: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyler-Mosher/42536243617

It’s been a long time since I’ve laced up my shoes to go for a run. But recently some of us from the lululemon Ala Moana store volunteered to pass out water at a local half marathon. We cheered on runners and passed out water before dawn. I was so inspired to see this massive group of runners pushing themselves so early in the morning.There were people of all ages and abilities pounding the pavement. Running, walking, smiling and laughing… we even saw one man who was running the entire half marathon backwards!

I felt the urge to get my butt into gear and start running. If all of these people could do it, so could I. But getting started can be difficult, especially when the word “run” is barely in my vocabulary. I wanted to share my plan with all of you, to get your advice and hear your experiences, and hopefully get motivated by all of the other people out there who want to start running as well.

lululemon athletica Ala Moana Run Club Coach Claire was on the other side of the race.

set a goal

First things first, set a goal. Inspired by the half marathon we volunteered at, I’ve decided to run a half marathon by February 2010. Setting and sharing a goal helps to keep us accountable.

start to train

Now that you know the direction you’re heading, next comes the fun part… starting to train. There are a lot of running clubs, groups and clinics in the community. If you live near a lululemon store, you’ve got a wealth of information at your fingertips. Many locations, like the Ala Moana store that I work at, have run clubs or clinics that you can join. If not, we can help point you in the direction, whether it’s finding a safe route for you or even joining you for a run!

what to wear

Another important part of starting to run is to find the proper fitting clothes. lululemon has an extensive line of high performance and moisture-wicking run products. (If you live in a colder climate, read this blog post for more on layering your run outfit).

Finally, hang in there. I know it won’t always be fun nor easy, but if you set your mind to do something, there is nothing stopping you from finishing!

Remember this photo from last month? Read on for an exciting update!

You spoke, and we listened! Thanks to all the feedback we received over the past month while we offered complimentary shipping online, we have made the decision to continue with this offer… forever! That’s right - complimentary shipping is here to stay!

We’ll continue to pick up the ground shipping bill for online orders shipped within Canada* and the US, and our international guests will still receive a $30 flat rate.

For all the shipping details, please visit our FAQ page here.

And if you want to “like” this or spread the word on Facebook, visit our event page.

*Please note: our guests in Saskatchewan can contact the Saskatoon store to place a phone order at 306.651.8858 and receive complimentary shipping.

Happy shopping!

Did you know that one of the most amazing details on a brand new lululemon garment is a thin strip of ribbon located (usually) at the base of the neck? Get out your magnifying glasses and check out what you’ve been missing!

The reversed side of the tag is in French. For our American friends, French is one of the two official languages spoken in Canada!

And if you’re ready, most of the tags are removable. Just gently pull on it and it will tear free of the seam.

Many guests have asked, and we listened. On our new garments, you should be able to find a little circle on the inside of the liner or pocket noting the size of your garment.

And if you’re looking for care instructions, read this blog post: How Do I Wash My lululemon?

Elissa with her mother, who is 55, fit and fabulous!

Please join me in celebrating her 55th birthday! Her motto is “Fifty (five), Fit, and Fabulous!” and fabulous she is. From a young age, she taught me to celebrate even the smallest achievements. My mom now has a catalogue of fifty-five years’ worth, big and small. Collect your confetti!

• She has performed at Disneyland and she has her face on records.



• She conquered her fear of water at the age of forty by learning to water-ski BEFORE learning to swim.
• She challenges me to keep myself active and hydrated everyday.
• She taught me all the important life lessons, like butter is better.
• Her five year goal? “Sexy at Sixty!”

Thinking of a birthday present this year was easy after seeing early glimpses of our new Heathered Charcoal Pique Luon. I picked out a Stride Jacket for her, to keep her warm and dry on her daily morning walks. (And just for the record, my mom is one mean speed-walker. She’ll be in the record books one day for being the fastest walking grandma.) I love knowing that she’ll be thinking of me every day she wears it, seeing as I can’t be there to challenge her pace all the time.

Her favourite features on the jacket are the cozy hood, the thumbholes, and the length in the body. I asked her to describe our new pique luon and here’s what she said: “That fabric is significantly different than my other jackets. It’s very stretchy….how do I describe it? It’s very cozy.” There are rayon fibres woven into this genius new fabric. That’s what makes it so soft. I’m glad it is cozy for her, because she works so hard to make life cozy for so many others.

If you haven’t had a chance to touch this fabric yet, get yourself to a store immediately! It’s truly unlike anything you’ve seen from us.

Happy Birthday Mom!

As runners, we learn to push through pain and discomfort. However, we are often stubborn when it comes to listening to our own bodies.

When you are in tune with your body, you can recognize the signs that tell you to rest to prevent the onset of an injury. Runners that can recognize these signs often choose to ignore them, and push through the pain because we don’t want to miss a workout, but listening to what your body needs is the best way to keep you running strong.

Any time I have ever had a running injury, I always look backwards to what occurred leading up to the injury. Every time, there were warning signs - and now, after 12 years of competitive running and two stress fractures this year, I finally know when I am in danger of another injury.

For me, the signs that I am overtraining or need to take an extra day off begins with nagging pains in a tendon. Often, the pain is not bad enough to warrant a day off, but it’s enough for me to be aware of it. Secondly, my injuries are always preceded by a bad cold or flu. Before both of my stress fractures, and a tendon injury in ’08, I came down with a lingering flu-like cold. Before my first stress fracture, I even lost my voice for a couple of weeks, but I foolishly did not take time off from running. Irritability is also a sign of overtraining for me.

Every runner is different. Often runners who are over-training report difficulty sleeping, an increased heart rate, or lack of motivation. The important thing is to recognize the warning signs that your body gives you.

As I become a more mature runner, I am more in tune with the needs of my body, especially during periods of intense training and racing. Last week, after a hard, 15 mile run, I felt a nagging in my ankle, coupled with feelings of stress. Instead of training through it, I took two days of complete rest, and visited the physical therapist to have it worked on right away. Those two things knocked out the nagging pain, and I probably prevented a more serious injury. Three days later, I went on to place 2nd in an 8k!

Listen to your body! Racing and hard training is enough of a challenge without being injured. Stay healthy out there.

How are you listening to your body?

I’d heard so much about you, and I’ll admit that I’ve had a crush on you from afar for quite some time; but we’d never really met until that one fateful afternoon. They told me you’d make a world of difference in my practice and that you’d stay with me forever. They spoke of your thickness, your extra width, even your eco-friendly ideals - but I was skeptical. I’m skeptical no longer.

You keep me grounded and I feel less pressure (in my joints) when you’re around.

Your dual surfaces keep me from slipping while still keeping you in place; my practice is your practice, and I take comfort in this companionship.

To be quite honest, I can’t keep my hands off of you.

And though I thought this might be a home-studio affair, I’ve realized how perfectly you fit into my tote and I adore how easily you’ve transitioned into my life.

It’s easy to take you for granted, but I promise I won’t. You’ll be with me for a lifetime and I’m grateful to have found you.

Love Always,

me.

When I received the call three weeks ago that I had been nominated to run with the torch, I was… well, not that excited. I know that sounds bad and I by no means was taking the honour lightly, but in the spirit of full disclosure this was what was going through my head: well, your goal was to win the Olympics in Vancouver, but I guess carrying the torch is kind of cool.

You see, as a two-time Olympian who was forced into retirement through injury, my past Olympic experiences had consisted of operating within an insular bubble of train-rest- compete-leave. I was not exposed to what the world around me understood. I admittedly pretended to understand what this “Olympic movement” was all about.

As an athlete who competed continually throughout the two weeks, I only left the security of the Village to train or compete. All of my down time was spent preparing for the next competition. In preparation for the Olympics in 2002, I decided not to attend the opening ceremonies. As unfathomable as this is to many, I felt like it would negatively affect my competition. Looking back now, I regret that decision. I had not absorbed the spirit of the Games, I just wanted to win.

Well, it took two Olympics, and a 300m run with a torch, but I’ve finally got the spirit! When I boarded that bus with my 15 fellow torch bearers, who together would cover a whopping distance of 4.5 km, something happened, something changed. I don’t know if it was our guide who could barely speak of the Olympics without crying, or the woman who was running in honour of her daughter Hope who had recently passed away, but I started to tingle as that bus took off. 

Allison’s biggest/littlest fan

We cruised down the streets lined with people waving flags and kids chanting and the tingles turned to tears. By the time I actually took off with the official flame for my 300m segment, I knew what I think others knew all along. The Olympic Games represent so much more than sport. They truly are a peace movement, where a country first comes together to carry a torch a total of 45,000km, and then welcomes the rest of the world in the celebration of challenging the human spirit. I apologize if I am telling you all something you already knew, but I just wanted to share that it took the torch to teach me this, and I will always be grateful. Go World!

A well-sized, roomy pocket: on its own it sounds pretty average, right? Well, add that pocket to the face of a luxurious gym towel and you have the Action Gym Towel!

It wasn’t until I was getting my things ready for a trip to the gym that I realized this pocket could come in handy before I even walked out my front door.

I have a few extra pieces that I reserve for the gym:

• Hair tie - I’m envying those ladies with short, chic styles right now!
• Slipless headband too, because it has been many long months since I started growing my bangs out
• Gym pass – need it to get through the doors

The pocket lets me keep these items in my towel once it comes out of the wash so that I won’t forget to bring my essentials every time I head to the gym.

Now, we all know that ladies tend to carry a few extra pieces, but what about guys? What would they use this pocket for, I wonder?

Fortunately, my fiancée was able to help with that mystery.  He chose his iPod and armband carrier, as well as his work out gloves; and yes, it all fit – I closed the zipper myself!

So we’ve covered the gym prep, but how did this towel perform when I arrived at the gym? I tested it every way I could think of, like on the treadmill:

I was most interested to see how it would perform underneath me on the bench, holding my keys all at the same time. I am glad to report that it is large enough to keep the keys from pressing into your back and cover the bench too!

Thank you lululemon design team for taking the everyday gym towel a giant leap forward! Here’s the rest of why you will love the Action Gym Towel:

• This luxurious 20”x30” gym towel makes you want to work up a sweat at the gym
• The perfect blend of cotton and modal, which are both absorbent and super soft against your skin.
• Built-in zipper pocket keeps your keys, coins and a hair tie at your fingertips
• “Hang out friendly”: has a built-in loop so your towel never hits the floor in the locker room

You can find the Action Gym Towel in store or online at http://shop.lululemon.com/Action_Gym_Towel