It was the fourth-largest race in the United States and lululemon athletica Ala Moana was ready. Our crew came out in full force for the 37th Honolulu Marathon, an event attracting nearly 24,000 runners from Hawaii and around the world.

On the morning of the marathon, we set the alarm clocks for 4 a.m. and headed out to the race course to find the most prime location to cheer on the runners. Armed with lululemon manifesto posters, a stereo and ipod to play motivating music for the runners, cowbells, huge speed shorts, not to mention our voices and hearts… the Honolululemons cheered for almost three hours straight! Using our manifesto signs, we reminded everyone to "Sweat Once a Day," "Breathe Deeply," "Choose a Positive Thought," and "Love!"

From some of the most elite runners in the world to walkers to wheelchair racers, we reached out to and supported each and every marathon participant - 23,469 people to be exact!

'Sweat once day' signs encouraging people to hit the pavement harder.

Whether it's one of the biggest marathons, our store's run clubs, or a yoga class… as part of the lululemon athletica community, we aim to build relationships with people like you. We hope to spark authentic conversations, encourage you to set a goal and to motivate you to take that first step towards a new life. Find the store nearest you and just ask.Tell us your story. Share your goals with us. We are your cheerleaders, your supporters, your motivators, and we hope to change the world… one cheer station at a time.

Who are you cheering on?

But you may catch me changing costumes. Sometimes I'll enter my car dressed in business slacks, a sweater set and heels – and just minutes later, I'll step out of the car donning sneakers, moisture-wicking luon, and a matching headband to boot.

I'm just one of the many educators moonlighting at lululemon athletica. By day, I work full-time at a non-profit organization. By night (and sometimes on weekends), I am a part-time educator at lululemon athletica Ala Moana. Many people ask me why I do it. The money, the complimentary yoga classes (yes! lululemon gives its employees the gift of fitness!), the discount? All great reasons, but it's not what keeps me going during those 14-hour days.

Marisa and the honolululemons after a recent spin class.

It's the people. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by those who believe self-growth and development are non-negotiable, guests who put health and wellness as a priority, and colleagues who make it fun to come to work. People who are passionate, enthusiastic, and live life to its fullest. People who believe that integrity is a must in the workplace, who help me set goals and hold me accountable, and who allow me to be my authentic self. And ultimately, it is lululemon athletica, a company that encourages entrepreneurship, motivates us to take ownership of our lives, and expects us to help elevate the world to greatness.

So don't be surprised if you see me wearing a bright colored Power Y tank under my wool cardigan at my full-time job. Or if you see me pulling on my Groove pants at a red light while driving from one job to the next. It's what I do. I'm a lululemon superwoman.

lululemon athletica Ala Moana's Studio of the Month featured the pole-dancing studio Fit for a Goddess.

Recently lululemon Ala Moana featured a pole-dancing studio called Fit for a Goddess as our store's studio of the month. We had in-store pole dancing demonstrations and a complimentary introductory class just for ladies. Seeing these athletic women fly through the air in front of complete strangers inspired me to sign up for a series of pole-dancing classes.

I've always been more of a tomboy: ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you that the extent of my dance repertoire consists of the robot, running man, or any other goofy move you can think of. So walking into a class that focused on femininity was at first a little uncomfortable for me.

Unleashing your inner Goddess with pole dancing.

Our teacher encouraged us to embrace our sexuality, to move our bodies with grace and strength, and to be comfortable with ourselves – no matter what age, shape or size. No judgments on ourselves or each other. At the end of our first class, our teacher told us it was "showcase time". We had to perform the dance number in small groups for the rest of the class. My heart started thumping and my palms started to sweat. We got up, did our thing, and it was over as quickly as it started.

Teachers from Fit for a Goddess did weekly pole-dancing demonstrations at the lululemon athletica Ala Moana store.

After class I laughed to myself -- now THAT was doing one thing a day that scares you. At least for me. While a dance class might not be a big deal for some... we all have different fears, push ourselves in numerous ways, and in the end, our take away lessons vary. But hopefully trying something new fuels our hunger for more – out of ourselves, out of others, and out of life!

Call me a skeptic, but I find it a bit silly to be slithering around like a snake on the gym floor reciting "ahhhhh, sexy spine" out loud.

It was my first Nia class and I had trouble keeping a straight face. I couldn't make eye contact with my fellow lululemon Ala Moana educators for fear of cracking up as we danced barefoot, twisting our spines and awkwardly flailing our arms in the air.

Nia, which stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Actions, is described as a body-mind fitness and lifestyle program. Students kick off their shoes as they incorporate movement and philosophies from dance, yoga, pilates, martial arts, and more – moving their way to a healthier and more empowered mind, body and soul.

During the class, as I willed myself to keep an open mind and allow my body to relax, I watched the teacher let loose and encourage her students to do the same. People around me were spontaneously spinning, singing, clapping, and even releasing shouts of "yes!" I also noticed that no one could stop smiling as we danced around the room. That freedom made me shun my self-consciousness and I started to shake and shimmy to the music.

I think my change of heart came after noticing I was surrounded by women of all ages who were fully aware of their bodies, with no hesitation to express their grace and power. It was a place that gave me a sense of freedom, pushing me to become more energized, strong, and confident.

I'm convinced that Nia is a fun stress-buster, as well as a joyful way to get in shape, become more in tune with your body, and even find happiness while sweating it out. To find a Nia class near you, visit a lululemon store and ask them to point you in the right direction, or check out the Nia website at www.nianow.com.

How are you letting go today?

If you were to ask someone to wake up before dawn to do a little volunteer work… it would take a dedicated and committed person to step up to the challenge. But when lululemon athletica Ala Moana store manager Corey came calling, a group of Honolululemons woke up bright and early to support the local running community in Hawaii.

It was the Norman Tamanaha 15K, the first race of the 2009 Marathon Readiness Series, five events preparing athletes training for the Honolulu Marathon in December. Our job was to set up and man two of the water stations. As the sun began peeking above the mountains, we filled and stacked cup after cup after cup of water, gearing up for the wave of people that would soon crush upon us. As the first runners started approaching, we recognized one of our ambassadors, triathlete Rachel Ross. We started cheering and yelling to help give Rachel and the other runners the extra burst of motivation they needed to finish the 15K. As throngs of runners whizzed by us, water cups sloshed from hand to hand, and shouts of encouragement echoed in the air. What surprised us the most was how grateful everyone was for our support. We heard shouts of “Thanks!” “Mahalo!” and “Go lululemon!” All because we were helping these runners stay hydrated.

It seemed like we were the ones who should have been thanking the runners for allowing up to be just a small part of the race, for inspiring us to lace up our shoes for the next run, for giving us a chance to bond with each other outside of the lululemon store walls. A lesson learned… that while we were supporting our community, they were supporting us at the same time.

Above: Rachel Ross, an ambassador at our Ala Moana store in Hawaii, gets ready for her close up.

You see their pictures all over the lululemon store walls and website. They jump, prance, and pose in the air, on land and in front of the sea. They are the lululemon athletica ambassadors: a group of unique individuals who are rock star athletes, dancers, as well as stand-out yoga and fitness innovators, all of whom are involved in our communities and also embody the lululemon lifestyle and culture.

When I walk into a lululemon store, these pictures inspire me. It makes me want to be a better runner, a more focused yogi, and especially be someone who motivates and contributes to our community. And while the ambassador photographs you see look fabulous and flawless, there’s a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes in order to capture these movers and shakers of the fitness world. My colleague here at lululemon Ala Moana, Fabe, juggled the scheduling of six ambassador photo shoots this summer. From location scouting to logistical nightmares, Fabe and James, the professional photographer we hired for the shoots, tirelessly did their best to make our store’s ambassadors shine.

Fabe and her crew searched high and low for the place that would best embody the ambassador’s strength and spirit. Then there was hair and makeup (a big thank you to stylist Rene), a task usually not a high priority for these athletes who are no stranger to the lululemon manifesto quote: “sweat once a day to regenerate your skin.” A lot of credit also goes to the ambassadors themselves – as they had to endure the sometimes unglamorous tasks that come with a photo shoot, in this case, holding their yoga poses for an insane amount of time so that the photographer could get just the right shot.

So whether you’re walking into a lululemon store, checking out our ambassador photos online, or thinking about becoming an ambassador yourself… don’t forget that these photographs represent the heart and soul of lululemon… the people who drive us to be better educators, stronger athletes, and powerful community members.

Many people turn to yoga when they’re craving an inner sense of calm that we sometimes just can’t find in our stressful day to day lives. But it’s not all about seeking solitude, as my fellow educators and guests at the Ala Moana lululemon athletica store found out recently. Our in-store complimentary class of the week focused on partner yoga, a dynamic session led by our new ambassador Kate Baldwin.

Couples, friends, and strangers partnered up that Sunday morning to give it a try. At first there was a little hesitation: who to match up with? What is this teacher going to make us do? What if I’m not as flexible as the person I’m paired with? But as the class got underway, the boundaries were broken down and those anxiety-ridden thoughts disappeared as Kate and her partner demonstrated the creative and playful poses made especially for combinations of two. There was a lot of stretching, a lot of talking, and even more importantly, a lot of laughter. An unspoken bond slowly grew amongst our guests, a certain type of intimacy that is usually untouched in many of the yoga or other exercise classes we attend – where one can enter class, unroll their mat, focus on their practice, and then roll their mat back up again at the end of class without one word crossing our lips.

Partner yoga opens up the possibility of drawing someone close, being attentive of another participant’s vulnerabilities, admiring the qualities of interdependence and how it can empower us – all while opening our bodies, minds and hearts along the way.