Chances are high you’ve seen Tess' name around Twitter and our Facebook page, answering your product questions or handing out virtual high fives for recent goals crushed. As one of our incredibly social savvy team members - Tess spends her days pursuing the internet and chatting with some of the coolest people out there (like you!). The conversations Tess has every day at work consistently inspire her and recently led her to create a badass goal - "the Ambassador Project".

Have you ever had one of those moments where you wonder “Is this real life?” Those happen to me on the regular in my job. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I work in social media. This vague title (much to the confusion of border control officers and my parents – hi, Mum!) allows me the opportunity to spend my days cruising the internet and chatting to some of the raddest people out here – you guys.  I answer tweets about anything from directions to the nearest store to the best places to sweat in your hood. I’m naturally chatty (ask anyone who’s ever been in a room with me) so getting up each morning to hear about all the cool and inspiring things our guests are up to is such a treat.

One group of people that inspire me daily are our  ambassadors. Now, I fully intend on finishing my degree and eventually winding up with my PhD in physiology but if the opportunity arose for me to be a professional marathon cheerleader, I’d drop the textbooks in a heartbeat. The thing is, I love athletes. I have the deepest respect for anyone who is willing to go all out to try something they’ve never done before. Nothing moves me to keep going than knowing that there are people out there getting up to 4am alarms to run track in the rain, juggling schedules to create workouts or showing up on their mats for their students. I’m a person who turns to sweat when things gets rough. I wanted to spend some time getting to know the people that have helped me through some of my darkest hours and might not even know it. It started with a simple declaration and lo, the Ambassador Project was born.

sweats so far

Yin Yoga – Elle Basten

Spin – Mike Porter

Spin – Natasha Lowe

Hot Yoga with Music– Sasha Smith

Hot Yoga – Heather McEwen

Barre Method – Carolyn Williams

the road ahead

I have a long, sweaty road ahead of me which is perfect for working off holiday shortbread and one too many spiked eggnogs.  After the YVR edition is complete, I’m headed to NYC to stretch, spin and sweat with our ambassadors in the city that don’t sleep. I can’t wait to see all of you on the mat, in the box or on the bike.

Feeling inspired? Get out there and get to know the ambassadors in your neighbourhood. Needing inspiration? You know where Tess can be found and she’d be happy to chat about your goals and sweaty pursuits. If you’re an ambassador and you want to sweat with her, leave a note or shoot her a tweet @thatgirlsix with the hashtag #ambassadorproject. Let’s get sweaty!

Watch our recap of the festival:

And check out a few photos highlighting what we got up to!

At Wanderlust Whistler 2012, we:

made new friends in the forest

learned how to fly

met a rasta dog

turned a field into an outdoor yoga studio

danced to michael franti

reached out and touched people

celebrated after the sun went down

filled the gratitude wall every day

did yoga on paddleboards

hung out with ambassadors

threw our hands in the air

got hooped

got janet stoned

closed the weekend in the best place possible: on a mountaintop

To everyone that came from near and far, who tuned in via livestream, and who shared the weekend with us: thank you. See you next year?

More photos of downdogs and dancing are in this Facebook album.

Alright friends, drop and give us 20!

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)?

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!

From brightly coloured knee-highs to calf and arm sleeves, compression garments promise better muscle recovery and in some cases, better performance. We couldn’t help but wonder if the obsession with compression is truly game-changing or just a goofy style throwback to the days of Keds and tube socks. We asked two of our run ambassadors if they buy into the gear.

run ambassador sam sykes – yay!

Friends, strangers and athletes, I’m here to tell you: embrace the compression, love the compression, and the compression will hug you back!

Compression – it comes in many forms.  Tights, crops, shirts, tanks, arm sleeves, calf sleeves, socks. You name the body part and it can be outfitted in snug, muscle-loving fabric. The gear increases blood circulation to your tired, hardworking muscles and reduces lactic acid buildup for quicker recovery post-workout. As for wearing it during activity, it probably won’t make a difference to your race times, despite the few scientific studies out there that claim it boosts performance.

Me – I love the squeeze.  It’s like a constant massage on my tired legs when I shimmy (and shake and jump and wiggle) into my compression tights.  Wearing my compression socks post-race is the foot rub that nobody wants to give me. It is seriously awesome-amazing.

run ambassador linda wong – nay! (well, impartial but that doesn’t rhyme)

I got my first pair of compression socks about two years ago. Word on the street is that they are supposed to help with recovery so I was open to a little experimenting! I went on a few longs runs and then sported my socks when I got home. The verdict – I didn’t really notice anything; I am completely indifferent. I did however continue to wear them but mostly just because I haven't worn knee highs since grade school and it was fun.

I asked a few medical professionals what their thoughts were and these were the basics of what they had to say:

• Unless you're going to put your feet up and wear your compression socks, you're not really using the compression socks to the full effect.  Standing and walking around after a workout only causes your blood to pool – gravity is still in effect my friends!
• There are so many different brands of compression socks out there - some are good, some are not so good.  Medical ones have different "grades" based on your needs and calf size. It’s definitely a good idea to do your research if you’re going to invest.

My conclusion - with many things in this world, do what works for you.  I can't say that I'm a full-on believer of them but I'm not ruling it out just yet.

So, is compression worth all the hoop-la or is it just another costume piece for runners who are trying too hard?

want more?

• get up close and personal with our technical features
• more great debate: running with music
• how to layer for fall runs

help! i sweat so much in yoga that i slip

"Even in non hot yoga classes, I always end up drenched by the first half of class and while it’s a bit embarrassing, my biggest issue is that I slip in down dog and similar."

From: Solutions For Heavy Sweaters
Answered by: Kinndli, lululemon Oakville.

camel pose makes me feel sick

"I was wondering why Camel pose makes me feel nauseous. I have been told it could be because it is a very vulnerable position when your heart is exposed. Is this true?"

From: Hot Yoga + Camel Pose
Answered by: Danielle, lululemon Robson St.

am i ready for teacher training?

"How do you know if you're ready to take on yoga teacher training?"

From: Am I Ready For Teacher Training?
Answered by: Kinndli, Grace, and Ted

what kind of yoga poses can pregnant people do?

"I’ve been practicing yoga for years, and I was wondering what poses are off limits during pregnancy?"

Read more from Tips for Growing Bellies
Answered by: Danielle, lululemon Robson St.

how do i get started with yoga?

"I want to start yoga but I don't know how to begin. Is there a type of yoga for beginners?"

From: How to Begin.
Answered by: Danielle, lululemon Robson St.

confused about my crow pose

"I'm having trouble with my crow pose. Do my arms go outside of my legs?"

From: Tips for Crow Pose
Answered by: Grace, lululemon Queen St.

can you get buff from only yoga?

"I have a few yoga instructors who have the most amazing bodies say that they only do yoga, no cardio."

From: Yoga + Cardio... the Perfect Mix?
Answered by: Ted, lululemon Santa Monica

why do you roll to the right from savasana?

"Why does my yoga instructor always have us lie on our right side before coming up from the final relaxation pose?"

From: Why The Right Side?
Answered by: Ted and Grace

is yoga for non-flexible people too?

"I am not flexible. Do you think I can still do yoga?"

From: Not Flexible? Don't Worry.
Answered by: Grace, lululemon Queen St.

help! i have tight hamstrings

"My hamstrings prevent me from achieving all kinds of yoga poses and it’s really frustrating. Is there anything else I can do besides stretching daily?"

From: Tight Hamstrings: Help!
Answered by: Grace, lululemon Queen St.

A big thank you to our ambassadors for sharing your words of wisdom and insight with our guests. Do you have a burning yoga or run question you need answered? Email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

describe yourself in 5 words

Tuned into something very big.

what are your 1-year, 5 year and 10 year goals?

One year goal: By January 2011 I have created and launched an inspiring Blissology Project lifestyle program that will set off a global love revolution!

Five year goal: By January 2016 I will have a centre where people can study yoga and blissology and experience the wonder of the ocean. The ripples will be felt around the world!

Ten year goal: Our baby (due in Feb. 2011), will be 10 by then, so by Jan 2021 I will do a daily triathlon of surf, yoga and hammock-chilling every day for a whole month with my wife Insiya and our family at our Sri Lankan bliss palace on the beach.

how did you come up with the term blissology?

Blissology is a word that I came up with in university. It's the art of finding sustainable happiness by getting in touch with a force that helps us feel more love, kindness, and connection.

what is the blissology project?

It's a global movement to create more love and positive thinking by committing to six "Big Easy Bliss Commitments": yoga, meditation, nature appreciation, food awareness, gratitude, and a wild card using both online and local communities.

People are participating in the project all around the world from L.A. to London to Sydney.

what's next for you?

Continuing to inspire others to live from the same place of love. I will be at lululemon stores in January talking about how to create a life mission, which is the perfect complement to goal setting. As a surfer, I always tell people, "why bob around in life, when you can surf?"

Read Eoin's lululemon ambassador profile >>
Learn more about the Blissology Project >>

what is the lululemon ambassador program?

The lululemon ambassador program is extended to unique individuals in our store communities who embody the lululemon lifestyle and live our culture. Learn more about the ambassador program here.

Ambassadors yoga-ing at this week's first ever Ambassador Summit!

what's an elite ambassador?

Our elite ambassadors are our international rock stars, athletes of an elite level (think Olympians) that choose to train and/or compete in our fantastic product because it is the best in the world. Further to that, they are members of our lululemon family. Learn more about elite ambassadors here.

so, what's appreciation week about?

We'll be sharing profiles, stories and more to highlight as many of our amazing ambassadors as we can. Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages for more to come!

• Learn more about our ambassador program
• Learn about our elite ambassadors
• Apply online to be an ambassador!
• Meet an alumni ambassador

What do you want to learn about our ambassadors? Leave a comment below!