When our Calgary Store ambassador, Andrea Rice hits the shore for a beach run she ditches her hair tie, tunes, shoes and inhibitions.

andrea’s recipe for a perfect beach run

set your pony tail free
Seriously, just do it! Ditch the elastic, the headband and the bobby pins and let your hair run wild as you hit the sand. Whether it's been stuffed into a toque (Canadian-speak for hat) all winter long or simply pulled away from your face for a long, long time, nothing says freedom like letting the mane blow in the breeze while you're footing it through the sand. It will feel awesome.

sink your toes into the sand
Barefoot running is all the rage right now but for those of us not quite ready to hit the pavement naked, beach running is a great sampler. The first couple of times you hit the beach barefoot, cut down your distance and duration to see how it feels. Running on a soft surface like sand will call upon the muscles in your feet, legs and core to work a little harder. Post-run, expect to be a little sore in few new places. Remember not to push your body through any physical pain – test the waters but ultimately do what feels right for you. If barefoot ain’t your thing, bring your sneakers to the beach with you.

ditch the watch
You won’t run as fast as you do on the pavement but every second of beach running will be time very well spent. It's a nice way to remember that running is awesome just for the sake of running.

leave the tunes behind
Unplug from your headphones and listen to the waves crashing, the birds chirping and the people playing. How refreshing to run with a true awareness of your surroundings. Let your body fall into the rhythm of the natural soundtrack.

dive in
What better way to finish off a run on the beach than to go for a swim! The best part of running on the beach is that sweet, sweet, plunge into the ocean to cool off.  Enjoy it! After all, you earned it!

For those of us living in the frosty north, there’s a very small window to enjoy the warmer temps that summer will bring. How do you infuse your workouts with a little summer love?

Lately, scientists in the sunscreen industry have been in the metaphorical hot seat. Sunscreen use is at an all time high (good) but so are skin cancer rates (bad).  'Sunscreen causes cancer' would've made a much more sensational title for this post but it's actually misuse of sunscreen that's adding to cancer's success. People have a false sense of protection with sunscreens. Instead we should be getting smaller doses of sun and covering up more.

common misconceptions

 

• my high SPF sunscreen blocks the sun's radiation

  There are different types of radiation from the sun. SPF (the sunscreen measurement we're most familiar with) refers to the level of protection against Ultraviolet B rays (UVB). This is great for stopping the burn because UVB rays are the ones that damage the skin and cause sunburn. Unfortunately, roughly 95% of the sun’s rays are the dastardly UVA rays that cause wrinkling and sagging. More importantly, they also trigger cell mutations that may initiate skin cancer. Sunscreens offer such minimal protection against UVA rays that in most cases is not even indicated on the bottle.

• I'm not burnt so I'm fine

  Sunscreen provides a filter allowing us to spend all day in the sun and moderate the rate of tan, from beige to brown sugar. But the sun's rays that burn you are different from the ones that contribute to cancer. Think of sun burn as a smoke alarm. If you've been in the sun long enough to get burnt, you've been out long enough for UVAs to do damage. If you turn off your smoke alarm (aka putting on sunscreen) you won't know if the kitchen's on fire.

• the sun is bad for you

  Staying out of the sun all day could be as detrimental to your health as staying in the sun all day. When sunlight touches your skin, your body makes vitamin D (you may not have heard about it because no-one's worked out how to make money out of it). Vitamin D plays an amazing role in preventing osteoporosis and breast cancer. Try to get small doses, often. Don't try to cram a year's worth of sun into one day at the beach.

   

   

   

   

protect yourself against uva

Sunscreen messes with your body's natural defenses against the sun's radiation: a sunburn is a gentle reminder to get out of the sun before the bad radiation shows up. The best way to protect yourself from UVA radiation but still get a good dose of vitamin D is to adopt the philosophy of “everything in moderation”. Go out in the sun (sans sunscreen) but don't stay out too long. When determining 'how long is too long' take these factors into consideration:

• your skin tone
• the heat of the day, cloud coverage etc.
• the time of day (burn time will be longer in the evenings and early mornings)
• location (In New Zealand the burn time is announced as part of the weather report and is usually under 10 minutes)

Make the most of hats (to protect the delicate skin around your eyes), shady trees or a shirt to enjoy the outdoors without putting yourself at risk. Maybe we can even bring back the parasol.

avoid wrinkles (& the big C) with this gear

Our Sunbeam and Sun Blocker tops have a UPF rating of 45- 50 (the top rating possible). This means that they block upwards of 97.5 of UVA & UVB rays.

• Sunbeam Pullover
• Sun Blocker Long Sleeve
• Women's Cross Training Cap
• Women's Reflection Run Visor

Image: flickr/yukoners

Ahhh, the sweet scent of summer is upon us! The air is fragrant with flowers, cruiser bike gangs are converging on every corner and weekend missions are being planned with the passion & precision of a NASA launch. One activity that's synonymous with the season is the group camping trip. No matter your style of camping, from a relaxing journey into nature (with canoes, hikes and tents) to a full-on party (complete with BBQs, high-fives and cannonball competitions), there are essential components to take your voyage from lame to ‘best weekend of my LIFE!” status.

miraculously versatile sweater 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– we all have that one sweater that goes with everything – and you need to be prepared. What happens if your campsite just so happens to sit next to a Dirty Dancing-esque resort and you all decide to crash the party? It’s always smart to have a go-to piece.

one more bikini than you think you’ll need 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Okay, so you probably won’t wear it. But swimsuits take negative space in your backpack and you can never have too many options for swimwear. While you’re at it – toss in another pair of undies (pssst, our undies are really awesome, guides honor – no muffin top!!!)

an extra air mattress for the lake 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Someone is inevitably going to forget theirs and if you save their day, you’ll enter hero status. To rocket into the camping god stratosphere, bring an inflatable party raft. Sure, it sounds tacky – until you’re having the best afternoon of your life. Schwing!

the perfect beach blanket 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Okay friends, be strategic when it comes to picking your blanket, whether it's for sand, grass, or some other miscellaneous surface (hey, I'm not a judge-y camper). Mexican blankets are fabulous; thick enough to not feel sticks and rocks and beautiful enough to add a little boho vibe. Straw mats are also a chic and practical choice. Just don't make one of two classic blanket mistakes: using a too-small towel as your blanket or the ultimate cardinal sin of blanket behavior, bringing your childhood blankie. You might think it's sweet, but lying on your mothball-scented Strawberry Shortcake comforter isn't as cute & ironic as you think.

yoga mat 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– One of the best ways to soak in the beauty of your camping spot is doing sunrise yoga. Just imagine - gazing out from the familiar home of upward dog at the stunning sight of the sun rising into the sky, followed by a deep, full breath of fresh air. I'm feeling serene just writing this! Bonus: the mat doubles as a comfy seat for you and a friend to sit and eat lunch on! Multitasking is so hot right now.

disposable underwater camera 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– maybe it’s just me, but underwater photos are still novel and exciting. Plus, you can’t take a billion ‘re-do’ photos with an old-fashioned throwaway, therefore achieving authentic, in-the moment photos - a rarity these days in the world of pose downs and hipster mobile downloads.

playing cards & crib board 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– You may never need them, but should the weather turn gnarly you’ll be happy you threw these in your bag.

surf rashguard 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Going surfing on your vacay? If you’ve been before, you’ll know – a rashguard is a must to prevent, yup, you guessed it, a rash. Is it just me or are we getting smart up in here?

Image: flickr/Eko

ghetto blaster

– The wilderness is one of the few places where being a luddite is still awesome. Get yourself some speakers for your iPod or better yet, a ghetto blaster. You’ll be the de facto party station for the rest of the weekend

new sweet tunes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Sunshine + good tunes = camping nirvana. Bring a ghetto blaster (see above) coupled with great music and you've got a new soundtrack for your life. On that note, see below my favorite songs for mellow summertime hangin'.

"World’s Got A Handle" – Sun Wizard
This might be the new greatest road trip song of all time.

"The Birds" – Serenades
The Swedes do it again – this new Scandinavian group just released an album full of ethereal, catchy beats.

"Young Blood" – The Naked & Famous
This song sounds like skinny-dipping…if that is even possible.

"Pumped Up Kicks" – Foster the People
The hottest track around right now. These dudes sound awesome and look like Jack Johnson’s hot little brothers.

"2 Hearts" – Digitalism
Check out this new song from the most underrated posse out of Australia. Warning: not for the casual camping trip.

"Lizstomania" – Edwin Van Cleef (featuring Jane Hurley)
This clever cover of Phoenix’s monster hit will have you basking in the late afternoon sunshine, praying for the moment to never end.

"Towers" – Bon Iver
Just when you thought it couldn’t be done…Bon Iver goes and releases an even better album. Perfect for late night marshmallow roasts and friendships.

Alright, now pack up the car and get out there! I’ll be the one with the burned veggie dog humming Bob Seger.

Just like summer weddings, summer beach reading can't be rushed into without advice from your friends. When we asked for some great beach reads for the summer, you didn't let us down. Here are the top picks for "something old, something new, something deep and something trashy". Enjoy!



If we've missed your favourites, be sure to let us know. We're always on the lookout for the latest and greatest best-story-ever-told.

want more

• Line up your music for summer.
• Be prepared for adventure with paradise beachwear.

When lululemon ambassador Jenn Thiel first went stand-up paddleboarding, it was at the Jericho sailing club on a first date. She instantly fell in love with paddle-boarding but, unfortunately, not with him. That was over two years ago and she's still in love. To me, Stand-Up Paddleboarders will always look like Venetian gondoliers doing 'weekend casual'. For aeons, people have been standing and paddling on the canals of Venice, the rivers of America and amidst the waves of Hawaii. All you need is water, a board, a paddle and abs.

steep learning curve

Although Jenn's experience as a surfer undoubtedly came in handy, the learning curve for paddleboarding is steep (steep is good). The boards have a lot of grip and aren't top-heavy like kayaks; plus there are tons of variables to make the sport as easy or as challenging as you like:

• start by kneeling (the paddle lengths are adjustable)
• try a different size board; the wider it is the more stable it'll be
• flat water is easier; choppy is more difficult; and surf and journeying (travelling on long trips) is for advanced paddlers

what to wear

On her first date, Jenn she was out there in a bikini. That's awesome on a sunny day and if you start to overheat on your workout you can jump in the water to cool off. Most rentals are for an hour to and hour and a half so if the weather or the water's a little bit chillier, a rash guard or a shorty wetsuit might be advisable. Once you know what you're doing you can switch it up. You'll see a lot of paddlers in shorts and a top.

the best kind of workout

Stand-up paddleboarding works the entire body because you're constantly making micro movements to stabilize yourself on the board. The day after, while her date nursed a broken heart, Jenn nursed sore muscles. "I woke up and I was like, 'why are my abs sore? I think, at least partly, it was from laughing so much." You steer with your paddle, which means steering with your abs, your arms and your back. "It really gets you're heart rate up," says Jenn. "Even when you're having fun it's still a workout but you can make it a super workout too; you can even have races - you go faster than you'd think."

Jenn says that her favourite thing about being on the board is that it feels so zen (looking at her photos we can see why). Watching a sunset out on the board would be unreal! We're looking forward to finding a piece of that serenity for ourselves.

want more

• Discover even more reasons to love Vancouver.
• Explore the Paradise Beachwear.
  
• Check out the Oceanman race in August in Vancouver.
  

What do you get when you mix 10 of the world’s best athletes, one of the world’s best yogis, two of the world’s best designers, two of the world’s best lululemon-leaders, and one of the most beautiful places on earth? Well, you get the lululemon elite retreat 2009 -- and obviously a really great time.

Early July 2009 saw myself and our fearless community leader, Eric, take some of our amazing elite ambassadors on the annual-legendary elite retreat to Tofino, BC. I am undeniably biased about the wonder of Tofino (being from Vancouver Island myself) but seriously, people - Google it and go!

To best describe this surreal experience, here’s a day in the life of an elite retreater. And I should know, as I was the diligent itinerary creator.

6:30 - 7:30am The athletes suit up and head in to the water for an early morning surf session

7:30am We grab a quick bite and head over to the yoga studio

8:00 - 9:30am Eoin Finn leads us through a true Eoin-esque practice. There is laughter, challenge, surf quotes, and an overwhelming confidence in us all that yoga truly does enhance elite athletic pursuits.

9:30am We eat again! The athletes should be - Eric and I are just indulging and pretending to be training for the Olympics like the rest of them.

10:00am - 12:00pm The athletes head out for their individual training sessions. Yes, if you are counting, this is the third time they have worked out already today. The bobsledders head to the gym to squat imaginable amounts of weight as the Nordic combined skier goes off for a wee 2.5 hr run. All in pursuit of Olympic gold. Terribly inspiring.

12:30pm You guessed it- we eat again! The food Olympics.

1:00pm Marks the arrival of our two designers du choix - Shannon and MelEesa, and our vice-president of everything progressively inspiring - Sherry.

2:00 - 5:00pm The athletes immediately bond to the new lululemon family members that have arrived and the surf is up so our athletes drag the designers in to the water for a surf session.

5:30pm The design meeting to top all design meeting commences. Shannon and MelEesa create pandemonium with the new fantastic fall samples and our athletes provide us with what can only be described as mind-boggling feedback from the world’s best athletes (because that’s what they are).

7:30pm The conversation continues as we take down some real west coast sushi action.

8:30pm Bedtime. Having all become fast, furious friends, we share conversation and inspiration around a bonfire on the beach - oh, and of course we eat! S'mores!

I speak for us all when I say that to be on a trip like this one is truly inspirational. (Have I used that word already? ) I feel my position here is one of connector of inspirational people and I am honoured to be in this role. These athletes are members of our family and they absolutely love being supported by us with our culture and our movement of elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness. We feel they are true representatives of what it means to strive for greatness in your life and as they strive for Olympic gold next year, we will be there to support them as true family members do.