meet antonia, lead yoga designer here at lululemon
Meet Antonia, (you know her as the creative brains behind many of the yoga pieces you love to love). Spending the first half of her life mostly en pointe, Antonia was the perfect candidate to take on the tutu project. We caught up with the dancer turned designer to score all the deats:

how did you get from dance to design?
I danced for 13 years, doing everything from Ballet to Jazz to Modern. I just loved to move! As a long-legged girl (who could never find pants that were long enough) my mom took to sewing me leotards and dance pants as well as all of the costumes for my studio. Without ever really realizing it, I was ‘designing’ from a really young age, making requests and adjustments to the dancewear my mom was constructing for me. When I wasn’t dancing I was sewing up little projects of my own (in third grade I designed scrunchies that I sold to my classmates).

Although I didn’t pursue dance professionally, the 13 years of competitions and costumes seemed like it was the perfect training for what would later become my career in athletic apparel design. It wasn’t something I’d planned but more so something I fell into.

the national ballet and lululemon, long-time besties?
What many people don’t know is that we’ve been in relationship with The National Ballet of Canada since we launched our dance line in 2007. At the time of the initial launch, the relationship involved design meetings with the dancers and having them test the gear for feedback. Even though we don’t design a specific dancewear line any longer, our Toronto stores have maintained a strong relationship with The National Ballet. It was this ongoing partnership that made us a great fit to participate in the tutu project.

tell us about the tutu!
The inspiration for creating this tutu was drawn from the famous ballet, Swan Lake. Swan Lake is the most demanding ballet for the principal dancer to preform technically and athletically. As an athletic apparel brand that focuses on functional gear (that looks great too) it felt so perfect to draw my inspiration from here. The tutu had to be able to deliver technical features to allow the dancer to think of nothing but her performance and, of course, look elegant and classic as well.

can you tell us a bit about the technology in the tutu?
The key technology used in the piece is called Naked Seam. This is a seam that is constructed without the use of thread. Many of the garments we design use this bonded seam in areas to reduce friction and abrasion the wearer may feel (see: chafing). Oh, and of course, we used our signature lightweight fabrics!

from design to sketches to construction, who else was involved in the project?
This project was great to work on as a side project to my regular role. In order to use the best talents of those around me, I enlisted my mom, Shirley Iamartino, to be the seamstress on the project and bring the tutu I envisioned to life. (Side note: in addition to my dance costumes, my mom was also the seamstress behind my wedding gown!). The illustrations and mood board was the work of Lauren Powell, one of our other yoga designers (and also a former dancer).  Without the collaboration and help of these ladies the tutu would still be only a vision in my mind.

Bravo Antonia! We love this tutu (and you!). Wanna see the other 59 tutus? Check them out here.

Girls in Canada have been dancing, figure-skating and plié-ing in ivivva for the last two years. We know how hard it is to moonwalk over the 49^th Parallel, so to make things easier ivivva gear is now available online in the USA.

To kick this party off, we thought we would put together a playlist of our current favourite tracks for girls to shake their tailfeathers to…and for nostalgia’s sake, we threw in some of the songs we loved so much when we were girls.

Dance. Sing. Floss. Travel. Then dance some more!

ready, set, dance playlist

what the kids are listening to these days
Katy Perry – The One That Got Away
Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Selena Gomez – Love You Like A Love Song

old school goodness
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
Madonna – Holiday
En Vogue – Free Your Mind
Kenny Loggins – Footloose

And as an added bonus (because why not, right?) – here are two holiday songs for you to croon to this coming season!

Justin Bieber – Under The Mistletoe
Wham! – Last Christmas

Grab your hairbrush, your girlfriend and perhaps a little liquid courage and dance this Friday night away.

After discovering one of my old dance recital VHS a few years back, I did two things. I wondered why my parents kept me enrolled in a dance program for so long and I vowed to stay clear of a dance floor for the rest of my life. That was until I discovered a fitness class where I found myself plié-ing and elevé-ing at the barre once more and, surprisingly, quite liking it. Our Boston-based Core Fusion Ambassador, Andrea Isabelle Lucas, takes us back to first position with the benefits of barre.

barre background

For decades, devotees have transformed their health through this practice, which provides the perfect balance of safe and challenging work through a blend of yoga, Pilates and ballet. Lotte Berk (a professional Ballerina) created this practice when she blended orthopedic exercises with her dance training while rehabbing an injury. These days we are seeing an explosion of Lotte Berk-inspired barre programs under a variety of names (Core Fusion, Nalini Method, Bar Method, Barre Fitness, Physique 57, Dailey Method, Rasamaya Barre, Pure Barre).

image: Pearl Distric ambassador, Denise Burchard

benefits of barre

Regular practice (three to five times a week) can increase muscle density, decrease body fat, improve flexibility and posture and rev up your metabolism. The hour-long class is a blend of strength training with our own body weight or light hand weights, interval cardio and lots of stretching.  The ballet-inspired workout focuses on incredibly efficient, tiny movements. Take our average sit-­up. There is about a one-inch range of motion that makes up the most challenging and beneficial part of that exercise – we’ll call it the sweet spot.  In a barre class, we’ll spend several minutes holding and working with tiny pulses in that sweet spot until our muscles not only burn but also shake with fatigue. Each muscle group is stretched immediately after it’s worked which promotes longer, leaner muscles and better recovery so we’re less sore the next day.

Don’t be fooled by its ballet roots, even though it looks graceful, it’s anything but effortless. Are you ready to return to the barre – even if your childhood experience was as embarrassing and uncoordinated as mine?

With so many workouts promising ‘dancer body’ results, Eaton Centre educators Jessica and Keri decided to go straight to the source and try the real thing.

sweat gracefully with ballet

We leapt and chasséed our way over to City Dance Corps in Toronto to attend a Power Barre ballet class. Our excitement (and slight apprehension) to break into dance came from a combination of watching too many episodes of “So You Think You Can Dance” and our goal to try a new way to sweat each week. Most studios offer drop-ins and you can expect to pay roughly what you would for a yoga class.

first position

With both of us brand new to ballet, learning movements and coordinating arms and legs was not as easy as we had thought. We went left when the group went right and did plié when we should have done elevé. No dance experience was necessary and the class had a good mix of skill level from beginners to seasoned dancers (who proved to be helpful for getting extra visual cues).

the burn of barre

We felt the burn in our calves, thighs and, yes, the booty too! Ballet incorporates endurance, strength and flexibility as well as a strong mental component (dancers are constantly working to isolate the proper muscles). We left the class with newly awakened glutes and (we like to think) better posture.

tip toe vs. tree pose

We were surprised to learn that, in some ways, the discipline of ballet is polar opposite to that of yoga. While yoga honours the journey towards inner peace, ballet values precision and perfection. The structure of ballet provides very clear progress markers and the approval of the instructor when you are positioned correctly is supremely gratifying.

what to wear

If you're thinking of hitting up a dance class, here’s what we wore:

• legwarmers – the extra layer helps muscles warm up faster (and gives you that 'Flashdance' motivation).
• Cool Racerback tank – a slim fitting tank allows the teacher to check your alignment.
• Wunder Under crops – the narrow leg is key when you are lifting, pointing and twirling.

We’ve heard people say you should always give hot yoga at least two tries before you decide whether you like it or not. According to Jessica and Keri, the same is true for ballet. Before split-leaping into your first ballet experience, make sure you find a class that suits your needs, intentions and skill level.

want more?

• Thea sets her goals in motion with dance
• Kundalini yoga got Jordan dancing like a pre-teen at a Bieber concert

Let’s take it back to a few years ago –okay maybe more than just a few. Let’s go back to that time when your inner kid didn’t exist because, well, that’s just who you were. A kid.

If your childhood was anything like mine, the concept of “spreading yourself too thin” only applied to too little jam on your toast. Between back-to-back dance class on Mondays, soccer on Wednesdays and gymnastics twice weekly, there was hardly a moment when we were ever standing still. You were always ready to bust a move and would breakout in dance any chance you got.

In 2009, we gave a warm welcome to ivivva athletica. Now, we’re proud to announce that on August 15^th the ivivva online store opened their digital doors to Canadian guests with the launch of the newly redesigned ivivva.com. ivivva creates clothing that is designed to perform through every cartwheel, chasse, and axel in both a functional and fun way. They’ve incorporated learnings from lululemon’s  athletic wear to ensure that every athlete is ready and able to reach their full potential.

Girls all over Canada will be lacing up their dancing shoes and going online to check out the entire ivivva closet for the first time ever. Like us, the online store also offers free shipping across Canada so girls can literally dance everywhere.

Hopefully we haven’t lost sight of our ability to get our groove on at the drop of a solid beat. Over the years our definition of activity has probably changed and morphed with us but the importance of exercise has always remained the same. We understand the value of athletic wear that promises performance and that enables us to run faster and go further.  The shining faces of the young girls who look up to us deserve nothing less.

As for our US guests, we haven’t forgotten about you. We’re working hard to get your online store all ready to go in time for the holidays. Sign up for ivivva.com’s email to be the first to know!

Are you in the first few years of a yoga practice like I am? Do you live your life in a whirlwind of work, friendships, family and everything else in between…and sometimes feel tired and overextended when your head hits the pillow? If this sounds like you, I highly recommend heading with a few close friends to a weekend festival like Wanderlust.

Primarily focused on yoga + music, Wanderlust Festival (held in a locations across the U.S. each year) is a wonderful blend of all things designed to nourish to your body, mind and spirit. I was lucky enough to attend this year’s Wanderlust in Stratton, Vermont, and I have a couple of key learnings I’d love to share with you.

1. variety of classes & quality of instructors

Can you say Rodney Yee-Colleen Saidman-John Friend-Seane Corn-Elena Brower ten times fast?! If you are a beginner yogi trying to take your practice to the next level, this is the PERECT forum. Not only are you practicing with some of the top instructors in the world, the variety of classes is staggering. In our all too fast-paced daily routines, sometimes we count on what is tried & true instead of venturing into, for example, a deep-breathing Kundalini class. At a weekend like this, you have so many opportunities to try new styles of yoga and you might surprise yourself with what you like. Anusara and I are now BFF forever!

2. go with friends

After opening your heart, hips, and well, everything over the course of four days, I guarantee you will have some of the most authentic, powerful conversations of your life. The girls and I talked about goals, health, relationships and more – and they were some of the most honest, warm and impactful conversations I’ve had in years. We also laughed & danced our butts off – my face was as sore as my hamstrings when I got home!

3. trust your body

As always, who we are on the mat is usually who we are off it, too. I came into my weekend in Vermont thinking I couldn’t do certain poses. A few classes in, I discovered that if I just tried to perform them, I could do them. Were my poses textbook? Or the deepest stretch in the room? No – but they were still the poses, and it was me doing them. I took this realization back to my home studio in Vancouver and my shifted perspective has me doing things now I wouldn’t have dreamed of three months ago – both in & outside of class.

4. go with an open mind & heart

There is literally something for everyone at a festival like this. From getting feathers woven into your hair to palm-reading to music of all kinds, there is a lot to do if you need to take a break from asanas. I had never heard Krishna Das sing and, to be honest, I probably would have said “he’s very talented but it isn’t my cup of tea” had I heard him before. However, after seeing him perform live at Wanderlust, I listen to him at home all the time when I’m relaxing & making dinner. An added bonus: when you come home and find a red feather tickling your shoulder during a day at work two weeks later, it’ll stop you dead in your tracks and make you giggle!

If you are looking for a retreat from your daily routine, want to deepen your daily practice and love exploring, check out a weekend yoga festival. You’ll leave lighter, more centered and ready to return to your life with a spring in your step and a renewed intention.

want more?

• top 10 wanderlust must-haves
• be sure to check back for Alana's daily recaps from Wanderlust Tahoe.

upcoming wanderlust yoga festivals

• Wanderlust Tahoe – Inspired Gathering
• Wanderlust Santa Monica – Yoga In The City
• Wanderlust Tahoe – Wanderlust CA
• Wanderlust Seattle – Yoga In The City

Something you should know about Thea, one of our Vancouver educators, is that she loves to dance for fun. For her, a successful party is simply not complete without a sweet, sweet dance floor. She tells us how her passion for dance (and a belief that it can bring communities together) led her to a series of Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals and a future date with Ellen.

I lost touch with dance in any sort of formal way after I finished school. It wasn’t until my sister’s wedding, 3 years later, that my passion was reignited with the brilliant plan of creating a flash mob as a gift! I choreographed a ridiculous routine to Beyonce’s ‘Put a Ring On It’ and made a step-by-step instructional video. The guests learned the steps prior to the wedding and busted it out an hour into the reception. It was awesome! The next winter, during Vancouver's Olympics, 5000 spectators watched as a 3000 strong flash mob danced my choreographed routine up and down Robson St. This second success gave me a new sense of energy, momentum and purpose (and an opportunity to set some goals.).

 

setting big hairy audacious goals

Focusing on my strengths and my passion for dance, I set my first BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal): I create an online instructional dance choreography business by January 2011.

It felt scary, foreign and ridiculous to create a business out of thin air. That, by the way, is how you know a goal is a BHAG. If it scares the crap out of you or seems impossible, it is a BHAG. It's been a year of huge learning, perseverance and patience but I have successfully created my business, Just For Fun Dance Party, and can check that BHAG off the list.

Of course there is always another juicy one waiting around the corner. My current BHAG gets me excited every time I think about it: the Vancouver Bust Out! It's an opportunity for Vancouverites to get together and create a unique and hilarious experience. A Bust Out is like a flash mob but it's NOT a secret. The goal is to engage with our greater community and do something just for the sake of fun!

the bold declaration

• 500+ Vancouverites participate in the Vancouver Bust Out on July 23rd during the Khatsahlano Music Fest.
• Ellen DeGeneres sees the video of the Bust out on youtube and invites me to teach her and her audience the dance. (I've assigned you a special ring tone, Ellen).

join in

Come join in the fun and bring all of your friends and family. We dare you all to try learning the first few moves and NOT giggle. Check out  justforfundanceparty.com or find the Just For Fun Dance Party Facebook page so you can learn the moves at home.

Or come practice in person with Thea. Here is the schedule of rehearsals for the Bust Out! happening on July 23rd:

• Wed July 13 from 8- 9pm @ lululemon West 4th (2113 W 4th Ave)
• Wed July 20 from 8- 9pm @ lululemon West 4th (2113 W 4th Ave)
• Fri July 22 from 7:15- 9:15 @ Semperviva Kits Beach (2201 W 4th Ave).

want more

• learn how to create powerful goals
• dance. sing. floss. travel. it's right there on the manifesto

the future sound of yoga

If you're craving something a little different, look no further than Sydney's own yoga-dance fusion: The Future Sound of Yoga: "The movements are a combination of traditional yoga poses and free-form dance. A live DJ creates the soundtrack, which is drawn from electronic dance music (e.g. Ambient, Trip Hop, Progressive, Tech House) and atmospheric band/artist albums (e.g. Bjork, Sigur Ros, Radiohead)." We call it electronica-induced bliss.

who's behind the future?

Matt and Angel met at a Chemical Brothers show at Glastonbury in 2005. The rest is history. They have very different backgrounds (she studied dance in London, entered the advertising world and then quit to teach yoga; he studied philosophy at Oxford) but their love of music drew them together. Now they're bringing their passion on the road, hosting one-of-a-kind events, freeing people to lose themselves in music while breaking a sweat. They've relocated to Australia but this summer they'll be at the Asia Yoga Conference in Hong Kong (June 11) and at the Life Centre in Islington (London, England - June 27; July 2 & 9).

the future is a complimentary yoga mix

If you're dying to experience The Future Sound of Yoga without the airfare and jetlag, check out their complimentary playlist (a seamless, 60-minute DJ mix for yoga) available to download on their site. Matt has meticulously crafted the mix for your practice, whether you're at home or a teacher in the studio. It's a great thing to have in your back pocket if you've got plans to travel this summer and you plan on sweating on the road. I've been enjoying it while writing this and yes, I may have gotten out of my seat to do a little Thom Yorke impersonation now and then. I confess.

Our educators in Australia are big fans of The Future Sound of Yoga. After talking to Matt and Angel and enjoying the playlist, we can see why. Maybe it's time to book a flight to Sydney. We can't think of a better way to burn off some crème brulée - no, make that a hot jam doughnut. What yoga trend is next on your menu?

want more?

• Yoga is a gift. Unwrap it here.
• Get another soundtrack for your practice. This one's for the great indoors.
• Tour London with us. Check out our favourite places to sweat, stretch and sip a cuppa.

When Richard Roberts and Phillip Sharp won a Nobel Prize in 1993 for their work with split genes, Laura Appleton thought she was on to a winning formula. Her jean-splitting lunge is definitely prize worthy (although she still hasn't received her Nobel Prize for it) and her BHAGs  keep her achieving awesome things every day.

meet laura

want more?

• Harness the power of BHAGs.
• Draw inspiration from those around you.

Sometimes we feel like Deanne has the energy to do more in a day than the rest of us do in a week. When she's not running, doing yoga, spending time with her kids and VPing our brand, we harness her energy to power the office and two-thirds of the downtown core. This video is a must watch, especially if your name is Chris, Travis or Barry.

meet deanne



want more

• learn how to stay motivated.
• schedule time for fitness.
• share your passion with others.
  

A realization that she needed to restore integrity into her life was the gender-confused canary in the coalmine for our North US Training Manager, Jenna Hills. The realization that she was dancing the "mom dance" was equally as surprising.

meet jenna

want more

• Explore a career at lululemon.
• Empower yourself to succeed.
  
• Surround yourself with successful people.

In the beginning, there was Chip. You may have heard that he's the man behind the manifesto, the one who got this crazy luon business off the ground. You may not have heard that he does a mean...um, what do you call that dance move, Chip?

meet chip wilson

want more?

• Watch Chip talk goals and then get the tools to write your own.
• Meet Chip's Dad, Dennis. Apparently loving life runs in the family.
• Read the manifesto if you haven't already. Inspiration guaranteed.
• Learn more moves, like Julia's antelope and Christine's barefoot happy dance.

Amazing things happen when you're not afraid to break the mold of what's always been and design something brand new. What would you create? Maybe a new dance craze? 

If Christine wasn't our CEO, there's a small chance that she'd be carrying on in the footsteps of Jacques Cousteau. As captain of the SS lululemon, she is big on people bringing all of themselves to work - talents, vulnerabilities, happy dances - the works. 

want more?

• Meet our Manager of Leadership Development. Hear about balance & breakthroughs.
• Learn about the sea of luon you're swimming in. There's a lot to know about our fabrics.
• Want to be the next CEO? Put it in your goals and make it happen.  

We're who we are because of people like Christine. We're so glad she chose to explore the depths of the luon seas with us instead.

Here are some photos of the event from Liz, key leader and photographer at lululemon Park Meadows:

Over 1,300 people showed up to move and groove as one.

Open minds and open hearts.

The group rocking Dancer's Pose!

Hugs create community.

The amazing group of people from our three Colorado stores who planned, organized and hosted Yoga in the City!

Thank you to everyone who came and shared laughter, moved their bodies, and most importantly, had fun! And a special thanks to the three guest Corepower Yoga instructors that led us through our practice.

Interested in joining a yoga community near you? Join us for weekly complimentary yoga at your local lululemon.