On the mat in the lululemon head office yoga studio

Underneath it all: Flow Y Bra and Cool Racerback

It's all in the details: thumbholes, French-rolled bottoms

What to do when the tides of trends ebb and flow from flare to skinnies? Peg'em (aka French rolling)!

how to update the look of your groove pant in 1 minute:

1. Pull the inside bottom hem over to the middle of your shin (or until it feels snug)
2. Pinch and roll the hem twice to secure the fold
3. Not enough info? Learn more here.

What are your tips on how to wear lululemon pieces beyond the mat?

what is off the mat?

For the next four weeks, I'll show you how I wore the Still Pant, Astro Pant, Groove Pant and (of course) the Wunder Under Pant to the office and then repurposed for yoga or the gym.

Meet the pants I'll be wearing during Off the Mat:

1. groove pants

The Groove Pant style is one of our classics and have been a part of the lululemon athletica family since 1998 with various design updates.

2. still pants

Designed to be the relaxed and loose fitting answer to our Groove Pant, the Still Pant is a company favorite to wear for or after yoga/gym and play. Some of our guests have even taken it into maternity with them!

3. wunder under pants

This style is beyond versatile. Need to see for yourself? Check out the Wunder Under Challenge from earlier this year.

4. astro pants

New to my wardrobe and for many others, meet the Astro Pant: a mid rise, straight leg alternative to the Groove Pant.

Stay tuned, outfits posts will start next week. Have a great weekend everyone!

love at first luon

As I strolled through lululemon for the first time, I -- like many of our guests do -- caught my eye on the pant wall, and headed straight for it. From crops to full-length pants, you will find a variety of fits and functions of all of our different styles. Right in the middle of the wall, you will find our classic Groove Pants, the perfect multi-sport, multi-purpose pants that are flattering on an array of figures. Stepping into Groove Pants you find love at first feel with our signature fabric, luon®. luon is a blend of lycra and nylon, has four-way stretch, and is moisture wicking. Standing in my first pair of Grooves my legs and bum felt supported, the firm yet comfortable waistband tucked my core in, I felt confident, and my body suddenly wanted to dance.

Dance I did, all the way into a matching a Power Y tank, and that was the end of my baggy workout gear career. The Power Y tank is also made of our signature luon fabric. It is form fitting, with medium support and perfect for yoga. You can comfortably move in an out of different poses without spilling out or having to tug your top every which way to keep you covered.

I found myself being able to stretch deeper into yoga poses, and all the while felt much better about my body being supported and not fussing with pulling my shirt down and my shorts up. Coming from a world of baggy cottons and pure polyester uniforms, finding Groove Pants and the Power Y tank felt life changing.

remix lulu hoodie: the icing on the cake

To top off the dream of a workout outfit, we introduce our guests to the delight of a Remix Lulu Hoodie. The Remix is made of warm, thick preshrunk cotton fleece, and is literally the most comfortable hoodie you will ever wear. It is form fitting, will hug your curves and yet has the feel of your old baggy university sweatshirt. The Remix is like the icing on the cake of your Power Y Tank and Groove Pants, and will take you to and from yoga, and throughout all the errands of your day.

sharing our roots

Today one of my favourite moments in working for lululemon is when I introduce guests to the combination of Groove Pants, a Power Y tank, and a Remix Hoodie. Every time I introduce our roots to someone new, I get to see the same look in their eyes that I had in mine 4 years ago. It’s a look of amazement and appreciation. The same look occurs when our guests learn that we have two different lengths in our pants as well as complimentary hemming. A Regular length for petite to normal heights with a 31” inseam, and a Tall length for above average and taller women with a 35” inseam. I have helped women from 4'0" to a wonderful 6'2" tall woman who hugged me having found a pair of pants that fit her correctly.

It is these moments that make us extremely happy and proud as a company to share our roots with our guests. There is truly no better moment in our fit rooms than introducing our guests to our roots of function, comfort and femininity in the combination of Groove Pants, a Power Y Tank, and a Remix Hoodie. It's these moments that keep me smiling in my job everyday, and thankful that I walked in to the Beverly Hills store four years ago and found more than lululemon's roots, but my own passion. Namaste.

In January, you saw me work my way through 31 days of Wunder Unders. Now I take your questions on how to stretch your lululemon pieces for work and travel.

Question: How do I make my Wunder Under Pants work appropriate?

Answer: Our Wunder Unders are one of the most versatile piece in our lululemon closet. I should know-I wore them for a month! So how do you re-purpose these awesome athletic tights if you work in a business environment?

The key is to keep your bottom covered. Layer long tunics, sweaters, cardigans, dresses or dress shirts over your Wunder Unders. Play with accessories like belts or long necklaces. Footwear is also important in anchoring your work look. Try pairing it with tall boots, ankle booties or ballet flats.

I'm all about function and there is nothing more functional than having to carry less because I'm already wearing my work out gear. For a quick change from the office to the gym, layer your favorite athletic tank underneath your tops. A quick change of footwear and you're off for a run in 5 minutes flat.

Question: I’m travelling abroad for 6 months and need key pieces to work for my long flights, classes  and the gym all the while using little of my precious suitcase space.

Answer: We are learning what a challenge it can be to pack for air travel with baggage restrictions changing daily. lululemon clothing is designed for athletes meaning the fabrics used are usually lightweight and mostly wrinkle free. Most of our pieces can be re-purposed beyond the gym or yoga studio. Core basics can really stretch your wardrobe. Here are my suggestions:

-Cool Racerback

This tank does not have a built in bra meaning you are in full control of the support you need (try our Flow Y Bra or Scoop Bra for athletic support). Worn on its own, used as layering a piece for warmth or coverage, this tank rocks with stretch and wicking capabilities on or off the street.

-Groove Pant

This pant is what put lululemon on the map and with good reason. The design: mid rise, slim to the knee, boot cut fit; flatters most body types and we’re finding out that most of you are taking them beyond the gym. Plus most styles are reversible meaning you can choose a colored or patterned waistband, flip it inside out and you've got a solid colored pant. Great for to and from wear, get the same 4 way stretch as you run errands around town or for a cup of coffee with your best gal pal.

-Wunder Under Pant or Crop

It’s your basic legging with better stretch, color retention AND athletic function. They are made of luon which is treated to wick moisture (ideal for sweating through airport security and at the yoga studio). Worn with longer shirts, tunics or sweater, this bottom can be worn easily for work to play to a night out on the town.

-Remix Lulu Hoodie

This hoodie keeps you covered to and from the gym and when you’re heading out the door in jeans and a t shirt. Made of cozy preshrunk cotton fleece, it’ll keep you warm in climate controlled airplane cabins too. This hoodie is so soft, you’ll want to snooze on it during your longer flights.

1 Remix Lulu Hoodie, 1 pair of Groove pant, 2 pairs of Wunder Under Crops, and 3 Cool Racerback tanks...

...will roll with you where ever you go.

Tip for getting more into your suitcase: Rolling your clothes takes up less space and helps keep clothing wrinkle free!

Thanks to Ashley and Ashley for your questions!

When she moved here in 2005, Jocelyn's intention was to spend three months getting the core fusion program off the ground at Exhale Spa. She was the lead core fusion teacher and teacher trainer in Chicago, and she met our regional community leader, Brooke Johnson, at one of her classes. At that time no one in Chicago had really heard of lululemon. Brooke recognized Jocelyn as one of the best instructors in Chicago and product tested her a pink ujjayi tank and black groove pants. It didn’t take long before Jocelyn was hooked and decided to be one of the first ambassadors for the first lululemon store to open in Chicago on Halsted Street.

The year Jocelyn was an ambassador was a fundamental year in her development. She attended meet and greet events with other lululemon ambassadors, and participated in a function show, modeling some new luon at an art gallery where she broke out into booty dancing in front of the whole crowd!

Last year Jocelyn had a five-year goal to open her own fitness and dance studio, but she was forced to take action in early 2009. With help from her husband Ron, she made it all happen in only three months! Akemi Fitness Method opened this March in Evanston, the closest suburb north of the city of Chicago.

Akemi means “bright and beautiful” in the Japanese language, and it is an exact description of Jocelyn’s personality. She chose to name her business Akemi Fitness Method because she believes that "all people are bright and beautiful, and that is something [she] wants them to recognize."

The classes at Akemi were inspired by the Lotte Berk Method, which combines core exercises, dance, weights, Pilates and yoga. With classes like Akemi Barre, Abs, Arms & Booty, and Akemi Cardio Sport, Jocelyn teaches us to tone and sculpt our booties to the hottest jams. All of the educators on my team in Evanston consider ourselves lucky to be so close to Akemi. Jocelyn’s classes are always a blast, and we're constantly inspired by her immense beauty and joyfulness.

Check out her amazing studio here: http://www.akemifitness.com/index.php