meet andrea

what are you up to now on the design team?

I am the colour designer and trim hardware designer at lululemon. (But in the past eight years I have done everything from garment design, to material design, to leading the design team at lululemon.)

why do you love working at lululemon?

I love working at lululemon because it is a place that inspires greatness. It is an environment that encourages you to think outside the box and create without limitations. Everyone at lululemon wants to be there and therefore is an inspiration to work with. It is also a company that supports not only your work goals but your personal life goals as well.

why call Vancouver home?

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is lush and green and energetic yet laid back. The proximity to world class mountains for snowboarding & amazing surf along the Vancouver Island coastline is what has kept me on this coast thus far - and will keep me here for many years to come!

meet janine

how would you describe your role?

I am hiring and building the best athletic apparel team in the world. Finding rad people who are athletes and passionate about the brand and letting them shine, create and do what they are great at! I heart my job.

why do you choose to live in Vancouver?

It's a beautiful, west coast city with green mountains to play in and lots of people to play with. You are engulfed in ocean air with surfing and skiing close by and an awesome yoga community. Every band passes through Vancouver at some point. It’s a foodie city. An international hub connecting us to great cities easily.

meet shannon

what's your role at lululemon?

I am the lead designer of womens running and outerwear. I am responsible for the development of the lines from inception of ideas to the retail floor. This involves everything from identifying trends and technologies, to creating beautiful designs with colour, fabrics and textures, to leading and inspiring greatness in others. I lead a team of incredible people who help bring my ideas to life — we make magic together! Ultimately, I get to work with athletes, solve their athletic problems and make their lives better – it’s incredible!

why do you love working at lululemon?

Because I can elevate the world one running short at a time! The product is so inspiring, the people are so amazing. I have ultimate freedom, inspiration and support. lululemon is as much a lifestyle as it is workplace and it supports this in its employees. There isn’t a divide between how I work and how I live. And, change is the only constant at lululemon – its the most dynamic, challenging place I’ve ever worked – I love it.

why out of the whole world do you choose to live and love vancouver?

It’s a city that offers everything an active healthy person wants – beautiful mountains, breathtaking views, ocean, fresh air, incredible restaurants, clean beaches and trails to run on. In one day you can ski a world-class mountain, go mountain biking, go for a hike and go surfing. I live near my favourite beach and go for a run every morning surrounded by glassy water and huge mountains and not even notice that I’m in a city. It’s a spectacular place to live.

Interested in joining the lululemon design team? Check out the possibilities on our careers website.

Time stood still. I was floating through the air upside down and actually took the time to think that I might die. I thought of the many things I still wanted to do, places I wanted to see. The cool things I was happy I’d done, and the many people in my life with so much love to share. It was not my day.

A second later I hit the ground head first from 10 metres above. My back explodes at L-1 like a pop can a kid jumps on and the vertebrae above and below break in nine places. I am stuck upside down in wind blown corn snow up to my ears and cannot move.

I am airlifted out of the glacier to the Whistler Health Clinic where my fears are confirmed Although I am alive, I am paralyzed from the waist down. Later that night I am sent down to Vancouver to be patched up to live in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.

Luckily, the doctors were wrong, and my spinal cord injury is incomplete vs. complete. But luck is an understatement. Nine years later, although I am considered 40% paralyzed below the waist, I have learned to walk again, learned to cross country ski, and even learned to snowboard again. Not everyone can do what I did. Most people with a spinal cord injury do not have the opportunity to get any muscles back and even if they do, they don’t get enough of what they need to walk.

So, I am lucky, but I worked hard at it. I set goals. I stayed positive and looked at the world with what I could do, not what I couldn't do. I took up yoga and believed that I could think my way into a pose even if I couldn't do the pose. I thought to myself to just try every day to do more, to learn more, to be strong and understand that if I fall down, it is because I am pushing the limits. In fact, I learned to walk again by falling down and getting back up and falling some more. Metaphorically I believe this is what success is all about – falling down and getting back up until you don’t fall down anymore.

Staying positive and looking for the positive aspect in everything I do is my key. I like to say I can turn two negatives into a positive. It sounds corny, but I believe it and I believe in myself. It doesn't mean I don't ask for help. It means that because I try to help myself in a positive manner, others will believe in me and help me too. All I need to do is ask.

Last month, I received an email from my super cool friend, Olympian Nicole Forrester, asking for people to climb the CN Tower with other national team members to raise money for the United Way - a charity I have always believed in. They help people ask for a better life, thus helping communities and families throughout the world.

I wasn't sure if I could do it, so I drove down to Vancouver and trained in a stairway doing 20 flights at a time and taking the elevator down and doing it seven more times. I figured I could do it, the 147 flights of stairs (1776 steps), in about 35 minutes.

Tyler and his team about to climb the CN Tower!

A group shot of the amazing athletes before climbing the CN Tower for United Way.

The team cheering for a great cause.

When I took the challenge two weeks ago I blew my attainable goal out of the water by clocking a time just under 20 minutes. Kayak Olympian and World Champion Adam Van Koeverden did it in about 14 minutes. Paralympian Stephanie Reid Lakatos ran it in about 17 minutes on her below the knee carbon fiber prosthetic, young Leah Robinson did it like me with some paralysis in her right leg and Wilfredo (Papito) Moré Wilson did it with just one leg and two crutches - was I ever impressed! As you can see, we are all capable of achieving greatness. As Muhammad Ali said, "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe."

So here I am: climbing new mountains every day. Although there are several hundred things I can't do, there are several millions I can continue to do. I can't run and I can't jump but I can get up and be happy every day. I can set goals and achieve the seemingly impossible and I am not afraid to try. So in March of 2010, look for me racing in cross country skiing at the Paralympic games. I hope you are able to climb your mountains and leave the pebbles behind.

Namaste - Tyler

Check out Tyler Mosher's fan Facebook page for updates: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyler-Mosher/42536243617

My First 100 Marathons: 2, 620 Miles with an Obsessive Runner By: Jeff Horowitz

As someone who has an extensive library of running books, I was happy to add My First 100 Marathons to my collection. Horowitz takes the reader on his journey from newbie runner to experienced marathoner. Each recounting of his races tells of lessons learned through both triumphs and disappointments, and how the experience of every one of his marathons has enriched his life.

Each chapter begins with running tips, which includes advice for trail running, injury prevention, race recovery, form drills, and beyond. The book reads like a novel, but is packed with valuable information for both the novice and elite runner. Further, this book is filled with inspiring words that make you itch to lace up your running shoes and head out the door more and more with each turn of the page.

Horowitz lives, runs, writes, and coaches in Washington, DC. I have been fortunate enough to get to know Jeff, and I now count him as an important mentor and friend. He has also worked directly with our lululemon Logan Circle run club! For more information about Jeff Horowitz’s book, check out www.runtothefinishline.com

Above Jana, Jenny, and Bridey, the ladies opening up our ivivva athletica stores, give us the inside ivivva scoop!

What is your role at ivivva?

Jana: Assistant Manager of Community, ivivva athletica West 4th location

Jenny: Business Manager of ivivva athletica – basically I oversee store operations, people & training for the new brand

Bridey: Product Manager

What is a typical Wednesday like for you?

Jana: Last Wednesday? hmmmm...last Wednesday I was shadowing Charlotte, the manager of Park Royal, the Wednesday before that I was making community contacts with the local gymnastics clubs.

Jenny: Get up, go for a run, work on emails in the morning, meet with Bridey and Jana to get updates, meet with our store designer to go over final fixture choices, drive to a coffee shop to meet with potential store manager candidates, meet up with the ivivva girls at a local gymnastics or dance studio to hold a focus group, then home to have dinner with Matt, take our dog Olive out for a walk, check emails again and then bed!

Bridey: Wednesdays are never typical, never a dull moment! Last Wednesday we reviewed our new store floor plans with our Store Design team, but the majority of my time is spent overseeing the direction of the product line. It's pretty cool to see the last couple of months start to come to life!

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?

Jana: It's a close battle between Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream and pepperoni pizza. Both A-MAZING!

Jenny: Peanut M&Ms. Especially the pink breast cancer ones.

Bridey: Sunglasses - I can never have enough. Now if only Vancouver had more sun

If you could trade places with someone in the company who would it be and why?

Jana: Whose job would I want? Tracy Keough because I love community and she gets to be at the heart of it in all of our stores throughout North America.

Jenny: Allison Forsyth (our elite athlete coordinator). Right now she is working hard connecting with elite athletes and getting our Vancouver stores ready to host some pretty cool events, which is something that I am passionate about!

Bridey: Chip. No explanation needed

What's your Big Hairy Audacious Goal?

Jana: ivivva guests are lined up around the block for the West 4th store opening.

Jenny: To complete Ironman Canada by August 2011.

Bridey: Ivivva is the favourite brand of girls aged 6-12.

Why do you have the best job in the world?

Jana: Because we get to be healthy, positive influencers for young girls.

Jenny: I work with incredible people who are my friends…we have been given this very cool opportunity to be a part of ivivva from the beginning, which is so exciting! I have been working at lululemon for 5 years, and have loved every minute of it… things are always changing and it’s so amazing to see the company grow and innovate!

Bridey: I'm surrounded by amazing people that do amazing things.

What is the best way to describe ivivva?

Jana: FUN!

Jenny: Technical, cool product for young, active girls.

Bridey: Just plain fun!

Why are you excited about ivivva?

Jana: I am excited because our guest is so cool. Our target girls are confident, smart, funny, and love to share their opinions. You Go Girl!

Jenny: Because the product is amazing, I can’t wait to share it with our guests. I wish ivivva was around when I was 10 years old!

Bridey: We have an opportunity to truly inspire kids.

Are you inspired to join the team? We have amazing opportunities in Vancouver, Victoria, and Calgary!

Exercise breakthrough moment: I can run in just a sports bra.

I never run in just a sports bra. On a rare occasion, I will whip off my tank top mid-run, but only if I’m really hot and sweaty. It doesn’t matter if I’m in peak condition or playing around with a few extra pounds. It may sound silly, but it’s been a life long hang-up.

Yesterday was hot and humid. My plan was to run outside on my favorite trail along the railroad tracks. I had brand new, beautiful running shoes to road-test as motivation to run. At the last minute I decided to go sans shirt right out of the gate. I had a moment of elation and liberation – a sneaking out after curfew when you’re 16 kind of feeling. Onlookers didn’t stop and gasp, no snickers from my neighbors. I was optimistic.

It was one of the worst runs I can remember. I was dehydrated from my morning coffee, immediately over-heated and I kept tripping over my new shoes. Oddly enough, my sports bra attire was the least of my running issues. So while my first time out of the gate wasn’t a success, I wasn’t overly preoccupied by what passing cars, surfers crossing the railroad tracks or other runners on the path were thinking.

Today, after a tough spin class, I left feeling motivated and determined. I had some juice left so I decided to try another sports bra run, this time with my trusty trail shoes. I put on my ipod and went for it. It was one of the best runs I’ve had in a long time! My sports bra/shorts combo kept me comfortably cool, I felt energetic and I worked up a great sweat. I was so inspired that I immediately sat down and cranked out this blog post.

My lesson: my workout is for me. No one cares, no one is judging so do what feels best!

What was your exercise breakthrough moment?

Above: Lori, one of our favorite yoga teachers! Thanks for helping us find our breath.

It began a few years back when I was searching for some sort of physical outlet that didn't include hitting the completely packed gym, on the University of Western Ontario campus, 5 days a week. Not to say that the gym isn't great; it truly is. The gym was pivotal in helping me lose that unwanted freshman fifteen (maybe more like 25, but who's counting?). But I always felt there was something missing - something that made my eyes wander often - knowing I couldn't forever be faithful to that same old gym.

I fell into Moksha yoga by accident. Having done Bikram a few times, and being somewhat familiar with hot yoga, it was only a matter of time that I'd stumble upon the little gem of a studio in London, Ontario tucked neatly off of Richmond Row. My first class was hard. I questioned my strength, my endurance, and even my judgement. Why in the world would I choose to do yoga in a room hotter my dorm room in the middle of our Indian Summer. Am I absolutely crazy?! The class ended, and I was tired - even exhausted. My balance was off during each standing pose, my legs shook during downward dog, I couldn't even touch my toes during a simple forward bend. But oddly, a feeling of complete familiarity and calm swept over me at the end of class. As I lay there in savasana my legs ached, my shoulders were sore, but I felt really, really good - dare I say, even great... I attended more classes, tried out a few different teachers. Realized being hypoglycemic and having low blood pressure might make it a bit tricky to not feel faint for the hour and a half class. One very intuitive teacher suggested I put slices of strawberries in my water until my body got used to the heat and humidity, and to try the hour classes instead. I wish I could go back and thank her a million times because it completely changed the way I looked at my body and how I was going to approach my practice.

That's the beauty of it all; teachers have this natural and addictive way of interacting with us. A way that is so very authentic and honest, and I'm absolutely in love with that honesty. The teachers are truly the greatest thing about practicing in a studio setting. The energy they radiate, the energy they help you focus, and everything in between can't be replicated nor duplicated. I'm in love with every teacher that I've come across. The ones that push you further into your pose, the ones that take up position right next to your mat to show you that you need to tuck your tailbone in just a bit further to find that sweetness in Warrior 2, and the ones that talk you into savasana and calm you just with the sound of their voice. They are what have hooked me and kept me motivated through even the toughest of classes.

Perhaps they play the role of cupid in my intense rollercoaster of a relationship with my own practice. Perhaps they are what keeps me grounded when my Dancer's pose teeters, and perhaps they are what keeps my mind still in savasana - even when the sound of a car alarm is deafening from the adjoining parking lot. They have touched my soul and my practice in a very profound way, and I can't begin to express the gratitude I have for all those yoga teachers out there who help us find and keep our breath, even when holding it might seem so much easier.

Recently the Biggest Loser teamed up with Tri California to complete an Olympic distance triathlon. Eileen Swanson, a lululemon ambassador and educator at our Walnut Creek store, and her husband had the amazing opportunity to work as the Biggest Loser's coaches for this race! Read about their experiences below:

Reid and I were honored to have the amazing opportunity to change the lives of 16 inspiring individuals (Biggest Loser finalists and winners from the past 7 seasons) by coaching them to be able to complete the San Francisco Triathlon on July 12th. We sent them each a training plan to get ready for this race in 6 weeks. Not much time, but we knew they could do it!

The day before the triathlon, Reid and I did a walk-through of the course with all the athletes. This was so much fun. I love answering question from first-time athletes. They were all so excited, it was refreshing. Each and every former BL contestant we met was super friendly, sweet, and eager to listen and learn.

After the walk-through we were off to a media lunch at Joe’s Grill in the city. It was a delicious lunch and great time to get to know each other better. I sat with Heba & Ed (finalists season 6), Coleen (season 5), Ali (winner season 5), Pete (at home winner season 4), Suzy (2nd place season 2) and Holly (finalist season 4). It was interesting and inspiring to hear how each individual ended up on the TV show and to hear how motivated they were to compete in a triathlon.

The triathlon morning came quicker than expected for all. Reid and I helped each athlete get set up in the transition area, worked on their bikes, helped put on wetsuits and gave some last minute advice. Whoa, there was some serious energy in the transition area. We all had an amazing time watching these newbies get ready for an experience of a lifetime!

The swim start was unreal. I was brought to tears watching all of these athletes giving each other high fives in the water, screaming with joy, and seeing the happiness written all over their faces.

The run was an incredible sight to watch. Heba, Ed, Matt, Pete, Bernie, Blaine, Coleen and Dane looked strong and were always so happy to be out there on the run course and loved the cheers from everyone. Nothing explains this better than some pics of those big smiles. The best part of this amazing weekend was watching each one of these amazing individuals cross the finish line with so much joy! Incredible! It was an absolutely surreal moment. We, as coaches, could not have asked for a better fairytale ending. Congratulations to all Biggest Losers! You truly are inspiring, amazing individuals. Anything really is possible. Keep it going…

In July of 1915 during a full moon, Pattabhi Jois was born into what would become a truly inspiring life. Under the teachings of Sri T. Krishnamacharya (the grandfather of Ashtanga Yoga), Sri Pattabhi studied the Yoga Korunta - the most ancient form of Ashtanga. 

"Yoga is 99% practice, 1% knowledge." - Sri Pattabhi Jois

Today, 93 years after that fated full moon, we morn the loss of a father, a healer, a teacher, and a scholar. Sri Pattabhi's life was lived through his every breath. His teachings and his practice married this breath with movement to boil the blood and cleanse the system. Ashtanga's popularity is something he never expected, but could never deny. 

Sometimes we take our own practice for granted, forgetting that yoga is something sacred, and its practice is something we should always respect and never take lightly. Take that energy on the mat and remember that its benefits are endless and its possibilities limitless. Breath and take note of the person you are on and off the mat and the person you are working to become. 

And next time you are on your mat, take a moment and thank Sri Pattabhi Jois - those that came before him, and those that will come after him - for giving us a gift that has changed our world, our lives and ourselves. 

"Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal. 
Yoga is not mine. But don't approach yoga with a business mind - 
looking for worldly gain. If you want to be near God, turn your mind 
toward God, and practice yoga."- Sri Pattabhi Jois

Read more about Sri Pattabhi Jois here or donate to his charitable trust here.