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Last year, I had the opportunity to attend Wanderlust Whistler, where I yoga piled with complete strangers (thanks Eoin Finn!), danced and jumped evenings away with Michael Franti and MC Yogi, made some new friends and walked away with a new found respect for yoga and what it can bring into my life. I also learned that there were more than a few things I just had to bring along for the ride.

YOGA MAT AND STRAP
This time around I would leave The Mat at home and travel lightly with The Pure Mat 3mm held together with the Loop It Up Mat Strap. Bonus: if I’m in a bind, the mat strap can double as a stretching belt.

NO LIMITS TANK
It has a built in bra for support, flowy circle mesh coverage and the style has major street appeal to pair with my favorite denim cutoffs.

WILL CROP
My go to bottoms for any outdoor yoga moves are crops and the Will Crop flows easily from street to sweat. The convertible waistband allows me to choose the look I want: high-waisted with the Energy Bra, alternatively a loose tee or tank half tucked into the folded down band. Even the length of the crops allows for further customization – roll the hem of the pant once or twice to achieve a true capri look if you’re a shorty like me (5’2”!).

LIP BALM
Mine has been Smith’s Rosebud Salve forever and I’d love to find one that has sunscreen and isn’t drying. If you have a favorite you’d like to recommend, please share it in the comments section below!

WATER BOTTLE
H20 is your friend. Always. Every outdoor event planner in the world should take note: watering stations are genuinely appreciated by attendees and Mother Earth.

BAG
I didn’t need a lot with me as I navigated each day. Some snacks, money, water bottle, iPhone and my hotel key. This year’s aptly named Festival Bag will hold all that and more.

SUNSCREEN
Like H20, this is also your friend.

SUNGLASSES
No-brainer.

ARM PARTY
So fun!

DRY SHAMPOO
This is no longer a dirty little secret. I always stash a travel-sized bottle in my gym bag or purse if I know I might be getting a little sweaty but don’t have time (or the energy) to wash my hair.

HAIR STUFF
High buns and ponytails will always be my go-to but I love finding fresh (and EASY) ways to keep my hair away from my face in downdog. Check it:

Roll it up in the Bang Buster Headband (I LOVE this one. I’ve been able to achieve beach waves every time. Best post yoga hair, ever.)

The Milkmaid: pull hair into two pigtails, braid and wrap the ends up and over the top of your head with bobby pins. Imperfect braiding and fly-aways are welcome (you don’t want to actually look like a milkmaid).

We couldn't resist her love for her Dad (and his SeaWheeze shorts) and thought it would be pretty cool to have her author our Father's Day blog. One problem – we wanted it to be a surprise and weren't sure how to reach out and make this happen. After some thorough internet exploration (read: creeping) by our Social Media team, we were able to connect with Clara's mom and get these two odes to Dad from her daughters – SURPRISE!

Without further adieu, we present the literary debut of Emma and Clara :

From Clara:

From Emma:

Happy Father's Day!

Picture this: 310km of pavement ahead, sleeping in a van with six other sweaty people, and starting a 10km run at 2am.

Not exactly what most people would envision as an ideal way to spend a weekend but for 12 members of our lululemon family in Toronto, that's exactly what it is.

The Ragnar Relay has come to Canada, and our Toronto team is excited to celebrate their run community by running the 310km from Cobourg to Niagara, along the shores of Lake Ontario.

We’ll be following this amazing 30 hour journey on @lululemonlive and on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels. Here’s a sneak peek at the 12 men and women who are coming together to crush some serious goals.

Meet the team:

Jonas "Jonosapien" Caruana, 30

Run Ambassador alumni, Key Leader and Community Connector (and the brainpower behind this team)
10k PR time: 39:00
why Ragnar: I love adventure! Running 311km around the lake to Niagara Falls with a bunch of random people racing around the clock? That's my kind of adventure!
one goal you're working towards: Swimming 1500m freestyle in under 30mins by July 21st, 2013.
what you are most proud of in life: Starting a social fitness community called Training Mobs that brought a healthier lifestyle to tens of thousands of people.

Ricardo Araujo, 30

lululemon guest
10k PR time: 38:30
what makes you unique: I ran my first 10km race at 8 years old
why Ragnar: Because I have never tried anything like it
one goal you're working towards: run a half marathon in 1:15 (umm, that’s fast)

Sue Quenneville, 45

Educator at lululemon Masonville London, ON, Alumni Run Ambassador
10km PR time: 40 minutes
why Ragnar: An amazing physical, mental and emotional challenge, a wonderful opportunity to connect and run as a team with other super star lemons, and celebrate running in life.
favourite lululemon piece to run in: Run Speed Shorts
one goal you're working towards: at age 50 when my triplet daughters are 18 to run the Dublin marathon with them.

Chris McFarlane, 27

lululemon guest
10k PR time: 35:20
what running means to you: Freedom
why Ragnar: I usually don't sleep much on Friday nights anyway
favourite lululemon piece to run in: my lululemon tights. When it becomes as acceptible for men to wear them as casually as women do I'll be all over that.

Gillian Tweedie, 32

lululemon Store Manager, Cumberland
10k PR time: 36:15
what makes you unique: My penchant for steak tartare
what running means to you: Peace of mind
what you are most proud of in life: I am proud of my recent effort to create a peace run in Toronto following the events of the Boston Marathon. The run brought together Toronto's running community and was a sign of solidarity within this global community.

Sasha Gollish, 31

lululemon guest
10k PR time: 35:55
what makes you unique: This summer, I am the sole Canadian woman competing in the Maccabi triathlon event at the Maccabi Games in Israel.
why Ragnar: Why not?! Beautiful scenery. Good friends. Great running.
what you are most proud of in life: Never giving up on a goal

Vince Cheng, 35

lululemon run ambassador alumni
10k PR time: 39:33
what running means to you: freedom, focus
why Ragnar: an awesome and amazing experience with incredible people
favourite song to run to: Kanye West - POWER
what you are most proud of in life: Quitting smoking (was a daily smoker for 13 years)

Sarah Lillian Vingoe (Vings), 34

lululemon guest
10k PR time: 41:17 – If I break 40 minutes the CEO of my company will buy me a case of Dom Perignon. Boom.
what makes you unique: My never ending energy and positive outlook on life. I am a relentless positive force and try to find the fun in every situation.
what running means to you: Pure love and joy.

Nate Tsang, 22

Educator at Promenade, Thornhill, ON
10k PR time: 36:10
why Ragnar: I love what I do at lululemon, I have so much fun with the people I work with, and I am absolutely passionate about long distance running - so why not combine all those elements and see what can happen?
what you are most proud of in life: I'm starting my Masters in Physical Therapy at Queen's University in Kingston, ON this September!

Jesper Wahlberg, 41

lululemon guest
10k PR time: 41 min
why Ragnar: I have done lots of 24 hr races, so this seemed like a ton of fun with a great group of people. PUMPED!
one goal you're working towards: Keeping my mind and body fit
favourite song to run to: No noise, run clean!

Emma Darling, 28

Key Leader Queen St Store
10k PR time: 39.53
what makes you unique: I often run to the same song on repeat and I eat kiwis whole, skin and all.
what running means to you: Bliss, and sometimes pain
why Ragnar: Because it's a test of mental capacity and endurance and you do it as a team! #wicked

Grace Sweeney, 26

lululemon Guest
10k PR time: 42:30
what makes you unique: I survived a South African baboon attack (wha?!?!)
why Ragnar: What better way for a newly minted Ontarian to see the sights than a 2-day, 310km relay race?
one goal you're working towards: getting my pilot's license.

SeaWheeze training is officially underway and we know you are killing your runs and yoga sessions. But one area of training that is easy to skip on (trust us, we know) is the nutrition… aka, what to put in your body to make you even stronger and faster. Our friends at Vega are helping us out, and have put together this SeaWheeze Nutrition Guide to get you fueled up for your runs.

Timing is Everything. What you eat is almost as important as when.

Follow these guidelines for successful fueling during training and race day.

Prepare

Maximize your running experience when you’re in the zone with energy to burn.

1-2 hours before
Avoid dairy, or meals with large amounts of protein which can be difficult to digest in time for your run, leaving you bloated or cramping.

Pre-Run Meal Ideas:

1. Oatmeal: Mix in dried fruits, and nut butter or raw nuts & seeds
2. Fruit smoothie: Choose 1-2 cups of your favorite fruits and blend with a non-dairy milk, ice and 1-2 tbsp of hemp, flax or chia seeds. For the most nutrient dense option, try adding leafy greens like spinach or kale!
3. Toast with nut butter and jam or sliced fruit such as a banana. For the most digestible option, look for sprouted whole grain bread.

20-30 minutes before
To maximize your energy (and therefore your intensity) consider topping up your tanks with a small piece of fruit (fresh or dried), or ½-1cup of a carbohydrate based sports drink. Look for an option that’s made with natural flavors and sweeteners; artificial ingredients can irritate your digestive system.

Sustain

Push harder, last longer. Take it to the next level!

For longer duration running/racing (60 minutes or more)
Avoid “hitting the wall” by refueling often. Take advantage of the fuel stations along the course, appearing every 3-4 km’s, or carry your own handheld or hip belt bottle/s during training runs.

Electrolyte water will help prevent cramping, and is absorbed quickly. At each aid station or every 15-20 minutes through-out your run, aim for a half cup of fluids. Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator will be at each aid station during the SeaWheeze. Note: exact rates of replenishment will vary depending on your weight and fitness levels.

Consuming additional carbohydrates such as a gel or chews will help keep your energy steady, and your legs energized! Vega Sport Gels will be available at several aid stations during the SeaWheeze; aim to refuel 1-2X during the run, typically around the 7 and 15km mark. Gels are best when consumed with a few sips of water. And make sure you train with the gels or chews that you plan on using on race day – there are some surprises that we don’t want during the race.

Recover

Recharge and repair. So you can do it all again!

The speed at which you recover post-run is one of the greatest determining factors of athletic success. Reduce recovery time between your training workouts through your post-run nutrition. This will have a big impact on your overall performance for race day.

Within 20 minutes of completing your run
Have a snack or drink with a higher proportion of carbohydrates. This repairs your muscle cells by replenishing muscle glycogen. This will begin the regeneration of new muscle tissue.

Post Run Fuel Up:
Dried fruit and nuts (4 parts fruit to 1 part nuts), or a plant based sports recovery drink or smoothie.

DIY Recovery Smoothie:

• ¼ cup rolled oats
• 1 ½ cups almond milk
• 1 cup of frozen berries
• 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 banana, sliced
• Blend until smooth, makes one serving

Recovery Recipe from www.thriveforward.com

1-2 hours post-run
Fuel up with quality protein. It may seem counter-intuitive, but endurance athletes actually have higher protein needs than our strength training counterparts. While carbohydrates are the best fuel source for intense training, including generous portions of protein in your diet as an endurance athlete can help prevent muscle breakdown during extended duration activity.

Meet Elizabeth Crisci, an ambassador at our Westport, CT store and our Wanderlust Vermont host. She’ll be sharing her story across our channels and live tweeting at @lululemonlive.

The coolest part of Wanderlust and yoga in general – the journey. You show up at the studio, at a big white tent, on the top of a mountain, on a hotel room floor, in your living room. This summer we’ll be sharing our yoga story with the hashtag #justmymat. 

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Summer is fast approaching and for some, that means barbecues and beach time. For me, it means Wanderlust Vermont - my all-time favorite weekend of the year!

This is my third year attending Wanderlust as a student but my first year as a teacher. I’m so incredibly honoured by this opportunity and I just can’t wait to share this experience with you through @lululemonlive.

With so many teachers, classes, and everyone bringing their very best, how can you possibly choose? Now that I’ve been to a few festivals, I’ve learned the art of scheduling my time but for Wanderlust rookies, creating a weekend schedule can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips for creating the perfect itinerary:

Be careful of overscheduling
You’ll need to put your physical self through multiple classes a day so balance it out with some speakeasy talks, meditation, or a gentle hike to break up your day. This will help you tip your scales more toward bliss than ouch!

Challenge yourself
Are you eyeballing an Inversions workshop thinking, “But I’ve never even tried handstand without a wall!” Well, now is the time. The teachers at Wanderlust are some of the best and the energy of the festival is just the boost you need to try something that scares you.

Get a blend of familiar and new faces
There are so many teachers that I look forward to seeing again, but Wanderlust is all about meeting a new teacher and falling in love. The lineup at Wanderlust was hand-selected to bring a diverse offering of awesome teachers from the local area. Be sure to add a few workshops that catch your eye from someone you’ve never practiced with.

My can’t-miss workshops:

Strength and Compassion, The Practice of Being a Woman
Teacher: Elena Brower with Tiffany Cruikshank and Schuyler Grant.
Each an amazing teacher in their own right, I can’t wait to check out what they create together.

Stalking Your Fear
Teacher: Ana Forrest
This will be my first practice after leading an 8 am hike. Ana is known for her challenging asana practice but this all-level workshop can help anyone let go of the tension caused by fear and start the festival with an open heart and mind.

Becoming a Miracle Magnet
Teacher: Gabrielle Bernstein
A new face at the festival this year but you may have read one of her books (be sure to read Spirit Junkie). Gabrielle believes in miracles and has made it her mission to show you that you can believe in them too. Gabrielle is also giving a Speakeasy Talk, an awesome way to introduce yourself to her work.

Sunset Meditation Hike
Teacher: Garth Stevenson
He is an amazing musician as well as a teacher of meditation. Garth is leading several hikes at the festival, any one of them will be a delight.

Hooping and Slackline
Give yourself a chance to check out something new. Hoop dance and Yoga Slackers’ workshops will challenge you in a totally new way, and may just open up your traditional practice.

These are just some of the things I’m most looking forward to but there’s so much more to explore. What are you most looking forward to?

Until next time! Namaste.

Jessica E., international community manager

Rad dad: David

My dad taught me how to water-ski when I was 5.  He slipped on his skis, placed me at the tip of the skis, told me to hold on to the rope as tight as I could, and then he gave me a great big 'o' bear hug.  We popped up and flew across the water together.

Christine, senior production manager

Rad dad: Jim

Some of my fondest memories are out in the boat, fishing with my dad… although these slacks are before my time. He IS the best dad in the world, and I know this because he baited my hook first… and brought Oreos.

Jessica R., brand experience – production manager

Rad dad: Ernest

This is a shot of my dad on his Honda, cruising around Bali in '72. My dad taught me how to read a map, how to use a compass and that back roads are the best way to get anywhere. Honestly, he is the best.

Lesia, director, brand strategy

Rad dad: Tom, father of 5 girls (seriously)

Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff. My dad always has a way of putting things into perspective. I still go to him for advice all the time. I am going to have a son in a few months and the best way I can explain how much I love and admire my dad is to tell you that I hope this little man is just as awesome, loving and thoughtful as my dad (not sure I'm down with the matching 69 t-shirts but playing golf is all good though). xo

Sairah, social media manager

Rad dad: Phil

There are a lot of awesome things about my Dad, but first and foremost I have him to thank for my sense of humor and my love of sports. He's responsible for teaching me how to throw a perfect spiral (tomboy much?) and he also probably plays the worlds best air guitar. Now, if only I had inherited his ability to organize an email inbox I'd be set!

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I’ll admit it: I’m not a runner. I blame it on the fact that after walking my pup so much (who, while ridiculously adorable, is not a great pace buddy), I don’t have time to run. But, all excuses aside, I’m just not a runner.

That is, until the wonderful Run Club Coordinators for lululemon Briar Hill asked me for some help making a promo video for an exciting new challenge they were planning.  I thought my helping ended at the photo-taking-video-making, but I was wrong. Soon, I was lacing up my shoes and hitting the trails for some running (well, okay, run-walking. But, hey, I’m trying.)

So what is this exciting challenge?

We are running the distance from our store in Toronto to our head office in Vancouver, a solid 4,400 kilometres. Well, we aren’t physically traveling from Toronto to Vancouver but we are accumulating the same distance by July 1st, 2013.

We wanted to take on this challenge to not only get the non-runners like myself running but to inspire our community to come run with us. When runners join us for our weekly run club, their distance is added to our bank, exponentially increasing those km’s. As well, t’is the season for spring races and with that comes lots of training.

But, we need your help.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve realized this is a bigger feat than we thought. And we need you - yes, you! Whether you’re a runner or not, you’re a runner now. Grab your kicks and hit the pavement, and when you do, please post the heck out of it on instagram and twitter. Don’t forget to use our hashtag #irunbhill (with the number of km’s please) so we can add it to the grand total.

We really want to see what you’re up to, what you’re wearing and where you’re running (say that three times fast!), so post pictures! Good places to start: shoe pictures (look up: #mileadaymay), and check out these popular hashtags for inspiration: #thesweatlife), #sceneontherun and #irunbhill (obviously).

What are you waiting for? Let’s get running! Or, you know, run-walk-running!

Yoga on top of a mountain (NBD), at Wanderlust Whistler 2012.

Last August, I had a conversation with someone who was nervous about attending her first-ever Wanderlust - the yoga and music festival that has four North American stops in summer 2013.

“I don’t think I’m advanced enough to go,” she said. “Doing that much yoga is scary.”

Seeing as the yoga festival season is now upon us, I thought it was a good time to address her concerns in this blog post in case any of you have similar thoughts when you think about the possibility of attending all-day back-to-back classes at a Wanderlust festival near you.

wanderlust is for everyone

This is what I told my friend. Firstly, you need to know this: Wanderlust, just like all yoga, is for everyone. In any given class there are things you can physically do and things you can’t. Everybody will breathe together, everybody will move together, and if you need to take a time out in Child’s Pose at any time, nobody will judge you. Whether it’s your first class or your 5,000^th, you’ll fit in.

Various stages of handstands, Wanderlust Vermont 2012.

yes, you will be sore

Doing a lot of yoga will make even the most hardcore yogis feel muscles they didn’t know they had. Pro tip: when you build your schedule, balance your classes with meditations & speakeasies. Also, stay hydrated. Rest. Listen to your body, and if it’s telling you to go to the market place for gelato, do it.

like music? they’ve got music

At night, the yoga mats get rolled up and the musicians come out to play. Each festival has a different line up. There is no better way to cap off a day of yoga-ing than under a summer night sky with a community of like-minded folks, many of which will have Total Yoga Hair.

Michael Franti at Wanderlust Whistler 2012.

Don’t go to Wanderlust if you already know everything about yoga you need to know. Don’t go if you’re looking to get uninspired, because that is guaranteed not to happen. Oh, and don’t go if you’re not a little bit nervous about it. Wanderlust can crack you open and teach you whatever you need to learn, but only if you’ll let it.

#justmymat

The coolest part about Wanderlust Festival and yoga in general is that it’s a journey. You show up at the studio, at a big white tent, on the top of a mountain, on a hotel room floor, in your living room. Sometimes you don’t know why but you do it anyways. Join our community this summer and share your yoga journey, whether you’re attending Wanderlust or not. We know your mat has stories to tell.

We’ll be celebrating community with updates from each Wanderlust Festival here on the blog, written by a local host who will share their journey with you. Coming soon: meet our Wanderlust Vermont local host & storyteller, Elizabeth Crisci.

Wanderlust Festival has four festivals in summer 2013:

Vermont, June 20-23.
Colorado, July 4-7.
California, July 18-21.
Whistler, Aug. 1-4.

Learn more at http://wanderlustfestival.com

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We had a nice welcome party in La Jolla from the lululemon team. We really enjoyed the evening before the big race started.

We had big goals for this race with the favourite, Tejay van Garderen.

The last training before the race started in San Diego. I was in such a good shape that I even was too fast for this cop. Luckily he let me go after a long discussion.

Our world champion, Philippe Gilbert, carried many bananas for us. He left us early in the race for a nice reason. His wife had a baby on Friday.

Here I found my American love - this dog just wanted to kiss (Look at the passion in his eyes). I heard afterwards that he's a big BMC fan.

I raced my time trial in a very aerodynamic position but I went easy to save my energy for the coming days. Because Tejay van Garderen rode into the lead during this time trial, which means a lot of work for me to defend the yellow jersey.

I snuck the camera in the race to get a picture when the peloton crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. It was our last day of racing and a great experience to go over this bridge on the bike. The commissaires almost took me out of the race because I'm not actually allowed to take a camera in the race.

Me posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. I really like San Francisco and I want to come back here for a holiday.

Big celebration for the whole BMC Racing Team. It is always nice to have everyone on the podium because cycling is a team sport. We won the teams classification and the individual with Tejay van Garderen.

Ella, a writer on our creative team, caught up with global yogi Chris Chavez at his home in Istanbul, Turkey, to ask him more about a phrase he shared during a recent community class in Vancouver which inspired our team and turned into a Yoga Journal ad.

When our graphic designer Steph and I attended Chris Chavez’s packed class at the Vancouver Convention Centre, we weren’t thinking about creating a Yoga Journal ad. I was amazed with Chris’ ability to make a 400-person class feel like a private lesson with 399 of my closest friends, and Steph is still laughing as we watch the video now.

Q: Steph and I couldn’t stop laughing during your class. Don’t you think that yoga should be…serious?

A: I find that the quickest path to a student’s heart is through laughter. If the yoga is working I don’t think we need to take ourselves so seriously.

Q: What does it mean when you say ‘the yoga is working’?

A: If the yoga is working, our heart should be open and we should be less stuck in our head. We should be able to appreciate the diversity of expression in others. I guess that becomes the practice off the mat!

Q: As you joked and called out your many students by name, it became clear how important the relationship between teacher and student is. Can you tell us more?

A: Ultimately, you should be able to find a teacher that you can relate to. If you cannot relate to a teacher, what are you going to learn from them?

Q: Now the million-dollar question: Who is James?

A: James is a longtime student who has trained with me to be a teacher. He teaches yoga in prisons and he is a massive guy, really big and strong. When he comes to practice I like to connect with him because he is such a light spirit and such a big man.

During Handstand, I looked across the room and saw this big mountain of man hurling his legs up into space. If he didn’t keep it tight he was going to take like five people out around him. In that moment my words came out like that because they had to. When I teach, my main job is to get out of the way. I purposely don’t filter what I say because I want it to come from the soul.  (Editor’s note: James made it up into handstand without taking anybody out.)

Q: How do you feel about your words being immortalized in our ad and potentially being taken out of context?

A: Yoga teachers are sometimes put on this pedestal where we’re supposed to be a certain way and not say certain things. I don’t believe that the expression of the spirit has to be so serious. I can say some crazy stuff, but in there is genuine love for the students that I serve and my ultimate goal is to inspire them to access their own spirit. And by the way, pole dancers are some of the most awesome yogis I know!

Practice along with a video of Chris’ Vancouver class (and find his handstand instruction between 29:50 and 33:15).

what does “vision and goals” mean, anyway?

how V&G came to be at lululemon

As a former competitive athlete, Chip has always been a big believer in setting goals. Prior to creating lululemon in 1998, Chip became very interested in the practice of goal setting and creating a vision - how we as people define and create what we want in our lives. When he saw the power these principles had in his life, he incorporated the practice of vision and goal setting with his team at lululemon. It has been a part of our culture ever since.

why we are sharing this with you

We have seen the power of setting a vision and goals all around us – triathlons, languages learned, health goals achieved, houses bought, job changes (both coming and going from the company)…we’ve seen magical things accomplished that once seemed impossible, or at the very least improbable! We are so passionate about this practice that we want to share it with the world.

the practice of vision and goals

Like yoga, creating vision and goals for your life is a constant practice. Being intentional about how you approach this process will help you get clear about what you want – and how you are going to make it happen.

1.     get connected to your vision.

Find a place you find relaxing and get yourself settled in (think tea, a candle…maybe even sweatpants). Next, close your eyes and think about what your ideal life would be in 10 years if anything was possible. Don’t get caught up in tactics – i.e. “but how would I pay for that” or “that seems unrealistic.” Focus in and think about what this life would look like without caveats.

Pssst....we created worksheets especially for this exercise. Get down on it!

Attention à nos amis francos! Veuillez télécharger les feuilles de travail ici.

2.     determine what your ten-year goals are from this vision (we suggest three areas of your life to begin: personal, health and career).

In order to begin the path to the ideal life you just imagined, we begin by setting ten-year goals. What does this mean? Take a look at your vision. Do you want to sail around the Mediterranean? A few things will need to happen: money for purchase and upkeep, skill…what else?  And what order do these things need to go in for you to be successful?

example:

ten-year goal: I sail the Mediterranean captaining my new sailboat by June 1st, 2023

3.     do the same with five- and one-year goals.

Okay, so here’s the reason we set goals backwards: your five- and one-year goals should support you in attaining your ten-year goals, consequently helping you to your vision. Let’s use our sailboat analogy again.

examples:

five-year goal: I take lessons from the skipper of an America’s Cup vessel by August 1st, 2018

one-year goal: I put $400/month into a high-interest savings boat fund

4.     what can you do right now?

Goals can seem lofty or even unattainable. 50% of the goals on your worksheet should scare you a little – it is when we set these audacious goals that we tap into the life we really desire. This can be both exciting and a little daunting, too.

So what can you do right now? Well, look at your goals. Do you need to be physically fit or have some money set aside to achieve them? Are you accomplishing them by yourself or do you need to enroll other people? Begin planning and executing the things you need to do today in order to get the ball rolling.

vision and goals worksheets

Having a dedicated worksheet or book devoted to your vision and goals practice is key. We have created worksheets to help you brainstorm and ideate on what your vision for your ideal life is, and then also included pages designed to help you create a framework for your goals going forward. Think of this booklet as your vision and goals “hub,” a place for ideas to begin and then take off on their chosen path.

What are your vision & goals and how are you getting there? Share them on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #readysetgoals - we can’t wait to see and hear what you've got cookin'!

Dance (on a shipping container) or run a marathon like no one's watching.

The answer to: "What are you thinking at Heartbreak Hill (aka Mile 21)"?

Why her mom runs.

Never, never give up. Our Detroit ambassador, Sue (on the left), ran the marathon with her aunt Sue, who finished chemo 4 weeks ago.

Who supports you in a marathon? Family, friends, and strangers.

It was No Stopping Monday.

"The world" and cookies. When life gives you lemons, you know what to do.

Love notes come in all forms.

Canadian Josh Cassidy near the top of the hill, before finishing to break the world record in the men's wheelchair race by two seconds.

Overheard at Heartbreak Hill: Go banana, go!

Neighbours: good for borrowing cups of sugar from, hosing you down in the middle of a marathon, and...

...handing you water when you need it the most.

How to cheer: make signs. Bring music. Scream your heart out.

Don't forget to have fun along the way.

With temperatures hitting the mid-80s (Canadian translation = around 30), the heat was intense, even as a bystander.

Friends don't let friends run up Heartbreak Hill alone. (Bare feet: noted.)

Boston ambassador Wayne Levy has logged more than 93,000 miles of running in his life (to date).

Go Wayne, go!

Molly from our community team with her run mantra...

... and running with her heart the next day.

To everyone who participated in the Boston Marathon this year: you inspire us. Thank you for the goosebumps.

The minute we mixed all-star athletes and badass bikes we were bound to develop a schoolgirl crush (sweat is the way to our heart, after all).

We are beyond stoked to support the Specialized-lululemon cycling team so we jumped at the first chance to spend a little one-on-one time with them. We headed down to Carlsbad, California to hang out with the ladies at their first-ever training camp. They brought the hard work, laughter and inspiring stories - we brought the yoga (special shout out to local ambassadors, Julie Rader and Katie Brauer, who led daily yoga practices for the team).

Here’s a glimpse of our time with the gals in Cali - we’re confident you’ll be inspired (and fall in love with them too).

Can’t get enough? We’ll be following the team on and off their bikes in the upcoming months. Until then... ride on!

Meet the new lululemon.com. To get to know her a little better we asked her a few questions (as we do with all new hires).

where did you grow up?
I grew up on the mean streets of Kitsilano, Vancouver BC. We didn’t even have broadband back then. If we were lucky we had dial-up once a week.

if you could have dinner with any three websites, decommissioned or current, which ones would they be?
1. Tim Berners-Lee’s original website, the first ever website. That was the start of it all…
2. elfyourself.com
3. 1000awesomethings.com

what’s your hidden talent?
My intuition. My friends call me the gift whisperer.

most importantly: dogs or cats?
(down)Dogs, obviously.

what would you do if you knew you could not fail?
I’d pursue a singing career. I recently released my first single – I think I have what it takes to be an electro superstar.

favourite website?
Is this a joke?

what do you consider your top strength?
Organization - I love lists! To-do lists, laundry lists, naughty or nice lists, wish lists…

my friends love me because…
I’m always almost always up for a chat (7am-6pm PST). Just call on me brother (or live chat), if you need a hand!

We always make sure our new hires get plenty of feedback to help their development. Any feedback you’d like us to pass along to lululemon.com?

New Zealanders are euphoric at the moment and it’s not just because they finally have three lululemon showrooms. New Zealand’s All Blacks won Rugby’s World Cup on home soil for the second time in the tournament’s history and, between games, Rugby fans from around the world have been enjoying NZ’s stunning culture and scenery. Danna and the rest of the lululemon Queenstown team share some of the treats they’ve discovered in New Zealand’s adventure capital.

adventure and adrenalin

nzone skydive

If you like to do one thing a day that scares you, do it with Nzone Skydive. Queenstown is renowned for its beautiful scenery and there's no better way to enjoy the sight of Lake Wakatipu and New Zealand's Southern Alps than jumping from a plane. No wonder people get addicted to it. A note of caution: if at first you don't succeed...skydiving's probably not for you.

skyline gondola

The trip up to the top of the Skyline Gondola is a gateway-drug to Queentown’s adrenalin-filled world of adventure. At the top you can choose from the legendary bungy jump, swing, luge, paragliding and the kiwi haka show; you can easily make a good day of it. To top off all the fun, there is a great restaurant and cafe to keep you well hydrated and fed. While you’re grabbing your snack and a breather, it’s a great time to take in the panoramic views of Queenstown Bay and the surrounding mountains.

high country horses

One of the amazing facets of New Zealand is that cosmopolitan cities, like Queenstown, are right on the doorstep of Mother Nature. A trek with High Country Horses is a great adventure for a Sunday afternoon. Your guide takes you for a trip on your horse through the rivers and countryside of Glenorchy. The views are outstanding and it’s a great way to relax and escape from all the hustle and bustle.

food and drink

vudu café

This is a fantastic café that is always busy with hungry locals.  Vudu offers deliciously fresh juices and a friendly atmosphere. We often duck in for a quick lunch or to grab a coffee. It's the perfect spot whether we're having a meeting or catching up with a friend. We love all their food  but we're especially addicted to their famous tuna melt.

johnny barrs

Johnny Barrs is the best (and only) place in town that serves dairy free smoothies. We're are huge fans of their delicious, healthy menu and amazing staff! We also just love popping in to pay our friend Cindy, a visit.

culture and history

t.s.s earnslaw

The T.S.S. Earnslaw is a living piece of Queenstown history. Launched in 1912, the iconic steamship is believed to be the only coal-fired passenger-carrying vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere. The Earnslaw makes several trips daily across Lake Wakatipu in the summer months, which are a perfectly peaceful way to experience Queenstown’s magnificent alpine scenery.

yoga and you

qt yoga

As summer springs to life in New Zealand (during the North American winter) QT Yoga's Kristen De Haan offers half an hour of Laughter yoga in the Park at the Queenstown Gardens on Saturday mornings. It's the perfect excuse for outdoor yoga and it guarantees a good laugh.

yoga nadi

Bending our schedules to fit in our yoga practice often seems harder than bending on our yoga mats. The lunchtime yoga with Sandi or Greg at Yoga Nadi can be a real sanity saver.

If you've been to Queenstown we'd love to hear about your adventures. If you haven't been to NZ, now's probably a good time with all those planes heading back empty after dropping Rugby fans home.