maria in a nutshell

Hometown: Victoria, BC
Website: http://www.mariafilipponeyoga.com/
Ambassador at: lululemon Johnson St
First memory of yoga: Watching my Grandma, when I was 9 years old, practice yoga postures with a Karen Zeebrof book.
First yoga class In my 20s, my brother Joe took me to a class at the Jewish Community Centre.
Bikram Yoga: hot or not? I thought it was absolutely nuts. It took me a full year to get back in the room and once I committed myself, the way I lived my life changed for the best.
Your favourite place to visit: After high school I worked for 3 years as a flight attendant. My top 3: Hawaiian Islands, Rome & Paris.

how pilates healed maria's back

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the body and alignment. My first teaching gig at age 15 was assisting in an aerobics class, offering hands-on adjustments, flipping the records and correcting people's form. With no former training, in a packed house with music bumping, I knew I had found my true passion.

the five principles

After many years of working with students on a one-to-one basis, I have boiled the brilliance of Pilates down to 5 powerful principles:

1) breath
2) neutral pelvis
3) scapular stabilization
4) ribcage placement
5) cervical alignment

I worked as a personal trainer (and aerobics instructor) for many years, and despite being in "good shape" I was dealing with low back pain. It was only then, when I began to study and practice Pilates regularly that my back pain disappeared. I was hooked.

practice with maria

I will continue to share these simple yet profound principles with all students willing to slow down, dive in and have a look at how easily one's optimal posture may be restored.
Take a class with Maria at Wanderlust Whistler on August 23-26, 2012, or find her in Victoria BC!

Inside The Studio, lululemon's newest strategic sales partner

Let’s back up a bit. Wondering what strategic sales is? Strategic sales partners are yoga, Pilates, fitness, Bar Method, Dailey Method, spas and other various fitness and health studios that we've partnered with. They give our guests access to our products right where they sweat. Many of our strategic sales partners are in regions where lululemon stores and showrooms haven't yet opened up.

Back to our newest strategic sales partner: meet Ann Asquith, founder of The Studio.

Ann with a Pilates student. P.S. Spot the manifesto!

A former bank manager, at age 50 Ann was introduced to Pilates. Immediately she was hooked, and in less than three years she was teaching locally. This past September, Ann made a total career change when she decided to ditch her business suits for stretchy pants, and opened her very own studio: sharing her love for Pilates with the world. This past February, she added lululemon apparel through our strategic sales program out of The Studio, which is staffed by the children of her students. How’s that for building community!?

Faded Zap and Senorita Pink: how to brighten up the Yukon Winter!

Ann's passion: Pilates.

We are thrilled to be a part of the Whitehorse community through Ann’s studio. If you’re interested in trying Pilates, visit the web page of your local store to find the closest facility (under "local resources"), or let one of our superstar educators tell you about their favourite place to practice. To find your nearest strategic sales partner, visit "Other lululemon locations" under the store finder at: http://lululemon.com/stores/

Call me a skeptic, but I find it a bit silly to be slithering around like a snake on the gym floor reciting "ahhhhh, sexy spine" out loud.

It was my first Nia class and I had trouble keeping a straight face. I couldn't make eye contact with my fellow lululemon Ala Moana educators for fear of cracking up as we danced barefoot, twisting our spines and awkwardly flailing our arms in the air.

Nia, which stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Actions, is described as a body-mind fitness and lifestyle program. Students kick off their shoes as they incorporate movement and philosophies from dance, yoga, pilates, martial arts, and more – moving their way to a healthier and more empowered mind, body and soul.

During the class, as I willed myself to keep an open mind and allow my body to relax, I watched the teacher let loose and encourage her students to do the same. People around me were spontaneously spinning, singing, clapping, and even releasing shouts of "yes!" I also noticed that no one could stop smiling as we danced around the room. That freedom made me shun my self-consciousness and I started to shake and shimmy to the music.

I think my change of heart came after noticing I was surrounded by women of all ages who were fully aware of their bodies, with no hesitation to express their grace and power. It was a place that gave me a sense of freedom, pushing me to become more energized, strong, and confident.

I'm convinced that Nia is a fun stress-buster, as well as a joyful way to get in shape, become more in tune with your body, and even find happiness while sweating it out. To find a Nia class near you, visit a lululemon store and ask them to point you in the right direction, or check out the Nia website at www.nianow.com.

How are you letting go today?

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

Why do I love September? It’s the “Not-So-Summer” time of year in Vancouver, not too hot and not to cold. For me, it's perfection. (If you haven't done an outdoor yoga class before, DO IT NOW!)

So why do I love the Not So Deep V Bra? The neckline is neither too low nor too high. It never gets too hot, thanks to the mesh racerback, and it's never too sticky because it's made of moisture-wicking luon. The support is right in the middle too, which is a natural match for me - I am “Not-So-Busty.” These bras meet my every challenge: yoga, pilates, aerobics, running and spontaneous dance parties.

Some points from an insider:

These bras fit true to size. The fit is perfect when you can comfortably slip your fingers underneath the shoulder straps with room for stretch. It should fit snug but not too tight. Be Goldilocks for a day and think “just right.”

Ready for some great support? Visit the product page to see the perfect fit: http://shop.lululemon.com/Not_So_Deep_V_Bra/pd/np/520/p/1016.html

On a recent trip to New York City, I woke up early on a Saturday and walked 30 minutes to the lululemon East 66th store (let me just say, I know now why New Yorkers are in such great shape—they walk everywhere!). Rebecca Kordecki, the founder of Booty Slide, seemed energetic and excited to share her fitness regime. I would do Booty Slide everyday if I could get her results! We used colorful, silk booties and bands to use our body weight to tone and strengthen. As an avid fitness enthusiast, I have tried anything and everything. It's unusual to find a fitness class that combines toning exercises with cardio. My heart was pumping as I did lunges, mountain climber, and plank pose exercises.

There's always a great variety of complimentary class at all the lululemon stores from yoga or pilates to bootcamp or belly dancing. Whenever I go on vacation (even before I worked here) I check the lululemon site for studios in the area or classes at the store. It's a great money-saver to scout out the free classes when you're on vacation because it's often difficult and pricey to find suitable gyms.

The next day during my walk through Central Park, my legs were definitely sore (of course in a good way). My cost for the workout weekend in New York $0 and my body definitely loved it.

Want to try booty slide out for yourself? Visit their site below!

http://www.rebeccakordecki.com/bootyslide.html

About a year before I started working at lululemon athletica, I injured my back at my previous job. I saw a chiropractor, three orthopedic specialists, a couple of massage therapists, and at least seven different physical therapists over the course of a year. I'm an athlete, but living with my injury left me feeling sorry for myself and totally resigned. Prior to injuring my back, my favorite activities were running, riding my bicycle, and lifting weights, and I was no longer able to do these things without increasing pain.

Recovering from my injury has given me a completely different definition to the word "fit". I used to think that fitness meant looking hot in a bikini and being able to complete a 5K in the top 30% of my age group. I now know that for me fitness means feeling good in my body, without comparison and without judgment.

It took me a long time to learn the importance of staying active without increasing pain. I decided to slowly build up to a level of fitness that I was comfortable with. I had several physical therapy programs that I was responsible for, so instead of completing them at home, I took them to the gym with me, along with my limitations so that I didn't re-injure myself. Some days I would hop on an elliptical machine, even if only for three minutes, simply because I wanted to get the feeling of running without all of the consequences. At the end of my workout, I would tell myself how proud I was for completing those three minutes on the elliptical. After all, it was three minutes longer than I'd done the previous day!

The main elements that helped me recover:

1) Yoga. Not only will yoga increase your strength and flexibility, but it will also boost your level of confidence and it feels really good. Maybe you won't be able to do all of the poses as well as others in your class, but the beauty of yoga is that it isn’t a competition. Everyone in the class is at a different level and nobody is comparing. Introduce yourself to the instructor and ask for modifications to poses that might be difficult with your particular situation. Soon you will start to recognize ways to modify certain poses on your own.

2) Meeting other people who'd been injured. If I saw somebody on mat at the gym doing the same physical therapy exercises in my program, I would approach them and get into a conversation. At the end of the day, it is simply encouraging to know that you’re not the only one.

3) Volunteering. I couldn't participate in the races and events that I used to do, so I signed up to be a volunteer. This is a very rewarding way to stay involved in the athletic community while you’re recovering, and you still get a free t-shirt.

4) Icing it. This was the most tedious thing to make myself do for my injury, but it's the easiest and most natural way to decrease inflammation. 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, followed by 10 more minutes on. Do it. Often.

5) Reformer Pilates. My core wasn't quite strong enough to be able to do a group Pilates mat class, but the reformer supports your body throughout the workout to provide resistance, core strengthening, and flexibility.

6) Swimming. I learned how to swim to make up for the cardio I could no longer get from running or spinning. My boyfriend appreciated this because I burn off my bitchiness through cardiovascular exercise.

7) Living powerfully. Be proud of yourself for every step you take toward recovery. Motivational speaker, Brian Tracy, says "You become what you think about most of the time." What will your future will be like if you are constantly complaining and feeling sorry for yourself for this injury? Take back the power!

This is your body, the way it is and the way that it's not. You can spend your energy complaining, or you can choose to like yourself. Which of these choices leaves you feeling resigned and which leaves you feeling empowered? Ultimately, it is up to you.