warm up

A smooth cardio track to get your blood pumping:

The Temper Trap - Resurrection

workout

These tracks are meant to fire you up and push you through your entire workout. Starting with Arcade Fire, you better be ready to move! This song will give you the bounce in your step as you get the workout started. Kanye West’s Power remix is perfectly placed in the middle of the workout. You’ve got the power! Finishing up with Drake, let the song speak to you and how hard you worked. Let your workout make you feel like the greatest and unforgettable!

Arcade Fire - Ready to Start
Yeasayer - O.N.E.
CEO - White Magic
Sleigh Bells - Tell ‘Em
Kanye West - Power
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
Mark Ronson - You Gave Me Nothing
Drake - Unforgettable ft. Young Jeezy

cardio wrap up

Some steady beats that’ll push you through the cardio wrap up of your workout. As you finish up your cardio, know that the dog days are over! Let this remix of Florence + the Machine’s hit allow you to embrace the hard work of the workout and know that it’s over!

CEO - Come With Me
Bag Raiders - Sunlight
Deadmau5 - Animal Rights
Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over

stretch

Three tracks that’ll help you stretch out and cool down from your workout. The final song on this playlist, by Jonsi, will put a smile on your face as you finish up. Take in all you’ve done today and reap the benefits of a great workout!

Yeasayer - Madder Red
Mumford & Sons - Awake my Soul
Jonsi - Around Us

What were your favourite tracks to warm up, sweat, and cool down to in 2010?

Above: Alex in her new pair of perfectly fitting Groove Pants. 

I recently had a guest experience that has impacted me on so many levels that I had to share it.

A young woman named Alex and her little sister were in the changing room having the little sister's pants hemmed. Alex was trying on one of our new hoodies and trying to decide between two colours. After deciding that the one with the pink stripes fit nicely the little sister made a comment about how Alex wouldn't have fit into that hoodie a few months ago.

Always curious to learn more about our guests I asked Alex what her sister meant. She told me that she is 20 years old and that she was a size 24 in January. At that time her doctor told her that she had to lose weight and change her habits or the long-term impact on her health and life would have severe consequences. Since her doctor's warning Alex has revolutionized her lifestyle – incorporating healthy eating and regular exercise. To date she has lost an amazing sixty pounds.

Alex then said that her "goal has been to fit into a pair of lululemon pants."

While the girls got changed, I grabbed our incredible store manager and told her that I really wanted to do something to demonstrate that lululemon is a goal-oriented and health conscious team would support Alex in her goal. Rebecca asked me what I wanted to do. "I want to give her that first pair of pants," I said. I was floored when Rebecca responded with "Do it!"

Pulling Alex aside, I said "we are really proud of the changes that you have made to live a better life and that you have made our company a part of them. We are going to give you that pair of pants that you have set as your goal. If they don’t fit today, you can come back when you are ready. But let’s go give it a try now!"

Nervous as to whether or not she would fit into the pants, I suggested we grab the Groove Pants that matched her hoodie. She went back into the change room to put them on. When she came out the pants fit her perfectly. She achieved her goal without even knowing it.

Ultimately Alex took the pants and hoodie home, hopefully as proud of her accomplishment as our team was of her for completing her goal.

It was an amazing thing that the lululemon athletica Rideau Centre team did to support this young woman and it was personally rewarding to be a part of it. I wish Alex the best of luck in accomplishing her next goal.

By putting your goals out there you have a better chance of building the support network required to achieve them. How do you put your goals out there? How do you support others?