My mom and dad with me in Parma, Italia. The happiest I have ever felt about my body was living in this town...

On the beach of Monterosso, skinny to large Italian women walked in a way that truly took my breath away. Everyone looked amazing and I was truly envious of them. They knew how to love their bodies and I didn't, and it was showing. My self consciousness may as well have been an extra 50 pounds of chub, because it was definitely weighing me down and I decided to drop it on that beach. Coming home from Italy, I started to walk like an Italian for a while. Shoulders back, head up and proud of my body.

From left to right: Jenny the Canadian, Andrea the Italian, me the American. Andrea taught us foreigners to love life through good food, good wine and loving your body for what it is.

why don't we love our bodies as much as they do in europe?

As I write this post today I am reminded that my Italian walk has slipped away a bit, and I want to know why and how to bring it back. I have been asking people around lululemon a few questions about loving their bodies. I wasn't shocked by their answers, but I want to find a way to put an Italian sway in their days. Here is what I found:

Hollis dancing to her own beat.

Hollis, a runner and dream maker, and in the eyes of most women has a perfect body.

Do you love your body?

Most days.

How do you find the love in your body on the days it seems to be lacking?

Exercise or run or cycling when I can't find the love and I am reminded of how strong my thighs are because that's the body part that I hate the most. My thighs give me strength in a conflicting way.

Dane, one handed push up, no problem!

Dane walks tall, works out a lot, and in the eyes of most women, is pretty smokin'.

Do you love your body?

No. I haven't in the past and I'm starting to.

How do you find the love in your body on the days it seems to be lacking?

I beat myself up mentally and then feel better by exercising. Sculpt yoga classes make me feel the best about my body, and when I need the love, I go to class.

Natalia punches it out and always exudes confidence.

Finally, there's Natalia. Natalia is beautiful inside and out, and seems to have it all figured out. When I met her a few weeks ago, I was blown away by her internal beauty and was instantly reminded of the Italian women I so admire. She is an IntenSati instructor and is trying to teach the world how to love themselves through exercise.

Have you always loved your body?

Absolutely not! It wasn't until my teen years when I found exercise that I began to appreciate my body and enjoyed being physical. I can honestly say that I now love my body. IntenSati has a lot to do with that, it reminds me that the point of exercising is not to fit into a pair of jeans, but to feel strong, healthy and confident.

What tips and mantras can you share with those of us who are still working on loving our bodies?

Find a type of exercise that you enjoy. If you feel that exercise is torture or punishment, chances are you will not stick with your routine and that you will feel resentful and angry, neither of which are emotions that cultivate self-love. Of course it should be challenging, but if you hate running or swimming, I would not start by committing to run or swim every day! Try lots of classes and find one you love.

One affirmation I think is really powerful is; I love myself exactly as I am. This helps remind me that even as I am striving to be stronger and more fit, I must begin from a foundation of love for myself just as I am in the present moment. After all, love is always a more powerful fuel than self doubt.

walk like an italian, sweat like a north american, and love your body

In the end what I found was that we North Americans may not show that we love our bodies in the way that we walk and talk, but we definitely love our bodies in the ways we sweat. Now if we can just put a bit more of an Italian bounce in our step, we might be able to convince ourselves and the world of the love we have for our bodies. When you are not feeling the love, find a way to sweat and fake it until you make it. Life's too short and you only get one body, so love it up. Namaste.

The Wear With All Jacket is an extra long and lighter alternative to our classic Remix lulu Hoodie. Our designers wanted to thank you for your continued feedback, and have thus released the Wear With All jacket in Alarming/Vancouver and Bold Blue/Lagoon exclusively online.

summer loving in french terry!

Whether you're traveling or enjoying the season by recommitting to your yoga practice this summer, you want to stay comfortable, and the Wear With All Jacket was made with all of those thoughts and desires in mind. Your skin will surely take a savasana in the comfort of French Terry while waiting for your flight. Summer yoga retreat anyone?

Stretch French Terry is the fancy name for our cotton and Lycra fabric. Cotton is breathable and comfortable and the Lycra prevents the garment from bagging out. It is also pre-shrunk, so there's no need to be afraid to wear the jacket true to size.

Details from left to right: stretch cotton French Terry that won't bag out, zipper garage to protect your chin and the zipper won't buckle, flat seamed comfort and chafe free.

The longer length of this jacket is perfect for before and after yoga to cover up your bum. The jacket is comfortably fitted, and most women are the same size in the Wear With All Jacket as they are the Remix lulu Hoodie. We added our beloved thumbholes to keep your sleeves in place, but it also adds a level of comfort and delight.

Details from left to right: longer length to cover your bum, front pockets for cozy hands, and thumbholes!

Why We Made This:

• The perfect long jacket to pair with tights, and yes it covers your entire bum!
• Our own blend of cotton French Terry has stretch so it won’t bag out!
• Front pockets to keep your hands cozy.
• Thumbholes to keep sleeves in place.
• Chafe resistant flat seams.
• Preshrunk so there are no surprises when you wash me and the zipper won’t buckle!

Whether you're taking the summer head on with a packed itinerary of travel, or exploring the yoga studios and other ways to sweat, the Wear With All Jacket will go along for the ride to keep you comfy. We wish you happy travels and lots of "me time" this summer. Namaste.

However, not all styles of lululemon pants seem to work for me and my, let's say badankadonk. Don't get me wrong my booty loves being wrapped in luon, but sometimes my backyard does not like to come out of the fit rooms. "Hockey butt" is not a phenomenon only enjoyed by men, ladies have athletic "hockey butt" too, but in America we refer to it as "hitter's butt" or "baseball butt".

My "hitter's butt" and I are notorious for wearing things too big, and stray from publicly modeling new styles. Recently my fellow co-workers at lululemon La Jolla have been encouraging my private fit sessions to become public so that I no longer buy the wrong sizes. I like trying things on when no one can watch me, and yet I love when guests model for me and tell me everything they love and anything they would change on our garments. But we are working through this...

A week or so ago when the "Snaptastic Pants" were delivered to our wonderful store in La Jolla, and my friends Julie and Stefanie tried them on (both dancers, both yogis, both with legs to die for) and the pants looked phenomenal on them both! They both ranted and raved about how the pants gave them a nice compression, and the snaps were a great detail for air flow in pilates, yoga and dance class.

The pants have great detail where they almost compress around the calves of your legs, and thus showing off a lady's lovely shape. Me and my lovely lady lumps however were not having it when Julie and Stefanie forced me to try them on.

I have always admired the delicate movements and muscles of dancers, and though I am comfortable in my own skin, I did at this moment envy their ability to rock such cool pants that I refused to even try. I figured with my athletic shape, size 6 tummy, and size 8 "hitter's butt", I would look like a pear with legs. I watched them snap their pants up and down, until I finally got the nerve to try them on.

As I shyly creeped out of the fit rooms, and looked at mirror and said "Ohhh snapp!! These actually work for me!!"

The wonderful feature of compression truly showed of the details of my calves, and the snap open flare at the ankles not only enhanced the shape of my legs, but also balanced the extra shape of my hitter's butt!

For once I almost feel like a dancer in my Snaptastic Pants, and love that they are black and yet also reverse to grey! Hey now, phenomenal!

So again to the wonderful lululemon designers, thank you for making a wonderful garment that you don't have to be a dancer to rock and look great in. You can have a "hitter's butt" and strut your stuff in your badonka-down-dog at yoga!

Seriously girls with or without curves, go try these on, you truly might surprise yourself and your legs just might fall in love at first touch!

Namaste!

*Please note, for guests dying to learn more about the Snaptastic pant, please visit your local lululemon store or give us a ring at 1.877.263.9300 x2. This product is currently an in-store exclusive. To find a lululemon location near you, visit our store finder here: http://www.lululemon.com/stores/ Alright, enough business, let's talk pants!

Above, Lori Moretti from Yatra Yoga takes our running gear for a spin. 

Conquer your head games

You've wanted to do a race and excuses are top of mind to rationalize your way out. I've heard: I'm not in shape, I am not competitive, and I don't have money.

Together, we're going conquer the head games, because this is the year you will race. I'm here to give you the inspiration, how-tos and tips to get ready for your first, fifteenth or five-hundredth race.

Find the race for you

Online magazines such as Active.com, Runner's World, Bicycling, and Triathlete are hubs for event listings and training tips.

Check the community board or website at your local lululemon store for training groups and buddies, tips, and run clubs.

Add athletes' blogs to your blog reader and check out their upcoming race schedule (see our blogroll on the right side of this page for a list of athletes' blogs).

If you’re still not sure what you want to do (a 5K vs. a half marathon or a sprint triathlon vs. an international/Olympic distance) go watch one! Not only will you be inspired, you have a chance to network, sign up for upcoming races and talk through your questions with professionals and athletes.

I cheered on local athletes and our ambassador Rachel Challis at the Oceanside Ironman 70.3 with fellow blogger Kirsten and our ambassador Beth Gerdes and realized that if I want, and start training, I can do this race next year!

There are a variety of opps to volunteer at races and race EXPOS as well, both will connect you to people also interested in the sport.

Create a goal

Perhaps your goal is a PR (personal record). Maybe it's to meet new friends in a new town. Just finishing an event is an incredible fete. Some other ideas:

• start small: a 2 mile walk is amazing. We aren't all Ironman triathletes, and that is okay
• align yourself with a charity and create a fundraising goal (Will your company sponsor you? Can you fundraise your way to the registration fee - plus some - through your contacts, friends and family?
• join a relay and make a mini time goal for your leg
• think big: as long as you train, rest, eat and condition your body and mind properly, you can be an Ironman!

Just sign up

No more excuses.

What race did you sign up for? I've started training for the Lighthouse Century Ride in San Luis Obispo County, California.

I'm off to try on the new lululemon bathing suits just delivered to the store!

My sisters and I share the same parents but we have our own bodies. I may be able to get into the splits and hold a gnarly headstand, but when it comes to endurance activities, all three of my sisters can pass me in a heartbeat. My friend Jessica commented while I was feeling left behind in the dust during a family hike that "the girls are just built differently."

Our bodies shape the type athletes that we become. Athletes come in all shapes and sizes too. Look at gymnast Shawn Johnson and basketball player Yao Ming.

Think of your body as a unique gift that is designed to perform like none other. How would you start loving your body if you stopped comparing it to others? What image you would have of yourself if mirrors did not exist and we based our image off of how we felt inside? After a sweaty hike or a killer dance class my body reaches a potential so high I could flash the sky at the top of a mountain...

Love your body and the possibilities it has for reaching your highest physical potential.