we asked:

@lululemon Why do you love your body? Tag your answers w/ #WeAsked & we’ll share our favourites in Friday’s blog.

you answered:

@fr0zenfate: because it keeps me strong at the gym during my spinal surgery rehabilitation!

@LyndaWatkins: love my body-it bore 2 fab individuals- @matt_corker & @scorkerirwin & after many knee surgeries held up to do a 42.2k

@TCRG: Tall, short, chubby, ripped - doesnt matter to us. Every single one of our girls kicks serious ass.

@chelsiewatts: It's strong. It allows me to run, bike nasty hills, climb mountains and sweat once a day.

@DrKevinDC: My body got me to the top of Mt. Baldy and Mt. Wilson plus a dozen other hikes this summer

@Hamid_McKenzie: I love my body because it is a machine built for performance, and unlike metal, this machine likes being pushed to the limits!

@MarissaVicario: It has carried me hundreds of thousands of miles running, cycling, swimming and through millions of chaturangas

@Bodyimaje: I love my body because it's the only vehicle I got at my disposal in order to make it to the finish line we call "Life"

@sammmaurelio: As a vocalist it encases my instrument. A friend: a shoulder to cry on. An athlete: ability to lift. A lover: a heart to give away.

@Kevin__Wharton: because if I listen closely it tells me exactly what it needs.

@RunMommaRunNews: Love my body because I can chase my kids, chase a PR and chase my dreams with it.

GroovieGurlie: As a nurse who has worked with the elderly, I know this is as good as it's gonna get, and it's all downhill from here!

what is we asked?

Every week we ask you for your thoughts and opinions on a specific topic via Twitter, and share our favourite answers here on our blog. Want to share your wisdom in 140 characters or less? Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lululemon. If you’d like to suggest a topic, feel free to email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

we asked

@lululemon: Why do you run? Tag your answers with #WeAsked & we'll share our favourites in our blog on Friday!

you answered

@MissRedWing: I run because I love the music of my breaths and feet hitting the pavement.

@ashleykoehn: After an 8 mile lakefront run, I feel BEAUTIFUL. No need for heels & mascara. Strength, health & confidence is beauty.

@AshmoeNY: I run to prove to myself that I can go the distance & conquer my goals/fears. I run to finish what I started.

@Glorious_Greens: I run to escape the chaos of the day and to feel the strength my body possesses. It is my time to just be in the moment.

@kelhilder: When I run the whole world disappears and I feel completely free.

@khourinya: I run because it is thousands of dollars cheaper than therapy

@chrissybajcar: It's a time to clear my head, get away, and just be. I also like pushing my limits

@c5mccorm: I run for my sanity! also, for the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing a race or a grueling training run

@erinmarie9: To get outside, push my limits and remove stress with each stride

@syyong: It's my meditation, nothing else matters when i run, the only thing on my mind are my breath, enjoying the air that comes in and out, my steps, my awareness of my body in space

Look for our next #WeAsked question on Tuesday, August 10th!

what is we asked?

Every week we ask you for your thoughts and opinions on a specific topic via Twitter, and share our favourite answers here on our blog. Want to share your wisdom in 140 characters or less? Follow us on Twitter. If you’d like to suggest a topic, feel free to email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

View running clothes:

• Run: Dash Tight
• Run: Speed Skirt
• Push Ur Limits Tank

you asked

I want to know some moves to help with lower back pain. I am happy to say that Cobra position is no longer a painful problem but I get random bouts of mild lower back pain behind my hips. It is never severe, more annoying than anything else. My PCP offered pain relievers and muscle relaxers and I just don’t think it is bad enough to medicate myself everyday. I want to know what I do wrong (duh…sitting in front of a computer all day and habitually cross my knees under my desk) and how to correct it. - Megan H

a yogi answers

Dear Megan,
I definitely think you should explore alternatives to medicating yourself. First thing is to break the habit of crossing your knees as this will create imbalance and misalignment in your body, particularly in your hips. It is difficult to assess your case without knowing your practice, so I would definitely recommend that you speak to your instructor and ask them to guide you more carefully given the pain you are experiencing. Pay very close attention to your hip alignment when practicing yoga asanas, and avoid arching your back or exploring any back bends in your warriors – try to contain your core and your lower ribs in as much as possible and focus on squaring your hips even if this means you cannot move into the pose as deeply.

Back bends can help improve your strength, but these should also be practiced cautiously with a great deal of attention to alignment so that you are not compensating elsewhere due to misalignment. Good luck!

- Grace, lululemon Queen St. ambassador

what is ask a yogi?

Ask a Yogi is a yoga advice column that is published on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. If you have a yoga question for future yoga panels, please email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

you asked

I have a broken tailbone and always feel like a flake when I can’t do Boat or other butt balancing positions. Any suggestions or props to help with that? - Catherine

a yogi answers

Boat pose is an abdominal strengthening pose, so I would suggest modifying the pose so that you are still getting the benefits of the core strengthening. Depending on what your experience is, you could bring your hands behind you to support your weight, role the weight off your tail bone by bringing your low back to the mat and work your abs from a more supported angle.
If this still bugs your tail bone, just lay all the way down and get creative with crunches, and abs from your back.
Your practice is to not worry about keeping up with the specific poses of the class that aggravate your tail bone, but finding a way to stay present and powerful in your own way!

- Kinndli, lululemon Oakville ambassador

what is ask a yogi?

Ask a Yogi is a yoga advice column that is published on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. If you have a yoga question for future yoga panels, please email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

you asked

Can a 5′2 130 lb woman actually do arm balances? I try and I feel like it’s never going to happen for me. - Becka

a yogi answers

The only thing that is in your way is not believing that you can! Absolutely you can do arm balances, yes it may take time and a little patience to build enough strength and balance, but what holds most people back from soaring in arm balances is the fear of falling. If you are practicing Crow put a pillow in front of you on the floor so if you tip there is something soft to catch you. If you are practicing Handstand move over to a wall so that you can get over the fear of falling over. Then practice practice practice:)
- Kinndli, lululemon Oakville ambassador

what is ask a yogi?

Ask a Yogi is a yoga advice column that is published on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. If you have a yoga question for future yoga panels, please email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

you asked

I’ve been practicing for 10 years and have been trying to hold a handstand for 10 years. I feel like I have enough shoulder strength but don’t feel like I am balancing myself in the right way. Any advice or tips would be very helpful. Thanks! - Patricia

a yogi answers

Dear Patricia,

Don’t give up! Make sure you are pressing through the knuckles of your fingers and drawing energy up though your palms - keep little pockets of air in your palms. Make sure your core and legs are engaged. I usually fall out of balance if I hyperextend my lower ribs, so make sure they are nicely contained within your torso along with your belly. Find some softness through your shoulders (joints), ensuring you are not locking them, focusing on your upper arm strength.

- Grace, lululemon Queen St. ambassador

Do you have any tips or advice for Patricia to hold a strong and balanced handstand?

Rock climbing at Wasootch.

For years, climbing nearly destroyed my back and shoulders. The weight of large, heavy packs and equipment, especially when I was out mountaineering, wound my back into knots no one could undo. My massage therapist would do his best, letting out an audible and confused, ‘hmmmm’ as he worked away at my shoulder blades. Nothing seemed to work out the kinks, until yoga came along.

I didn’t start practicing yoga with hopes that it would resolve my back issues. A friend of mine invited me to go with her, and I simply jumped at the opportunity to try something new. Within weeks of starting yoga, however, I noticed that my back and shoulder pain had mostly subsided. All those downward dogs and spinal twists offered the perfect remedy to the wear and tear my climbing habits had caused.

Rock climbing  at Grassi Lakes.

I also didn’t anticipate the benefits that yoga would have for my climbing. Regular yoga classes actually improved my flexibility and core strength, which allowed me to push the limits in my climbing. This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

Now I am a committed member of a wonderful yoga community at lululemon athletica and in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and it goes so far beyond finding relief from back pain. I am thankful to have found that yoga pushes my physical limits, challenges my focus, and restores my spirit like any good climb up a rocky face.

Tree Pose in the Okanagan! Does it get any better than this?

If you’re a climber, try yoga too! You won’t think anymore about how your body will pay for the awesome moves you pulled to ascend the route.

This blog post was written by Meghan, a keyleader and community guru at lululemon athletica Banff. She (obviously) enjoys climbing and yoga, and also loves to ski tour, hike, and camp in the backcountry. Meghan is also a freelance writer and loves writing about mountain culture, wellness, and the experiences of women in the wild. You can check out Meghan's website.

Below are the steps to Triangle pose (Trikonasana). This pose is great for hockey players because it focuses on the spine, lower back, flexibility, lateral muscles, and hamstrings. It also increases your flexibility and strength - perfect for sneaky slap shots or making the winning save!

step 1

Antonio Zivanovic, an ambassador from the West 4th store, shows us the steps to get into Trikonasana.

Stand on your yoga mat with your feet together, hips-width apart, and your arms comfortably down at your sides. Take a few deep breaths in and out through your nose.

step 2

Take a big step out to the side and turn your torso to the right with your arms outstretched and parallel to the floor, palms facing down.

Make sure your right foot is pointing straight ahead, and turn your left foot out 90 degrees so that it's pointing at the wall. Your heels should be lined up. Reach in front of you with your right arm, and shift your hips to the left.

step 3

Place your right hand down to the floor (or gently on your calf if the floor isn't available to you yet) and reach up to the ceiling with your left hand. Keep deep breathing and hold this pose for 30 seconds, repeating on the other side.

Remember to listen to your body and stop if you feel ANY pain.

Are you a hockey player who also practices yoga? Leave us a comment below or email us at onlinecommunity@lululemon.com to say hi!

lululemon athletica Ala Moana's Studio of the Month featured the pole-dancing studio Fit for a Goddess.

Recently lululemon Ala Moana featured a pole-dancing studio called Fit for a Goddess as our store's studio of the month. We had in-store pole dancing demonstrations and a complimentary introductory class just for ladies. Seeing these athletic women fly through the air in front of complete strangers inspired me to sign up for a series of pole-dancing classes.

I've always been more of a tomboy: ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you that the extent of my dance repertoire consists of the robot, running man, or any other goofy move you can think of. So walking into a class that focused on femininity was at first a little uncomfortable for me.

Unleashing your inner Goddess with pole dancing.

Our teacher encouraged us to embrace our sexuality, to move our bodies with grace and strength, and to be comfortable with ourselves – no matter what age, shape or size. No judgments on ourselves or each other. At the end of our first class, our teacher told us it was "showcase time". We had to perform the dance number in small groups for the rest of the class. My heart started thumping and my palms started to sweat. We got up, did our thing, and it was over as quickly as it started.

Teachers from Fit for a Goddess did weekly pole-dancing demonstrations at the lululemon athletica Ala Moana store.

After class I laughed to myself -- now THAT was doing one thing a day that scares you. At least for me. While a dance class might not be a big deal for some... we all have different fears, push ourselves in numerous ways, and in the end, our take away lessons vary. But hopefully trying something new fuels our hunger for more – out of ourselves, out of others, and out of life!

Lara challenges herself and gets into a headstand for the first time.

Tonight was a landmark in my yoga practise. I got into a headstand for the first time on my SECOND try. On my FIRST try I enthusiastically flung my sweaty legs into the air. While they made it up to my intended vertical position, my lower body then continued on, collapsing to the right of my Manduka Mat, legs flailing and knocking over the woman in the calm and steady headstand beside me. In the end we both ended up in a heap on our respective mats.

I was mortified. This woman is the yogini with the perfect full lotus I had admired in my last class. I was the newbie who only recently touched her toes without bending my knees. I apologized to sink back into child’s pose and lick my wounded ego.

After the class I turned to her to apologize once more. “Think nothing of it! Ask anyone, we’ve all been there!”, she said to me laughing. Feeling like she was someone that could understand, I explained this feeling that I've been having, like I am on the brink of being able to push to that next level in my practise, that I KNOW my body can do it but I just need that extra little support (and room around my mat) to get there.

The woman asked me if I wanted to try again with her help. I said “Yes!”

I set up my arms and placed my head in between them with my new yoga buddy standing by, ready to catch me. I raised my left leg, then right leg halfway up. Feeling confident, I slowly raised them up to vertical once more. I tried! I did it! It felt amazing to do something that had scared me! And I made a new yoga friend!

Tonight I was reminded to not be satisfied with things as they are. If I want to grow as a person, as a yogini, I need to take more risks. I will fall again when I try a headstand, once, twice, likely a whole lot more - but that’s ok. The worst thing that my mind could conceive of happening when I envisioned trying to do a headstand happened tonight. But instead of it being a bad thing, it opened up a door to an opportunity where I made a new friend that helped me to experience my yoga practice at a whole new level of engagement.

What are you afraid of doing? Who do you need to help you get to that next level?

As a parent, finding that place of balance and bliss during our busy day-to-day lives can sometimes be a challenge. Many moms (and dads) turn to yoga to find that inner sense of calm. But yoga is not only for adults. Children can do it too.

Yoga for kids is a fun way to learn about health and exercise. By using creative play, simple yoga postures, breathing and relaxation techniques, children can experience the physical and mental benefits of yoga – from helping raise self-awareness and self-esteem to aiding in a positive body image to respecting each other’s space.

Besides increasing strength and flexibility, striking poses can also help students strike a balance in class. Studies have shown that yoga has helped children increase their confidence, concentration, and sense of calm.

So what’s stopping you from signing your kids up for yoga? Contact your local lululemon athletica for leads on yoga for kids classes in your community or you can do a search on the internet for kids yoga DVDs and books.

See if there is a lululemon store near you that offers yoga classes for children or bring them with to a class with you!

Check out our lululemon stores and see if there is yoga class for children in your community!

Logan Circle's running club works their core after a long run.

There is more to improving your run performance than simply running. Strength training, rest, nutrition, and injury prevention also play a major role.

At the lululemon Logan Circle run club, we focus on core strength to improve our running. After every Monday night run club, we grab yoga mats, place them outside of the store on the sidewalk, and I guide our runners through a 15 minute intense core workout.

While the core include the abs, back, hips, and glutes, we focus on ab and back strength. When people ask about our group, I like to say that the 15 minute core workout is the part of run club that our runners love to hate! I secretly know when they complain about it, they are really telling me how much they love it, as we have quite the large group stay to complete it, and even some who come just for the ab workout. It is quite the scene on our busy street during people’s commutes home to see a group of sweaty runners holding on for an intense 15 minutes as I remind them to “embrace it” (the intensity of the workout) and remind them that they can “rest at home.”

Core work is an integral part of a runner’s routine. A regular core routine will not only help you improve your running times, but will also help you prevent injuries, as well as help you keep your form in the late miles of a race. My favourite core exercises are a series of planks, which help you improve both strength and stability. As a run coach, I recommend that my athletes incorporate some type of core routine two to three times a week into their training schedules. The athletes that do this find it easier to keep their form and quickly learn that it isn’t just about great abs, but about improving performance and giving themselves that extra edge. Need help finding a core routine that works for you? See if your local lululemon has a running club or there are many resources online, such as runnersworld.com, which has video links to various options for core training.

I have a secret passion for acting. I have loved it throughout my life and acting has given me some of the happiest and most memorable moments of my life. But if you took a look at my goals, you probably wouldn't even know this. I down-played my love to "I appear in a movie as an extra" for a one-year goal. Most people are like "Wow, that’s cool", but honestly, it is a copout.

What goes up must come down. We often think of this simple phrase in a rather negative light. Greatness will lead to failure, strength will collapse to weakness. Climb a mountain and you will need to climb back down (or live on the top as a hermit).

Ups and downs are inevitable in life but we try our damnedest to fight against this. Why?

Fear drives us to not act in case we fail. But aren’t we 'failing' if we don't act either, or even more so, because if we gave it our all and 'failed' would that not be more of a success than nothing at all? When you risk it all and give it all you've got, you'll end up with a lot either way.

When I realised this fact I took a look around and asked myself "What am I waiting for?!"

I think a lot of us have secret goals we are scared to pursue or even declare out loud!

Now that I am present to all of this, I feel a sense of power to go out and give it my all. Instead of those old fears running through my head, I have a new motto: "Play hard. Risk it all!"

My new goal now is already in motion: I move to Vancouver, sign up with an agency and I will be an extra in movies and for television, every week, any opportunity that comes my way! I want it! And I am going to get it.

Do you have any goals that are a little timid and might be covering up some unsaid fears? Be honest with yourself, then just go for it already! Play hard and live an ambitious life.

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.