Chances are high you’ve seen Tess' name around Twitter and our Facebook page, answering your product questions or handing out virtual high fives for recent goals crushed. As one of our incredibly social savvy team members - Tess spends her days pursuing the internet and chatting with some of the coolest people out there (like you!). The conversations Tess has every day at work consistently inspire her and recently led her to create a badass goal - "the Ambassador Project".

Have you ever had one of those moments where you wonder “Is this real life?” Those happen to me on the regular in my job. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I work in social media. This vague title (much to the confusion of border control officers and my parents – hi, Mum!) allows me the opportunity to spend my days cruising the internet and chatting to some of the raddest people out here – you guys.  I answer tweets about anything from directions to the nearest store to the best places to sweat in your hood. I’m naturally chatty (ask anyone who’s ever been in a room with me) so getting up each morning to hear about all the cool and inspiring things our guests are up to is such a treat.

One group of people that inspire me daily are our  ambassadors. Now, I fully intend on finishing my degree and eventually winding up with my PhD in physiology but if the opportunity arose for me to be a professional marathon cheerleader, I’d drop the textbooks in a heartbeat. The thing is, I love athletes. I have the deepest respect for anyone who is willing to go all out to try something they’ve never done before. Nothing moves me to keep going than knowing that there are people out there getting up to 4am alarms to run track in the rain, juggling schedules to create workouts or showing up on their mats for their students. I’m a person who turns to sweat when things gets rough. I wanted to spend some time getting to know the people that have helped me through some of my darkest hours and might not even know it. It started with a simple declaration and lo, the Ambassador Project was born.

sweats so far

Yin Yoga – Elle Basten

Spin – Mike Porter

Spin – Natasha Lowe

Hot Yoga with Music– Sasha Smith

Hot Yoga – Heather McEwen

Barre Method – Carolyn Williams

the road ahead

I have a long, sweaty road ahead of me which is perfect for working off holiday shortbread and one too many spiked eggnogs.  After the YVR edition is complete, I’m headed to NYC to stretch, spin and sweat with our ambassadors in the city that don’t sleep. I can’t wait to see all of you on the mat, in the box or on the bike.

Feeling inspired? Get out there and get to know the ambassadors in your neighbourhood. Needing inspiration? You know where Tess can be found and she’d be happy to chat about your goals and sweaty pursuits. If you’re an ambassador and you want to sweat with her, leave a note or shoot her a tweet @thatgirlsix with the hashtag #ambassadorproject. Let’s get sweaty!

If you were to look up the words “inspiration” and “possibility” in the dictionary we’re quite certain you’d find our former educator, Betsy’s, name listed in their descriptions (hey Oxford, we’re proposing a rewrite). Not only did she find the courage to leave an unfulfilling career in HR to follow her dreams of being a life coach, she also recently crushed a jaw-dropping goal: 365 days of sweat (which is exactly what it sounds like it is).

Rumor has it you set a BHAG to sweat for 365 days. True?
Yes. I am a firm believer of the statement, "you have to live it to give it." As a life coach, I wanted to make sure that I was living a healthy life that had a consistent workout ritual (which I preach often). Not only were my workouts inconsistent, I also knew I was capable of a whole lot more. Last October (2011) I was on a run in a park and the idea popped up in my head. After the run, I came up with a name for the adventure and started blogging that evening. Initially the blog was a way that my friends and family could help hold me accountable to my goal but it transitioned into a beautiful space of inspiration for others.

So did you really sweat 365 days in a row?
Yes and no. I worked out for 365 days in a row but sometimes my body needed a break and I listened. Those days I would walk for 45 minutes in my neighborhood or go to a slower paced yoga class. I did not sweat (much), I just moved. It is important to listen to what your body needs no matter what your fitness goals are. When you are able to truly listen, you will be able to complete the goal a lot easier than if you push it so hard that it breaks.

What did achieving the goal mean to you?
The most important thing that it taught me is how powerful I can be when I fully commit myself to something. Everyone has self doubt and for me it kept coming back to, "you cannot complete anything!" By finishing this goal I was able to prove myself oh-so wrong. Now that I know that I am capable of completing things, my world seems endlessly full of possibilities. That's a pretty wonderful feeling.

Was there ever a point where you wanted to throw in the towel?
There were a few times when I felt like throwing the towel in my husband’s face! However his patience and soft encouraging words helped to keep me going. I have to admit that working out while you have the flu is one of the worst feelings around!

Favourite ways to sweat?
Good ole' fashioned running outside and yoga. Right before my wedding I became addicted to Yoga Sculpt (a power yoga class with weights and cardio) because of the high-intensity it helped lower my stress levels. My advice to future brides? Find a class similar to this and thank me later!

So does this mean you had to workout on your wedding day?
Yes! My bridesmaids and I ran a mile to a local park, where another one of my friends met us to lead 45 minutes of yoga. A few family members also came along for the ride. It was a beautiful way to start a day that celebrated love!

Did you try a bunch of different ways to sweat to change it up?
I did but I kept coming back to my favorites. I found that it was easiest to stick to my goal by doing the tried and true workouts most of the time. The strangest thing I did was going to a fitness concert in Denver called "OMG Fitness!" There were over 1,000 people wearing all white covered with glow in the dark paint, while completing a bootcamp class. I sweated my butt off, danced like a maniac and walked out of the event with my friend in hysterics. It completely pushed me out of my comfort zone and I am always thankful for that - primarily when I am done!

Hit us with some words of wisdom – what else did you learn?
Like anything in life, you make the things that are important to you a priority. If you do not have your health, then you have no life. Deep, right? Take care of your health and cultivate it by providing yourself with a healthy lifestyle. You will thank yourself a thousand times over for all of the benefits that continue to unfold.

Also, let go of the expectations that you have for what your body should look like. I thought that by the end of this my love handles would be non-existent. Nope, although they are smaller, they still linger around like that last guest at a dinner party. Once I was able to let go of what I thought my body should look like, I began to love my body as it is. Same goes with what my body is capable of during workouts. No hefty expectations means less pain. Try it, it feels so much better than hankering for a life of six-pack abs.

Anyone else out there attempt something like this before? 

natural deodorant sweat test review

soapwalla deodorant cream
overall sweat test rating: 8/10
price: $12.00
pros: scent, overall performance
cons: application, price

review:
I knew I had a winner when I stopped feeling the need to apologize in advance to everyone around me. After a workday and sweat session I had a few (brave) friends do a sniff test and I got the thumbs up all around. I loved the lavender-peppermint-tea tree scent (sensitive noses beware, it is quite strong). The price is a little steep and it did take me a while to get over the application of the product – you have to apply it like you would a moisturizer (they’re serious when they use the term ‘cream’).  Regardless, this would be my go to recommendation for anyone serious about going natural.

kiss my face – active life (lavender)
overall sweat test rating: 5/10
price: $5.99
pros: application, price
cons: scent

review:
What I loved most about this deodorant was that the application didn’t require any additional instruction (up against the other brands I tried this really did set it apart). For the most part it held up during the day to day although I do remember leaving one particularly warm meeting room in a bit of a sweat (pun intended). I also found the “lavender” scent to be a little strong and sort of smelt like a glue stick. If you’re willing to reapply for your workout and you’re looking for something easy and affordable then I’d recommend this deodorant as a decent option.

crystal body deodorant
overall sweat test rating: 3/10
price: $6.99
pros: hypoallergenic, price
cons: application, overall performance

review:
This one felt like I was wearing nothing at all and not in the good way. From application to performance this deodorant was my least favourite. In order to activate the “rock” you have to moisten it with water first (which dripped onto the clothes I was wearing - ugh). I wasn’t very confident that I’d transferred any product to my underarms and by the end of each day I was pretty certain I hadn’t. What it does have going for it is that it’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free making it a good option for those with sensitive skin. If it does work for you, it also lasts up to a year so you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck. Overall if you’re an active person like me than this probably won’t hold up to your liking.

Finding a good deodorant (and making a recommendation for that matter) can be tricky since everyone reacts to formulas differently. While this test did prove to me that there are some great options out there, it made me realize there was a much bigger question I had to ask. Was I ready and willing to switch from an antiperspirant to a deodorant? Smelling fresh and staying dry are important to me and these options (for the most part) undelivered when it came to the latter. Anyone know of a natural stick that combats both these issues?

True or False? CrossFit is for meatheads who yell, grunt and assign first names to their biceps. False. Members of our digital team recently took to our local CrossFit gym for an eye-opening, myth-busting workout. As it turns out, CrossFit isn’t actually a breeding ground for men who can sum up their lives with the three-part acronym GTL.

what is crossfit?

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that uses functional movement executed at a high intensity for a short period of time. The routine is determined at the start of each day and all athletes participate in the same WOD (workout of the day) scaled to meet their individual ability. The workout we did involved 10 reps of throwing a medicine ball to meet a target on the wall and then catching it back into a full squat, followed by 10 burpees. We repeated this for seven minutes trying to complete as many sets as we could. I realize that in written format, the workout seems harmless but I can assure you it was challenging, tiring and very, very sweaty.

four crossfit myths - busted

crossfit is a cult
False. It is an incredibly fun and addictive workout with a strong sense of community. When you go through the gruelling workouts together, you can’t help but get close with people around you. It’s the support from others that pushes you to try things you never thought were possible and overcome perceived limits.

crossfit is dangerous because you can get injured
As with most sports, injury can always happen and is usually the result of bad coaching. As long as you have been properly trained and coached through CrossFit your chance of injury is no greater than if you were doing anything else. A good coach can identify and correct bad form and recognize when someone is pushing themselves too hard.

crossfitters have egos bigger than their biceps (if that’s even possible)
The one thing that really sets apart a CrossFit facility to a standard gym is the fact that there are actually no mirrors. In CrossFit, the movements you are doing are so technical, that trying to catch a glimpse of yourself would throw you off and jeopardize your form. Egos are checked at the door and while the atmosphere can feel competitive, you are only ever measured up against your own records to document progress.

you will be yelled at
A huge part of the CrossFit experience is that supportive team and community aspect. I wouldn’t necessarily call it yelling as much as I would call it “encouraged, loudly”. The “yelling” is good-natured and meant to help you push your limits and find your edge. So yes, you will probably get “yelled” at but it won’t be the same as your mother sending you to your room.

After our first class, some of us were bitten by the CrossFit bug and couldn’t wait to go back, for others, once was more than enough. We could all agree that we had created stories about what CrossFit was and, in most cases, had been proven wrong. Are you a CrossFit junkie? What other myths need busting when it comes to the CrossFit world?

want more?

• not convinced yet? More on CrossFit
• how CrossFit rolls in New Jersey
• change up your routine. Try a new way to sweat

the nuts & bolts of antigravity yoga

What do you love, love, love about antigravity yoga?
I LOVE feeling like a kid swinging around on some ropes. The best part is it's SO MUCH FUN! I love being upside down! Antigravity yoga (AGY) looked like an art form that I've always wanted to try but have never had the arena to explore. Most people would recognise the hammock from Pink's performance at the Grammy's.

Do you see it as a progression from other yoga practices or a corruption?
I believe that one's exercise should be well balanced with all types of activities. Too much of any one thing is not healthy. AGY is just another fantastic movement form to be added to the mix.

Does AGY work against the benefits of traditional yoga
No, they are complementary. I would never leave my regular yoga practice or even decrease the frequency. I have been adding AGY and it has only helped. For many people who are learning inversions, AGY helps to build that kinesthetic awareness of having your hips above your shoulders.

what to expect

What should people wear for AGY?
It is important to wear sleeves (long or short) for when we wrap the hammock around our arms. One thing I've noticed with men is it might be better to wear tighter shorts (or bike shorts underneath) as some of the 'booty wrap' poses like to take loose shorts with them.

Do people need to be familiar with yoga positions before they start AGY?
Definitely not. The Steve Nash Sports Club is the only place in Vancouver with AGY and it's a brand new program. So in my classes, at the moment, everybody is a beginner.

What is the biggest issue for most people when they come in?
Trust. On so many levels. Trusting the hammock, the teacher and themselves. One of the first postures we do is an inversion, which can bring a lot of fear. Everybody has been successful at this technique and it's amazing to watch the fear subside throughout the class. Each person leaves feeling accomplished.

The amazing video above captures so much of the beauty of antigravity yoga but it has to be experienced to feel the gravity-pulling, hammock-supporting serenity of it.

want more?

• Join the 'hot or not' Bikrams debate.
• Find out what the cool kids are talking about with yoga 101
  

Sometimes we feel like Deanne has the energy to do more in a day than the rest of us do in a week. When she's not running, doing yoga, spending time with her kids and VPing our brand, we harness her energy to power the office and two-thirds of the downtown core. This video is a must watch, especially if your name is Chris, Travis or Barry.

meet deanne



want more

• learn how to stay motivated.
• schedule time for fitness.
• share your passion with others.
  

why milla loves the crb

The Cool Racerback tank is made of lululemon's signature fabric, luon light, and it is the perfect layering piece to wear from day-to-day activities to any intense workout. It's moisture wicking, and has no inner shelf bra which gives us unlimited ways to create outfits that suit our athletic lifestyle. I will be wearing this style of Cool Racerback tank in different colours for 7 days starting today, September 10th, to show you how much I appreciate the versatility of this tank. Every day, I will take two photos of myself to show you the different ways to incorporate this tank and create outfits from street to sweat.

day 1: sweat

Today I'm kick-starting this challenge with a Cool Racerback tank in Tang Light at our ambassador Icy Lee's studio in Quarry Bay - Yogasala. In Iyengar style yoga, a lot of emphasis is put on very precise body alignment, therefore it is recommended that we wear tighter fit clothing from top to bottom for alignment corrections. In Icy's classes, I always wear my Cool Racerback, layered with a medium support Flow Y Bra, and pair it with the Wunder Under Crop for best alignment awareness.

day 1: street

Here I am, walking down these historical stone steps of Pottinger Street in Central District. It's one of the busiest streets in Central because of its authentic local community from fruit stands, Chinese home decor vendors to selling Halloween costumes all year long. There are more than 10 yoga studios and gyms in Central and I usually walk through Pottinger Street to go from home to my favourite yoga class. At 33 degree celsius, I will definitely benefit from the light breatheable fabric of our Cool Racerback tank!

See you tomorrow for day two!

Summer is here and the opportunities to exercise and enjoy the outdoors are greater than ever. Here are some tunes old and new for you to sweat to - because let's face it, you're probably glistening whether you're exercising or not! To listen and purchase these songs, simply click on the artist name/song title and you'll be cranking the tunes in no time.

KYLIE MINOGUE - ALL THE LOVERS

The divine Miss Minogue is back with an album reminiscent of her work from earlier this decade - swirly and girly pop with enough bass and quirkiness to keep things from going sickly sweet.

THE TEMPER TRAP - SWEET DISPOSTION

Are you enjoying the World Cup as much as the rest of the world has? Get in on the action with the song on the tournament - this inspiring little gem would be perfect on a sunrise jog. Cough cough GO SPAIN! cough. This tickle in my throat, I tell ya...

LATRYX - LADY DON'T TEK NO

When everyone else was singing about guns and gangs in the early nineties, these dudes were busy being the chillest cats in town, talking about pretty ladies and what they should wear to the beach that day. Warning: this song might make you feel cool. Just saying.

METRIC - HELP ME I'M ALIVE

This Canadian band has been making the music festival rounds for years now, building a loyal cult following in the process. The lead singer, Emily Haines, has managed to perfect the art of sounding simultaneously bored and animated. I was confused by it at first - and then I noticed that they made every playlist I made for two years. Moral of the story: there isn't one. Moving on...

JOE BUDDEN - PUMP IT UP

Mozart, Puccini.....Budden. This is quite possibly the most inexplicably awesome song in the history of music. Don't try and question it's powers - p-pump it up!

SCISSOR SISTERS - INVISIBLE LIGHT

The Sisters even admitted themselves that the didn't like their last album. Jake Shears, Ana Matronic & company's newest foray into the world of uber-eccentric Elton John inspired glam-rock is a winner though - and if you wanna take your Momma out to this, she'd better be wearing spike heels and extensions.

M.I.A. - SUNSHOWERS

Whether you love her or hate her, M.I.A. has been making some of the most consistently interesting music of the last decade. This little gem from her debut album is my favorite.

THE XX - BASIC SPACE

These Brits name Aaliyah and The Cure as their musical influences. I don't hear it in their songs whatsoever - but I do hear alot of radicalness. Check it.

T-SPOON - SEX ON THE BEACH

I make no apologies for this whatsoever: I love 90's pop-reggae and I don't care who hears me. This song might bring back memories from that one night at that all-inclusive from your college days - or it might just make you think of euro-cut jeans and taupe lipstick. Arrrr-iba!

DRAKE FEATURING JAY-Z - LIGHT UP

It happens every year - one album gets a stranglehold on the summer, from the clubs to the radio stations to the cars cruising the strip. This is it - and luckily, it doesn't suck. Far from it.

NEON INDIAN - DEADBEAT SUMMER

If someone asked me who the kookiest band was in current music, it would a tough decision between these dudes and MGMT. Luckily, their brand of crazy makes for some seriously interesting music - and it gets better with every listen, too.

NEIL DIAMOND - CHERRY CHERRY

If this song can't get you in a good mood, then I don't know how to help you.

JUNIOR SENIOR - MOVE YOUR FEET

These Danish dudes make the most hilarious, silly, danceable stuff out there. This will get you lunging in your underwear when you're brushing your teeth getting ready for work.

CHROMEO - MOMMA'S BOY

Their electro dance hits get all the attention, but this little ditty by Chromeo is the cutest.

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - YOU'VE GOT THE LOVE

If you are new to these guys, check this song out to see what all the buzz is about. Florence's heavenly voice and the heartfelt lyrics might be just the push you need on that last mile to cheer you on.

REAL LIFE - SEND ME AN ANGEL

You wanna win at the office karaoke contest? Throw this on and start fist-pumping - you'll have a blue ribbon in no time...and probably a Fan Club. No biggie.

an unexpected therapy

When I was 17, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic autoimmune disease. I was told by my doctor that the discs in my spine would erode, my spine would fuse as one and I would be hunched over in a wheel chair by the time I was 30.

The strength of the pain medication and treatment would drastically lower my immune system, leaving me vulnerable to any bug people were carrying. It reached a point where small acts like shaking someone’s hand would make me nervous. Though the side effects left me fragile, I knew I needed the drugs to manage the pain. Sometimes I had such painful episodes that I would have to get out of bed at 4:00am and crouch over until the extra pain killers kicked in. I was so young but I felt so old.

Within the first two months of practicing hot yoga at least 4 times a week, the protruding discs in my L3, L4 and L5 moved completely back into alignment! Once the discs had moved back into place, I experienced incredible pain relief because of the reduced inflammation in the area.  As a result, I started to notice that my immune system was also getting stronger. I was finally able socialize without the fear of getting sick! I also recognized other positive changes in my body: my skin cleared up, I was sleeping like a log and the anxiety I had been experiencing for years, just disappeared. I was healthier than I’d ever been.

My specialist was so pleased with my results that we decided to switch to a drug that I could inject myself with at home. As my condition improved, we started to space the treatments out more and more. Now I only take the medication when I feel I need to, and I hope to one day be free of it completely.

moving beyond the body

In order to deepen my practice, I decided to sign up for a 30 day challenge at my local studio. I now understand why it’s called a challenge! I think I had all the same side effects that everyone else experiences and then some.  I could feel the benefits of my body detoxifying and I was surprised by all of the emotions that surfaced over the month. Some days were harder than others, but giving up was never an option. I was determined to finish every class, even if I had to crawl through it. My determination was not fueled by pride, but rather it was as if my soul wouldn’t let me quit. I knew I needed to keep pushing through.

The weeks following the challenge, I began to reflect on the various influences in my life and their impact on my state of mind and overall happiness. I came to realize how the unhealthy relationship with my partner at the time was negatively affecting both my physical and mental health. Thanks to my regular practice and the empowerment of completing the challenge, I was able to assess the situation with a clear head. Making the decision to get out of that 7 year relationship was a huge wake up call and one of the hardest choices of my life. Though it was undeniably difficult, I surprised myself with how well I handled the change. A year of practicing had been both healing my body and strengthening my mind. Hot yoga has forever changed my life and its benefits are still amazing me today!

This post was written by Renae, who worked as an educator at lululemon Perth City.

you asked

What do you think the best solutions for heavy sweaters are? Even in non hot yoga classes, I always end up drenched by the first half of class and while it’s a bit embarrassing, my biggest issue is that I slip in down dog and similar. I’ve asked yoga instructors before but they always shrug and say “it happens”. Thoughts? erin

a yogi answers

I LOVE hot yoga, and I am asked this question almost everyday in the power yoga classes that I teach. First: a good mat is key! lululemon’s “The Mat” is a mat specifically designed to absorb sweat... yes, it really absorbs sweat! I get a lot of heavy sweating men in my classes and they all love this hot yoga mat. When you are sweating a big puddle on your mat, then put down a yogitoes towel. These special yoga towels have little plastic nibs on the back so it literally stays on your sticky mat and won’t move. They actually ONLY perform well when they are wet, so I recommend spraying them with water when they are dry to get optimal usage at the beginning of class and in non hot studios.

Lastly, so much of slippage can be avoided by rooting down into your base in a more specific manner. For example, in down dog if you are collapsing into your outer wrist, it is very hard to not slip. Whether you are grounding down through your hands or your feet it is essential to spread your weight through as broad of a base as possible by spreading your fingers and toes and rooting down through all the knuckles. One more thing... make sure you don’t have any moisturizer on your hands or feet, and don’t wash your yogitoes towels with fabric softener!

- Kinndli, lululemon Oakville ambassador

Read the blog post: "Five Things to Know About the Mat"

Learn more about Kinndli and Power Yoga Canada.

View hot yoga clothes that help you deal with sweat:

• Hot Class Bra
• Happy Heat Short
• Silverescent Hot Class Tank

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.

workout playlist - may 2010

Is your workout playlist stuck on repeat? Here are some old & new tracks to get your headphones (and body) jumping.

BULLETPROOF – LA ROUX
Super-fun summer pop perfect for, like, team workouts and getting-ready parties and stuff!

LITTLE LION MAN – MUMFORD AND SONS
The vocals are so warm and the lyrics so familiar-feeling on this track, you’ll swear you’ve heard it before. It IS new – but will be an old favourite in no time.

ZERO – YEAH YEAH YEAHS
Karen O is the coolest lady on the planet by a country mile. This song is solid proof.

MEMORIES – DAVID GUETTA FEATURING KID CUDI
It’s time to jump on the Guetta bandwagon – why not throw in some Kid Cudi for good measure?!

ONLY – NINE INCH NAILS
Five years later & I’m still upset that Trent Reznor cut his hair, but no matter: this is one heck of a diss track – Reznor makes getting dumped good enough to dance to! The worship continues…

B.O.B. (BOMBS OVER BAGDHAD) – OUTKAST
When people argue that electronica is the only music high-octane enough for cardio, I bring up this little ditty. Point – Lex!

PARIS IS BURNING (CUT COPY REMIX) – LADYHAWKE
Cut Copy + Ladyhawke = your new favourite song. It’s science!

STOP ME – MARK RONSON FEATURING DANIEL MERRIWEATHER
You know when you pull up to a red light and bust the guy next to you singing at the top of his lungs? It’s probably this song – it might have the catchiest chorus ever.

LISTEN UP (MSTRKRFT REMIX) – THE GOSSIP
Beth Ditto gives you some useful advice over a wicked beat. Where was this song when I needed it in high school? I could’ve used the wise words from Beth AND the street cred from MSTRKRFT. Sigh.

LET THE BEAT BUILD – LIL WAYNE
Do you have a set of intervals that hurt so good? Let Lil Wayne burn with you – this song will mimic the pain and the satisfaction at the finish.

ROAM – THE B-52’S
“Love Shack” gets all the credit – meanwhile, this hilarious track languishes on long-forgotten tape mixes. Put this on when you’re driving to the gym on “I don’t feel like working out” mornings – you’ll be ready to rock by the time you park.

TENNESSEE – ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Another feel-good track to lift your spirits – and we can never have enough of those, can we? We can also never have enough rhetorical questions, can we? Hmmm. Think about it and get back to me.

BANQUET (PHONES DISCO EDIT) – BLOC PARTY
“Silent Alarm” was one of the best albums of 2005 – and then Bloc Party went one step further and remixed it, causing a million hipsters to lose their collective minds. Listen to this and you’ll see why.

SKELETON BOY – FRIENDLY FIRES
One of the most unusual beats in years – you’ll spend so much time trying to figure out if this is 4/4 or 6/8 time that your run will be over before you have an answer. Running and partying at the same time – what a concept!

SHOOTING STARS (PARTY ROCK REMIX) – BAG RAIDERS
If Cut Copy and Massive Attack had a baby, it would be the Bag Raiders. Check out the remix version of the wicked “Shooting Stars” for added oomph.

MOMENT OF TRUTH – GANG STARR
Put this on during an introspective run and let Guru spit some truth at you. One of the most underrated MC’s ever.

STRANGE OVERTONES – DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO
The men behind Talking Heads reunited for an album last year, and contrary to must reunion acts, it kicked a$$ instead of sucking. This song is a thin slice of heaven.

Do you have any suggestions for the next playlist? Leave Alexis a comment below.

Meet Jen, from Merchandise Planning!

what are you most passionate about?

Absolutely without a doubt I am most passionate about my husband. He is my favourite person! We have a blast playing and travelling together. We are also very real; we talk it out when we have to. I have so much passion in making our relationship the best that it can be. I am also very passionate about reminding the people in my life just how awesome they are.

Jen and her husband in Egypt, touring the pyramids of Giza.

what is the scariest thing you've ever done? Are you glad you did it?

Jumping out of an airplane was the scariest thing I have ever done. I was absolutely terrified during our ascent in the plane. I couldn't speak. And I’m fairly certain that I screamed for the entire freefall. Oh yes, I am glad I did it. Oh no, I will never do it again.

what is your favorite way to sweat?

I am a big fan of sweating. The sweatiest I have ever been is during a hot sweaty Bikram yoga class. I L-O-V-E yoga. Currently I am drawn to the very deep and restorative types of yoga. But I go through phases where I am all about the muscle-y power yoga or the hot-hot-hot yoga. I also love the feeling of a run in the sunshine, and I absolutely dig surfing, scuba diving, backpacking & snowboarding.

Jen finishing the famous Oregon Hood to Coast, 180 mile (290k), 12 person team relay.

what is the best place you've travelled to (or the place you'd love to go to)?

It is so incredibly difficult to choose one place, but I have to say the island of Bonaire. My experience snorkeling and diving around that island was so dreamy, the memories are so vivid. And there is a sea turtle swimming those waters right now that still holds a very special place in my heart. Runners up are Thailand, Sydney, Australia, and my oh-so-dreamy honeymoon in Belize. Next on the list is somewhere in the Pacific Islands.

Jen snorkeling on the Island of Bonaire, 80km of the coast of Venezuela.

coolest thing about being a merchandise planner?

The coolest thing about merchandise planning is that we really dig into the biz. We know how the business did last year. We know what our targets are as a company for the future. And we know how we are tracking to those targets. We are always waist-deep in what is working and what is not. It’s cool to know all that stuff and apply our learnings to the future. Plus, partnering with the merchants we are always close to the product, which of course we are all wild and crazy about.

Attention all passionate, fun, energetic, constantly aspiring embodiments of greatness: you could be the next Jen. If you think you have some greatness to bring to the Merchandise Planning team, check out the lululemon careers page.

The ladies at Crossfit!

The Summit Showroom in New Jersey is embracing CrossFit! Our ambassador, Karianne Dickson recently placed first in her division at the New York/New Jersey CrossFit Sectionals. A novice like myself couldn’t ask for a more motivational instructor to lead the introductory Ramp Class. My friend Jill and I started the month long course with Karianne on Monday April 6th. Our goal is to leverage CrossFit conditioning to gain a competitive edge when we run the Morristown Half Marathon on May 16th. We will be at on ramp twice a week with Karianne and are committed to the program and embracing the Paleo diet to further enhance our performance.

In our Northern New Jersey community CrossFit is steadily growing in to the next big movement in fitness. Once a dedicated newcomer gets involved, the workout is addictive!

The vibe that New Jersey CrossFitters generate is spirited, supportive and competitive in the healthiest of ways. They often travel in packs and the energy is palpable. You might run in to a few munching on a handful of nuts in our showroom, drinking a paleo friendly coffee with a splash of heavy cream at Starbucks, or picking their kids up at school with that tell-a-tale 4 pack peeking out from under their run swiftly tech top. Although CrossFitters are committed to the athletic benefits of the Paleolithic diet, this cool crowd is not afraid to indulge in a few Paleo Margaritas on occasion.

Not surprisingly, the entourage of women at CrossFit Morristown look fabulous! If eliminating sugar, grains and dairy from my diet while squatting and doing burpees will get me that glow and shape, then count me in!

Have you tried Crossfit?

This fantastic group of people support our guests, stores, ecommerce team, and online communities. It's also a bit of an insider secret that the GEC is an awesome launching pad into other roles in the company-- just ask our Public Relations Coordinator, Lindsay, or our Online Community Manager, Carolyn!

Right now the GEC is growing. Meet Robin and Jennifer, the newest GECers:

meet robin

Robin, living the West Coast dream!

what is your most memorable childhood experience?

Family vacations. Almost every year on Christmas break or summer vacation we would pile into the family car and drive from Ontario to Nova Scotia and spend two weeks there. They were never big or fancy but definitely something I’ve always treasured.

why did you join lululemon?

About 10 months ago I decided to move out to BC to pursue a career goal in firefighting. I began my search for a flexible job that would help me reach my goals. lululemon stood out and I’ve been with the company a month and a half now. It's not only congruent with my life style but my values, too.

Robin, when he's not at the GEC!

what's your favourite way to sweat?

Pumping iron! No better feeling than putting those numbers up and reaching your goals.

who/what inspires you?

My family inspires me. I’ve been blessed to have some really amazing teachers and role models. Other things that have had a great impact on my life are: arts, culture, traveling, and the amazing people I’ve met along the way.

what’s your BHAG (big, hairy,audacious goal)?

Although its sort of an 'on the spot BHAG' I can honestly say that owning my own fitness centre/health store is something I would thoroughly enjoy.

meet jennifer

One of Jennifer's biggest passions is dancing. Here she is on stage performing.

what has been the biggest surprise working for lululemon?

How much everyone here cares about each other personally as well as professionally. This really goes to show how support from peers speeds up progress, as everyone here is striving for and achieving goals every single day. It amazes me just how much positivity is in this one room as a result of the ongoing support and encouragement from others.

what is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate. I have a stash in my desk at all times.

what are you passionate about?

I have a passion for life, but if I had to be specific, my passion lies in dance. I have wild dreams about performing in huge venues, and I can talk about dance for hours on end. It’s my way of expressing myself and inspiring others to live their dreams as well.

what drives you crazy?

Fruit salad/mixed fruit cups—I have a distaste for oranges in my fruit salad/mixed fruit cups. The citrus flavor contaminates everything and you can’t enjoy your other fruits!

what quote/piece of advice has had the biggest impact on you?

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” There’s a positive and a creative way to look at all situations. Things are never as bad as they seem at first.

More exciting opportunities for fresh educator faces are popping up at the GEC! Visit http://tbe.taleo.net/NA1/ats/careers to find out more.