Our amazing ambassador Silvia Mordini has given us tips on how to pick a retreat – a great read to check out before embarking on a sweaty and bendy adventure. Now that you’ve decided to play big and get inverted (you ARE coming, right?!), we thought we’d share our top picks for ‘holy-CRAP-I-love-my-life’ experiences on the mat.

1. journey into power level one training

february 25- march 3, 2012
kalani, hawaii
lead by: baron baptiste

Have you got deep enough into your practice that you’re contemplating instructing – or simply want a challenging week of yoga where your classmates elevate and inspire you? Check out this retreat hosted by yoga legend Baron Baptiste. Baron has been instructing since he was a child and his instruction is mind blowing (I speak from experience). His words are true, his questions penetrating and his demeanor supremely approachable. Best of all, you’ll be on the beautiful island of Hawaii, filled with all the green juice smoothies, beach strolls and sunny smiles you can handle.

2. sivananda ashram beginners yoga retreat 

june 4 - 8, 2012
paradise island, nassau
lead by: sylvie boisclair

Are you new to yoga and want to take a week to deepen your practice and get away from it all? This retreat in the beautiful and quiet Bahamas could be a great choice for you. The Sivananda Ashram runs much like a traditional ashram, with a strong focus on the self. The schedule of events focuses on getting beginner yogis comfortable with movement, terminology and positions on the mat. In addition to daily yoga practice, there are daily meditations, art classes and massages on the white sand beach. Let’s all say it together: “ahhhhhhhhhhh.”

3. yoga breaks - hotel chamarel

september 6 - 11, 2012
denia, spain
lead by: assorted instructors

If you are looking to combine a week of asanas with travelling in one of the most beautiful regions in the world, check out Yoga Breaks. People from all over Europe and beyond have been attending this retreat for years, and with good reason: the town is stunning and the food at Hotel Chamarel is reputed to be delicious. What could be better than a day of yoga, followed by meandering down cobblestoned streets finishing with cava and delectable eats? Combine this retreat with a few days in Barcelona or Madrid and you may never come home.

4. luxe cowgirl yoga, big sky yoga retreats

september 13- 16, 2012
bozeman, montana
lead by: assorted instructors

If the idea of downward dogs followed by horse canters is your idea of a good time, look no further. Big Sky Yoga Retreats in beautiful Bozeman, Montana is the perfect retreat for someone who wants to mix a little high-energy adrenaline in with their oms. The countryside in Bozeman is expansive and wild, perfect for unleashing your inner cowgirl; the terrain also lends itself well to contemplative meditation and relaxing moments taking in sunrises and sunsets.

5. blissology ‘yes’ (yoga ecology surf) retreat

date TBD, 2013
goa, india
lead by: eoin finn & insiya rasiwala-finn

Longtime friends of lululemon (and friends to yogis around the world) Eoin Finn and Insiya Rasiwala-Finn have been delighting people for years with their retreats to various spots on the globe. Many folks here at lululemon’s Store Support Centre (SSC) in Vancouver have been to their workshops and come back raving (think getting excited but not the glow stick kind) about their experiences. The Blissology schedules are balanced with a focus on exploring local culture; if goal setting classes, daily sessions on the mat and yummy food is what you are looking for, this is the retreat for you.

PS – how cool is Goa?!

I don’t know about you but I hear a Hawaiian conch shell calling my name. Got a retreat planned for 2012? Tell us which ones!

top 10 wanderlust must-haves

When our team hit the Wanderlust yoga festival in Bondville, Vermont, last month they had an amazing time (despite the inclement weather). It was like a sampler pack of yoga styles and music: acro-yoga, vinyasa, chanting and gongs. With plenty more summer still to come and lots more festivals coming too, Paula (our Social Media Specialist) put together her list of essentials to get the most out of upcoming yoga festivals.

1. Wanderlust Rucksack – I was lucky enough to test this backpack before it hit stores.  I loved all of the zipper pockets and the laptop sleeve; plus the built in rain cover came in handy during the unexpected downpours.

2. Skinny Satin Pirouette – I’ve finally found a headband that works for my head; skinny and sticky so it stays in place. We did tons of inversion workshops so this was crucial for keeping my hair out of my face and letting me focus on the pose.

3. The Mat – Cushioned and grippy! After a 12-hour travel day, I was extremely happy I was carrying a comfy mat.

4. Manduka Equa Towel – The towel helped provide a little more cushion over my travel mat when I needed it and soaked up the puddles.

5. iPhone – My lifeline. I was tweeting, facebooking, instagramming and checking-in everywhere.

6. Water Bottle – When you’re doing 4-6 hours of yoga every day, staying hydrated was uber-important.  I switched back and forth between H2O and coconut water.

7. Travel Pooch – Anyone I travel with will tell you I’m more than slightly forgetful. I need a bag I can keep close to my body and easily do my keys-phone-passport-wallet check.

8. Vinyasa Scarf –This magical piece acted as my scarf, towel, wrap, pillow, blanket and rain cover. `

9. Dense Foam Block– I actually didn’t bring this with me, but I wish that I had!  Bricks were not supplied in any classes, and when you’re on your 3^rd class of the day, a little extra support would have been greatly appreciated.

10. Moleskin (not pictured) - This was beside my mat all weekend.  With so many amazing instructors at Wanderlust, I was constantly jotting down inspiration and education.  I saw some people using the moleskine app on their iPads instead of notebooks too.

top two nice-to-haves

11. Passport & Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm – These aren't must-haves, but they're pretty important if you're a Canadian with a lip balm addiction.

upcoming wanderlust yoga festivals

• Wanderlust Chicago - Yoga In The City
• Wanderlust Tahoe - Inspired Gathering
• Wanderlust Santa Monica - Yoga In The City
• Wanderlust Tahoe - Wanderlust CA
• Wanderlust Seattle - Yoga In The City

lululemon ambassadors are always up to amazing things. This October, Ted McDonald is taking a break from teaching yoga and promoting healthy living in Southern California to lead a life-changing trip to Ethiopia with Imagine1Day. The best part? There's an opportunity to be part of Ted's inspirational trip.

building schools & communities

Imagine1Day has a goal of bringing quality elementary school education to every child in Ethiopia. Most of us are familiar with the way in which Habitat for Humanity builds homes for communities in need. Rather than homes, Imagine1Day builds schools in small communities in Ethiopia. Imagine1Day spends three years working within each community to ensure that the programs can be sustainably maintained. They collaborate with the local communities and the Ethiopian government to train teachers and to teach families in the community to run profitable businesses. It's the educational equivalent of "give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime."

who's educating whom?

Ted, who's been leading yoga retreats for eight years, has set a vision for this trip to "create a better world". "It's amazing to go to places like this and to meet people who would never imagine to have the kind of infrastructure, amenities, technology and support that we have in the West. Meeting people like that, to me, is one of the greatest ways to open your heart." Ted thinks that the ripple effect will continue long after he gets back State-side (although the focus of Imagine1Day is to create education opportunities in Ethiopia, a large component of their work is dispelling misconceptions about Ethiopia). "If anyone has an interest in elevating their own lives and the lives of others," says Ted, "they should definitely come on this trip."

the trip in a nutshell

get involved

• Contact Imagine1Day & pack your bags. There are spots available on the trip.
  
• Meet some 'creatributors' and see how it all works.
• Help by doing something you love. Become a 'creatributor'.

NYC educators busting out a yoga pose on Wall Street after our earnings call last month!

julie - eastern us training manager

why do you have the most amazing job?

I love my job because it’s people first, and then we see the financial results again and again. Travelling around talking to people about their goals and helping them feel comfortable and confident in their job gets me up every day. I also think our product ROCKS so that helps.

how has working at lululemon made a difference in your life?

I’m more self-aware then I have ever been because of the tools offered at lululemon (Brian Tracy, Landmark, goal setting). Self awareness brings peace of mind. Peace of mind allows me to let go of my worries and create a future based on what’s possible, not what happened. Thank you lululemon!

what is your big hairy audacious goal?

My big hairy audacious goal was to move to New York City – and I just made it happen! I simply shared it with everyone around me and when my dream job finally opened up, I got it. Just one of many goals I have achieved while working with lululemon. It’s not ‘work’ – it’s a community of people standing for you and your goals, so long as you’re committed by giving back and never accepting anything less than greatness in your life. Guess it’s time to set a new hairy audacious goal. Hmmm....

monique - store manager of union square nyc

how did you come to lululemon?

I had a career as a project manager in technology and was looking for a part time job so I could have social interactions with real live people - I loved yoga and the website and lululemon at the time was opening the first store on the East Coast of the USA!

why do you have the most amazing job?

lululemon attracts people - employees, athletes, loyal fans - who are committed to creating incredible lives. Sometimes they are aware of it, sometimes they aren't, but they find themselves drawn to our stores and our educators. They read our manifesto, wear our clothing, take classes at our stores, hang out with our team. They find themselves running marathons or enrolling in yoga teacher training. Sometimes they work for us. In small steps or large leaps they take on their lives, transform their relationships, set goals, and create new futures.

Every day is different. In the stores, we have to rise to each day's unique set of challenges. My intellectual side gets to analyze numbers. My creative side gets to dream up events and windows and rewards for my team. My passionate side gets to have meaningful conversations every day. For every side I have, it finds expression. What more could I ask for?

Each day in the stores is unique!

how has working at lululemon made a difference in your life?

I've made close friends with people I have worked with, become a yoga teacher, moved to a new city - and I discovered I've grown up. And yet I feel younger at heart than ever before. Younger, and lighter.  None of that would have happened without being inspired, challenged, and motivated daily by the people I work with. I have so many role models that I learn from every time I am in their presence. And I've never worked harder or had more fun at the same time.

what is your big hairy audacious goal?

I am a self-supporting artist!

cara - regional manager nyc

how did you come to lululemon?

I kept going into the Victoria, British Columbia store and was in awe of how cool the people were and I never wanted to leave, plus I was in love with my black stretchy pants that I would never take off. I began working part-time as an educator while completing my Master’s degree and then absolutely had to be a part of company as the culture totally resonated with who I am.

why do you have the most amazing job?

I get to wake up every single day and work with the most amazing people on the planet. They constantly inspire me, push my limits and truly stand for greatness. Moreover, I have had the opportunity to live and experience the coolest places in the US, Boston and now, NYC. I am still pinching myself that I live in NYC. Lastly, I love who I meet everyday in the store and in the community. It is so cool to hear about people’s goals and just get to know who comes into our store and how we can help them. Ultimately, I feel I make a difference everyday in someone’s life. What could be better than that?!

how has working at lululemon made a difference in your life?

I am a better person, a better daughter a better sister, a better friend, a better wife, and a better leader. Personal development and goal setting have demonstrated that anything is possible and that you can love every single second of your life.

Cara on a stroll in the Big Apple

what is your big hairy audacious goal?

I am the CEO of lululemon athletica.

Learning about these amazing ladies stories inspired me -- not only to plan my next vacation to NYC, but also to embrace the possibilities and open doors surrounding me. If you find yourself attracted to greatness don’t miss your dream job and explore some of the possibilities waiting for you on the lululemon careers page.

Where will you be travelling this summer?

Summer is approaching and everyone has traveling goals, can't wait to soak up the sun, or hop on a plane to see the world. The question is, “what will you be packing?” To us, the answer is a no brainer -- pack your favourite lululemon pieces! Easy to pack, wears well during the day and then you can hit the streets of Venice, Italy or Venice Beach, California for a dusk run to enjoy the view!

Throughout the years we have received emails, postcards and now Facebook pictures and Twitpics of our guests traveling around the world in lululemon pieces.

This month during your travels, share your experience, your destination, your travel stories, people you meet along the way and show us how far lululemon travels through a snap shot of you somewhere in the world.

Join June’s Travelling lululemon photo challenge this month and share your group shots with us.

how do I send you my photo for this challenge?

You can upload your photo to our monthly challenge photo pool on flickr, send it to onlinecommunity@lululemon.com and we’ll add it for you (we won’t publish your email address), @reply us on Twitter, or post it on our Facebook wall!

what will you do with my photo?

We’ll be featuring some of our favourite entries on the lululemon blog. If you don’t want your name or entry to be public, let us know.

Sweat hard, and travel harder!

Dance, sing, floss and travel.

Asmin, in her Olympic gear

what is your lululemon story?

Being not just the one & only, but also the first ever colourist at lululemon is very exciting for me. I have the privilege to take initiative and make things happen. Although there is a lot to do, I really look forward to "colouring up" my lululemon world. It's challenging, but all of the teams are working together and I'm learning and solving problems everyday.

which line in the lululemon manifesto rings truest for you?

This is a tough one to answer. I can't decide between "Friends are more important than money" or "Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks." I'm living the first and learning about the latter everyday in my life.

Asmin with friends at Kits Beach

so far in your life what has been the "perfect day"?

I'd have to go with the day I hiked up to Kbal Spean in Cambodia with my friend and a bunch of local kids we met on the way. We brought free pencils to give to any kids we met on the trip. When I called them and showed them the pencils, they immediately came to us and lined up to recieve the pencils with both hands out. Then they taught us how to count from one to ten in Cambodian language. A day with sunshine, good exercise, great sight-seeing, lots of laughters, good friends, and a little good deed as well!

what is something unique or surprising about you?

I guess it's the combination of many little things (isn't everyone unique because of the many little things in them?)... I'm AB negative, which is not common. I have absolutely straight hair, which many people envy, but sometimes I want it to be curly! And... I'm super organized. People keep telling me that I'm so organized that it surprises (sometimes scares?) them.
Other than that, I've been a part-time tour guide in Taiwan. I did it because Taiwan is such a beautiful island and I wanted to visit different places. Also, I worked for the 2010 Olympics at the Main Media Centre. Simple and small tasks, but I put on the "Game Face" everyday!

An extra organized desk

If you want to add your own touch of colour to our lululemon team, check out www.lululemon.com/careers today.

I knew my trip to Albania would include large amounts of food, but not in such long and steady intervals. Eating is such an organized sport in Albania that there is a specific way to practice it.

Begin with chatter and a form of appetizer stimulant, such as grappa. Go through an hour of eating cheese, vegetables, yogurt, spring salad stuffed peppers, all drenched in olive oil of course. You must tell a joke to stay in the game. Your plate starts to look empty and someone slyly places the last stuffed pepper in front of you while you are sipping your third shot of grappa. If you say no, you might lose face against your opponents.

Just when you feel full, the second course comes out: lamb. You eat it without hesitation. Soup comes and even though you have grown a pant size you indulge in it graciously because what could possibly come after soup? I can tell you, bryek! This is spinach with feta cheese covered in thin layers of buttery dough. Ice cream is a typical dessert followed by fruit for digestion, cause you are gonna need it.

Recommended apparel: lululemon athletica pima and vitasea cotton tee’s, tanks and long sleeves.

Why: Soft, slinky, stretchy, stylish fabric that will move with you before and after a long vacation filled with extreme eating.

Nothing better than clothing that will stand by you!

I recently arrived home from a week-long vacation out west, visiting both sets of grandparents. As you can imagine, I was treated to all sorts of special things - dinners out and shopping trips, among other activities.

On one particular lunch date, I sat down and started the often-difficult task of deciding what I was going to order.

A particular dish immediately caught my eye: the Kitsilano Sandwich. It sounded like a yummy option – chicken breast with melted sharp cheddar, asparagus and seasoning, wrapped in warm naan bread. For more than its taste, I loved the name.

Kitsilano has a special place in many a lululemon educator’s heart. The small community was the location of the first lululemon store, just over a decade ago. It was the place where this very special company began.

For fun, I thought, what the hell! An ode to lululemon. I’ll have the Kitsilano Sandwich. I never thought any more of it.

Several days later, for some reason, the Kitsilano Sandwich crossed my mind once again. It reminded me of one of my two-year goals: to be living in Vancouver, working at the lululemon Store Support Centre.

As I thought more and more about my sandwich, I began to realize how choices in our daily lives can contribute to achieving our goals.

Even though that goal was not to be achieved for more than another 700 days, the point is, I was already thinking about moving to Vancouver, and it was hanging out in my conscious mind.

If we were to treat every single goal this way, always top of mind, what opportunities would present themselves simply from awareness?

Perhaps my sandwich is an extreme example – but I think the point is clear. Your conscious thoughts can translate into real-life opportunities, if you make them. I chose to choose that sandwich.

For those of you who were wondering – my sandwich was absolutely amazing – and the day I become a citizen of Vancouver, I will think back to the little sandwich that started it all.