the gift of yoga in our stores



This blog post was written by lululemon and posted on February 3, 2010 at 12:39 pm

lululemon yoga in the park
An outdoor yoga class at Bryant Park in New York last July.

how we began

lululemon began in 1998, after our founder Chip Wilson took a yoga class and recognized the need for clothes that move and breathe with you as you move through all kinds of yoga poses.

More than 10 years later, lululemon has grown into an international retailer with locations across Canada, the U.S., Australia and Hong Kong, and yoga continues to be at the heart of everything we do.

the gift of yoga

Did you know that every lululemon store and showroom offers weekly, complimentary yoga classes? We provide the space, the mats, and amazing instruction from teachers in your community.

lululemon outdoor yoga
Sometimes the classes are outside! This one's from Kits Beach near Vancouver last summer.

lululemon yoga class
An in-store yoga class is from lululemon Galleria in Dallas, Tx.

how to find a class near you

To find out when your local lululemon's weekly yoga class is taking place, navigate to the store's section online here: http://www.lululemon.com/stores/. It will be listed on their event calendar, along with other fun classes or events that the store is offering.

Hope to see you at a class soon!

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27 Comments »


I think that its great that lululemon offers free classes to their customers, however its not fair to the yoga teachers because they do not receive any sort of payment for their time, the most they can hope for is a referral to the studio where they teach if they are lucky. Yoga teachers spend a lot of time and money on their studies and lulu is taking advantage of their love of yoga and desire to share it with the world. After each class the students shop and buy lulu’s wonderful clothing, but the teachers only receive a polite thanks. A company that appears to value community and their customer base lululemon should consider how “corporate” and unethical this practice of using yoga teachers to get more people into their stores to purchase apparel looks from the outside.

Comment by Sarah — February 4, 2010 @ 11:26 am


I heard that the teachers ARE compensated with a complimentary item of clothing.

Comment by SP — February 4, 2010 @ 1:35 pm


You make it sound like they are being forced to teach yoga classes at lulu… I’m sure they would not volunteer their time unless they actually wanted to. Some people enjoy giving back to the community through volunteer work. They are helping people achieve fitness goals.

Comment by Laura — February 4, 2010 @ 1:49 pm


Addition comment adding from Sarah about the cost to the Yoga Instructor who comes and teaches for free of charge to the studio. Its amazing to me that the people who have provided such change and health to people are under-paid. The yoga teachers that have touched my life with health have far out weighed any peice of jewelry or item I can buy. They have helped me walk taller in my body, promoted well being and put a smile on my face… as Visa says, “PRICLESS”. As a person who has purchased thousands of dollars from Lulu, I bet your customers would acknowlege helping the under paid yoga teachers with matching a capped donation of 10.00 to 20.00 dollars donation to the teacher with that amount off of a purchase of 100.00.

Comment by Kim McCoy — February 4, 2010 @ 1:51 pm


may i presume that we are all adults here? being of sound mind and body, each individual always has a choice. a choice to volunteer, a choice to give, a choice to share… would you not agree? shall we abandon this negative energy and channel it more productively?? life is too precious and too short ;)

Comment by ash — February 4, 2010 @ 2:24 pm


I do agree with the first comment. The yoga teachers should be paid for what they do..receiving a piece of clothing does not really cut it. How many item’s from Lululemon can one possibly get right?
Anyways, I do believe that with all the money that lululemon earns per year paying the yoga instructors should be no problem!

Comment by Michael — February 4, 2010 @ 2:26 pm


I have to say I went to a free yoga class at my local lululemon and since have been going to the studio of the person who taught the class because I loved it so much. I also can say that I didn’t see one person shop after…and I have been back, several times. It’s a community gathering place with people joining for a good cause – healthy lifestyles. I don’t think lulu pulls people in just to shop directly AFTER working out – the idea is a lifestyle, great clothes if you so choose and since the free classes are only once a week most people who enjoy it will start going to classes at a local studio…what better way to let people fall in love with your teaching? I love the concept, and I love lulu for bringing it to life.

Comment by Jd — February 4, 2010 @ 2:41 pm


If the yoga teachers are good, they are able to attract students from the complimentary classes. I tried a new teacher at a lululemon store. I loved his class and started going to his studio. If he didn’t teach at lulu, I might have never taken his class. I don’t think lululemon is taking advantage of the teachers. It’s a win-win situation

Comment by Kt — February 4, 2010 @ 2:48 pm


@Sarah, the yogo instructors aren’t forced to be there, so they are obviously compensated in some way

Comment by Kyle — February 4, 2010 @ 2:48 pm


Many points to make about the first comment.

I am from eastern Canada and my experience with Lululemon and it’s free classes is amazing. The instructors that come are often ambassadors to that particular store. Instructors are invited to teach a class and do so voluntarily and are very proud to do so. The great clothing they produce, their interaction in the community and with their clientele including instructors is completely in line with their manifesto.
I also know that they are very grateful to the instructors that give their time for the in-store classes and instructors are compensated as “SP” mentioned.
I can guarantee you that even if they did not receive anything over 90% of them would do it anyway. Why? Because they understand what the company is about and what it stands for, they get it.

Comment by Cathy — February 4, 2010 @ 2:56 pm


I think that it is a wonderful gift that these instructors give to the community. To create awareness and help people everywhere! people LOVE and LIVE yoga and if they want to pay it forward…good for them!!
Im sure the instuctors feel like it is quite rewarding to provide such a positive service!

Comment by Steferoo — February 4, 2010 @ 3:12 pm


I think that it’s great! Although I don’t live in a place with lululemon, I live near one… gladly! I would defenetly be one of the people to take a yoga class! Thanks lulu for sending me this email! I will take note to it! :)

Comment by Nikki — February 4, 2010 @ 4:00 pm


Thank you for leaving us your feedback everyone. It is so valuable to us to hear back from our guests when it comes to our community programs! I wanted to mention that the amazing yoga teachers who teach at our in-store classes are actually members of our Ambassador program. The Ambassador program is extended to unique individuals in our store communities who embody the lululemon lifestyle and live our culture. We value their community involvement and dedication to their area of expertise. Sarah, I realize that it may be hard to believe in this corporate world we live in, but it is not our intent to bring people into our stores using events in order to sell to them. In fact, a lot of our store events our held outdoors, away from the physical store when weather permits!

Comment by Liz - GEC Online Community — February 4, 2010 @ 4:11 pm


i alsp think that its a fantastic thing that lululemon provides their costumers yoga classes! i just want to find out if they do that in ontario.

Comment by Roopan — February 4, 2010 @ 5:07 pm


This is my favourite way to spend my Sunday morning!!!!!

Comment by Shawna — February 4, 2010 @ 5:38 pm


Another key cultural value of lululemon’s that you may not know, is that no event shall ever come at a cost to the store guest; they are offered FREE of charge and purely with the intention of helping the guest “sweat once a day!” And YES indeed, the instructors are there by their own personal choice ~ many stores have waiting lists of those who wish to teach ~ and they ARE compensated with a free garment of their choice. This is firsthand knowledge from a proud employee!! :)
P.S. We have many guests who regularly attend our weekly yoga and never shop afterwards, and it’s A-OK with us!!

Comment by Julie — February 4, 2010 @ 7:43 pm


the Eaton Centre offers Sunday morning, in store classes.

Comment by Lissa — February 4, 2010 @ 9:27 pm


I would love to be compensated with a piece of lululemon clothing. A $40 – $80 item would be great! If you teach fitness then you understand how much clothing you need and you can never have too much lulu! I have a closet in my house with nothing but fitness clothing that has to constantly be replaced. Getting quality clothing for free would be as someone else said, “Priceless”!

Comment by RondaB — February 4, 2010 @ 9:33 pm


I believe Lulu provides a great PR service for the yogi and the studios–much like offering a free trial class. This way they get a class full of potential clients and a chance to make a great impression. Would be nice if Lulu offered the teachers a generous discount but they are getting a lot just being showcased. Whenever I go to the mall, I cannot count the number of Lulu bags I see–they are doing something right and clientele willing to pay $80-$90 for workout pants is just who any yoga studio would want some exposure to!

Comment by dana — February 5, 2010 @ 6:26 am


I think this whole discussion is ridiculous! To even think that people are being taken advantage of is crazy! People volunteer all the time and choosing to help others with their fitness is wonderful, if you think they are not getting a thing from it you are out of your mind! Even if no compensation is given they are still gaining from the experience – you should try doing a selfless act and see how selfless it really is in the end. I am sure you will find that you gain more than you ever thought you would. The empowerment and satisfaction you feel from helping others is far more powerful than money! I love that lulu provides this avenue for people of all statuses to come together in one commonality. The clothing the instructors apparently get and the chance to ‘sell’ themselves to those that attend their free class is only a perk as I am sure the instructors will all say the real reward is how they feel afterwards from sharing their gift and teaching others how to be more balanced, otherwise I am confident they wouldn’t do it in the first place.

Comment by RMM — February 5, 2010 @ 7:28 am


I would gladly teach at a Lulu location at no pay.
As a young cancer survivor and a Mat Pilates teacher, I completly understand the rewards of ginving back to my community.

I was on the recieving end for 8 months during treatment and this would be a good way for me to give back the love and support i recieved …sometimes fom strangers.

1 Hour of my week nothing yet so much.

By the way the Lulu clothing is amazing :) had a few chemo treatments in my Lulu Yoga pants.

Sylvie

Comment by Sylvie — December 1, 2010 @ 3:00 pm


Hey Sylvie,

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us! I recommend taking a trip into your local store and having a chat with them about possibly volunteering your time to teach yoga. Our stores love connecting with the teachers in their local communities!

Thanks again!

Jordan
GEC Online Community

Comment by GEC Online Community — December 2, 2010 @ 1:03 pm


I love Lululemon! I’ve been a customer for 11 years! the quility is awesome!! I still have my pants that I bought 10 years ago and it looks as brand new pants!

All the staff in any store you go, are very helpful!!

I am so happy with the free classes that Lululemon provide at the store but I wonder since Lululemon is Canadian brand name why there is more events over USA while the Canadians should enjoy and get the more benifit of these classes in the outdoor classes or in the staduim!
I would like to see more classes in Toronto and Mississauga please!

Thanks!
Hala

Comment by Hala Jazrawi — December 3, 2011 @ 5:36 pm


are there any yoga classes listed on this site??

Comment by deed — December 22, 2011 @ 9:24 am


Hi Deed,

That’s a really great question! All of our local stores ofer weekly complimentary classes. You can either check out their schedule online here: http://bit.ly/c4XH4B or swing by the store for a chat.

Thanks for reaching out!

~Tess
GEC Online Community

Comment by lululemon athletica GEC — December 22, 2011 @ 11:11 am


I’ve recently been unemployed due to the economic downturn. I used to pay the going rate here in Sydney Australia for a yoga class, which is $18-$20 for a drop in, or approx $130. for 7-8 classes. I have no income – I can’t affort $18. 2-3 times a week!!! I don’t know about anyone else out there but I’m grateful for Lululemon’s free yoga classes!!! When I’m working again I’m happy to pay any of theses instructors at their usual location. Whether or not these instructors got paid never even entered my thoughts!!!They obviously are not being forced against their will. They love what they do – it’s part of their lifestyle to be involved in the community. DUH!

Comment by Kelly — April 16, 2012 @ 2:40 am


This looks great, I sooo need to try this soon! Thanks!

Comment by lulu lemon — March 22, 2013 @ 4:17 am


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