Lululemon Archives

Photo: Yoga Journal

Between work, family, friends and other miscellaneous responsibilities, I know first hand how hard it can be to schedule in a workout, let alone a workshop, class or something special for yourself. But these five health and fitness events are only offered for a limited time, so you'll want to make time for one -- or all- of them. Your body, energy levels and mood will thank you for it!

Let's just go ahead and get this out of the way: Mandy Ingber is Jennifer Aniston's yoga instructor and she works with many celebrities and wealthy clients in California who can afford private lessons from a "celebrity yoga instructor."

I've been hitting the gym a lot lately, going all out in 45-minute jump rope classes, and today, it hit me like a log- I miss my yoga!

Photo: Exhale Spa

Have you noticed? Spring has SPRUNG! All of a sudden, my calendar is full of amazing networking events, parties, special workshops and spa deals! Not everything makes the mind-body fitness and yoga cut, but thankfully, a lot of things do! Here's a roundup of some not-to-be missed things for those craving a fresh, healthy start to the new season.

Women's networking and lifestyle company, Crave Chicago, hosts their first annual Bloom + Tone party this Sunday, March 28 from 1-6pm at Architectural Artifacts. This event, five hours of health, wellness and fitness, will be the kick-off to get Chicago ladies excited to get in shape this season. 

The Indigo Studio, Chicago's only Yoga Booty Ballet studio, has expanded their class offerings for spring. Still staying in true YBB spirit, most of the new classes have a fun dance-inspired foundation, like cardio hip hop, core barre ballet, street jazz and candlelight Yoga Booty Ballet, making Indigo a great place for those who like to workout without feeling like they're working out.

For Spring 2010, fitness and yoga apparel is more colorful and functional than ever, with vibrant hues, moisture-wicking technology, slimming silhouettes and comfortable fabrics you'll want to wear around town, not just to the gym or yoga studio. Here's a gallery of some of the best gym, pilates and yoga apparel looks for the season. Use the arrows at the top of the gallery to see all 9 images.

Photo: www.localfitness.com.au

I've read countless top 10 lists, 2009 year in review lists and fitness predictions for 2010. I love a good list, but with the exception of Gaiam's "Ten Yoga Trends" article, they lack a focus for the mind-body fitness set. So, based on the Gaiam article, the American Council on Exercise's 2010 predictions, Pilates Pro articles and my own experience running around Chicago to try different classes, I comprised a list of trends for mind body fitness in 2010.

Everyone's setting goals and making resolutions for 2010, but unfortunately, many of us won't stay on the track with what we set out to do in the new year.

Got a fitness fanatic on your holiday shopping list this year? If you're looking for the perfect gift for the person who never misses their weekly yoga classes, freaks out if they can't make it to the gym or is committing to a healthier lifestyle in 2010, check out my picks for functional, unique and fun healthy holiday gifts for 2009.

Ready for success, happiness and empowerment? Join me on Tuesday, December 1 at lululemon Michigan Avenue for Set Your Intentions. Hosted by Ladies Lotto, a women's lifestyle network aimed at inspiring hip young women to achieve their professional and personal goals, the event starts at 7pm with mingling and networking followed by a goal setting workshop with the ladies of lululemon.

When I first started working out, I didn't understand why anyone would pay $40 for a tank top or $100 for a pair of pants that you were just going to get all sweaty and I was completely content with working out in ratty shirts and cheap black pants. I learned the hard way that playing tug of war with ill-fitting clothes can be a major distraction during yoga and now I practically live in workout clothes, so it's important for me to have durable, flattering and functional yoga apparel that easily transitions from day to downward dog. When I'm not on the mat, I write content for an online shopping site, BradsDeals, so I've become an expert at searching out coupons and perusing sales. Here are my top tips on how to save money on yoga clothes and accessories, including a listing of stores with great deals currently going on, because updating your exercise wardrobe shouldn't take away from your budget for classes.

The holidays are right around the corner, which means the seasonal stress, food, travel and cold weather are almost here, too. For most of us, this is a one-way ticket to fatassville, but what if you could actually get fitter this holiday season?

When you workout, do you prefer a thong, boyshorts or to go commando? What do you wear when you sweat down there? I like a cotton barrier of protection between my spandex gym apparel and my lady parts, but apparently I'm in the minority.

I spent a lot of time this summer bussing it from Wicker Park to Lincoln Park for free fitness events, so I'm happy to announce that lululemon Bucktown is bringing five of the hottest workouts for fall (including one for kids) to the neighborhood for Bucktown Fitness Fest.

Walking shoes? Check. Fall fitness gear? Check. VIP access to Lincoln Park's best health and wellness establishments? Check.

September is Yoga Month and a time for Global Mala, a gathering of the global yoga community to practice for charity and peace. This Saturday, September 26, Chicago's yoga community comes together for a day full of classes and events to benefit two amazing organizations.

On Thursday, September 24, the ChicagoNow bloggers take over the 900 North Shops for our first ever Blogapalooza. I'm teaming up with lululemon athletica for a Function Show, an informal fashion show featuring their cute, fun and functional apparel for yoga, running and the gym. Argo will be providing delicious tea samples and I'll be answering all your mind body fitness questions and passing out gift bags filled with class passes to some of the hottest new studios in the area.

 

Stop by and see me! I love meeting new people, getting feedback about the blog, finding out what readers want to see covered and as evident in previous posts, talking about lululemon!

Blogapalooza takes place at the 900 Shops at 900 North Michigan Ave. from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 24.

Fall is just around the corner and what a better way to kick it off with a little healthy competition? For the first two weeks of September, Lululemon and Equinox, my recent pick for best Chicago gym for yoga, team up to challenge you to Get Winded in the Windy City. Stop in to your local Lululemon store to get a class punch card, take 10 classes from September 1-14 at either Lululemon or Equinox and if you complete or exceed the challenge, you get the (underrated) gift of health and self-satisfaction. All classes, even those at Equinox, are complimentary and while I don't think there's a big shopping spree grand prize, the better mood, slimmer body and boosted esteem that comes from working out sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

You must register for the challenge, so be sure to RSVP to your local Lululemon store to participate. 

Instead of the usual morning yoga, Lululemon Michigan Avenue mixes it up with Jaclyn "JJ" Jones of Indigo Studio for a free Yoga Booty Ballet class this Sunday, August 23.

JJ leading a Yoga Booty Ballet class at Lululemon.

I've got it on good word from Paul Konrad that this Saturday is going to be nice and summery, so this week's free workout is going outside!

Get fit for free at this year's Women's Health Are you Game? event.

Contact your workout buddies and fitness friends and tell them to cancel their plans on Saturday. With all the free, fun and healthy activities going on, you won't have time for (nor will you want to do) anything else.

Many of my friends are young artists and professionals who can't afford a gym or yoga studio membership, so I'm always on the look out for free and cheap ways for them to stay active and healthy. Thankfully, Chicago's got plenty of fun fitness freebies for all of us, regardless of age or profession.

My free class pick of the week is Lululemon Bucktown's Pilates & Stretch, a yoga and pilates fusion class with certified pilates instructor Lindsay Stryffeler at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11.

Lindsay is a Lululemon ambassador, a local fitness profession who "embodies the Lululemon lifestyle and culture."

A photo from an acroyoga demo at the Bucktown store. This won't be happening in pilates class!

 I mentioned in a previous post that all Chicago-area Lululemon locations host weekly free classes and workshops and I can't recommend these workouts enough. The store provides mats, there's no pressure to buy anything (although I usually find it hard not to) and no one will give you the side-eye if you show up wearing something that isn't from the store.

If Thursdays don't work for you, the Bucktown store also has a weekly Sunday morning yoga class.

Photo Credit: The Dailey Method

Being a bike-less commuter, it's kind of a pain for me to get to the Bar Method studio in Lakeview, so I was literally the first participant through the door for Lululemon Bucktown's free preview class of the Dailey Method last night.

Although I did feel a little nerdy for showing up so early, apparently I'm not the only one who swears by these workouts, because the store quickly got packed.

Like its Lakeview rival, the Dailey Method is a combination of ballet moves, serious core work, toning and stretching, which results in a completely kick ass booty lifting, thigh slimming, tummy tightening workout.

I go to a similar class at Crunch on Wednesday evening (Barre Assets) religiously and it never gets easier, but the results are worth it. I love that my backside is rounding out in all the right ways!

The opening date for the Dailey Method keeps getting pushed back, but the studio is hoping to open in mid-June. You can believe that as soon as they're up and running, I'll be posting a review!

Oh, and in case you're looking for awesome ways to get fit on the cheap, all of the Lululemon locations in Chicago offer free mid-week workouts in addition to a free weekly yoga class. Consider it their way of sayings "thanks" for dropping up to $100 on a pair of (well-worth it) yoga pants.

 

The Dailey Method is located at 1714 N Damen, above the Marc Jacobs store.