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Workout Wear

First You Buy A Little Luon, Then Before You Know It You Own a Plaid Running Skirt

It's getting to be a bit of a yawn by now, but Lululemon is once again in the news for killing it in the stock market. This time, the company is saying Luon doesn't get all the credit. Apparently, non-yoga apparel like jaunty running skirts and dance sweatpants are also flying out the door. My only question: Can't all sweatpants be dance sweatpants?

Rocky Mountain Pose

Cowboys Prove You Can Do Yoga Without Buying Lululemon Pants

Cowboys weigh in on my theory of stretchy fabrics and liberal political leanings: "You may think that yoga is just for hippies, democrats, and other sissies who like to wear that sissy lycra stuff," begins the "Cowboy Yoga: A New Brand of Stretchin'" video "...but it plain ain't so." Rocky Mountain pose, Cactus pose, and Rattler — all proof that yoga and jeans are not the mortal enemies you may once have thought.

(via Yoga Dork)

Online & Video

Down Dog Data

Yoga By The Numbers

In anticipation of National Yoga Month (September) Fast Company has crunched a bunch of yoga-related numbers. A few of the fascinating yoga industry data points:

• Americans spend more than $5.7 billion a year on yoga classes and products.
• 71% of U.S. yoga practitioners are college educated, compared with 30% of the overall population. 
• 44% have household incomes of $75K or more.  
• More than 5,500 yoga-related injuries were treated in the U.S. in 2008.
• Nearly 16 million adults in the U.S. practice yoga. 72% of U.S. yoga practitioners are women. 

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summer streets & savasana

A fantastic Saturday morning kicked off with an hour's worth of free, fast-paced vinyasa-style yoga in Bryant Park as part of Salutation Nation, lululemon's get-your-ass-into-our-yoga-pants initiative.  The instructors were fr

Free Market Solutions

Salutation Nation This Saturday

Lululemon is leading a massive yoga charge with "Salutation Nation" this Saturday. All over the country, from 9:00 - 10:00 A.M., Lululemon is offering free outdoor yoga classes. As Lululemon says, "Across the continent, mats will roll out onto grass, sand, and pavement as part of this incredible outdoor yoga experience grounded in community, elevating connections." Check the local listings for locations. Of note: Of the nine fattest states, only two have Lululemon stores, so no Salutation Nation for the other seven. Not that I'm claiming any correlation/causation whatever whatever. But maybe we don't need fitness tax credits? Maybe we just need a Lululemon to open in Jackson, Mississippi...

Fit Biz

Is Lululemon Going The Way of Crocs?

Should you buy Lululemon stock? That's the question investment website The Motley Fool is asking today. Lovely dilemma for people with funds just lying around, but the numbers they crunch are somewhat interesting — even if your interest in Lulu doesn't extend past the time and location of their next free class. One possibility: LULU rises forever. Another possibility: Lululemon is Crocs five years ago, and the downturn is coming any minute.

Noteworthy LULU data points: 

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Low blows or broken ribs?

I finally did a Lululemon Yoga class. Takes them a bit to get going since its mat to mat packed but it was a nice way to spend my Saturday morning. Its hard to find a 9am Yoga class! And its free too! Not the most challenging but still was time well spent.

Took 11am Muay Thai, front kick counters followed by cross-hook-cross-low kick.

Workout

Exciting Title? How about SWEATY title!

The short run with the Logan Circle Lululemon Running Club was great - albeit HOT!  4.5 miles in 90 degrees F at 6:30pm.  Everyone was a sweaty mess!  Must bring water next time.

Workout

Crowd Mentality - Celebrate National Running Day

My friend and I ran with Lululemon today.  My competitive nature serves me well because I pushed myself beyond what I would ever do on my own.  We ran out & backs, which I never heard of but needless to say, after sitting at work all day, presented a huge challenge to my lazy legs.  

Bamboo Clothing

How to Dress Petroleum Free When You Sweat

You're as earthy-crunchy as the next person, but when it comes to sweating you want the highest tech, most wicking, stretchiest, most ass-flattering fabric available. And so, while you eat organic, and drive a Prius (or would if you had a car), you hit yoga class in petroleum-laced spandex or Luon, or whatever. Hypocrite!

Well, good news, it doesn't have to be that way. Nor do you have to suffer in damp, heavy cottons. Spotted this morning on Sadie Nardini's Facebook page: A promotional post for THRIV, a "new brand of Yoga/Pilates Wear for Men and Women" made of bamboo and cotton. (Remember Omala, the bamboo underwear?) Clicking through, I discover, that THRIV sells a full line of affordable, practical-seeming sports clothes. I also notice that they are based in Metairie, Louisiana. Irony of ironies! If only they had started making their clothes 100 years ago, there might not be oil washing up on their shores today! You should buy Louisiana, of course, but turns out THRIV is not the only purveyor healthy apparel alternatives. In addition to Luon and five other high tech petrol fabrics, I've just found that Lululemon sells five "all natural" options, including Beechu (made from wood pulp) and Vitasea (made from seaweed). No doubt other big brands have an option or two too. Know any?