Lululemon Launches Iviva Athletica For Tween Girls

Lululemon Athletica one of the top manufacturer and retailers of yoga-inspired athletic apparel is planning on introducing a new brand called Ivivva Athletica, geared towards 6-12-year-old tweens.

Initially the company wants to focus on girl's products alone which would retail exclusively through their three stores in Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary. The gear is designed to be worn during gymnastics, dance, figure skating, field hockey, track and field, soccer and other sports, as well as regular daily activities.

“We are an entrepreneurial company that never stops innovating,” asserted Lululemo

n CEO Christine Day. “We have listened to feedback from our guests and are excited to introduce Ivivva... We believe this market is underserved and we are excited to create something to inspire a younger generation to be physically active.”

The new line will feature brighter colors and other unique elements along with the same signature fabrics and technical design features Lululemon is known for.

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Gift Ideas For The Yoga Mama

Lululemon's new Sport Cardi (available in heathered charcoal and classic sport grey). It is made with highly breathable fabric - Rayon from bamboo fibres and tencel and includes a wrap tie for customized fit. I love the collar style as well! Retails $128.00 CAD and available from Lululemon.


Sterling Silver Lotus charm with a faceted AAA green amethyst gemstone. Available from karinagracejewelry and retails for $43.00 US.

Yoga Shakti by Shiva Rea has got to be the ultimate in yoga instructional DVDs. This double DVD set includes pre-designed yoga practices as well as a unique "yoga matrix format" which allows you to personalize your own yoga practice using a menu filled with a large variety of postures, meditations and relaxations. Price: Currently on sale through Amazon.com for $23.95

Yoga therapy offered to Cancer survivors in Calgary

It is so encouraging to see this! Canadian cancer survivors will soon have access to a therapeutic yoga program known as "The Yoga Thrive project" which originated from Calgary. Since the project started in 2002, hundreds of cancer survivors have attended. The classes are specially designed to help with mental and physical needs.

Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre said she's thrilled the program she founded is growing.

"We know physical activity is important for people with cancer and said we need to get this to rural Alberta," said Culos-Reed, who is also a researcher at the university of Calgary's faculty of kinesiology, "It just started snowballing."

There are plans for this program to begin accepting registration in eight other cities and towns in and around Alberta. Some of them include Canmore, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Grande Prairie.

Centres in B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario are also set to open soon.

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Yoga reduces Asthma attacks

According to researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine, yoga can halve the symptoms of asthma after just ten weeks.

A trial was run by placing a group of asthmatics through two yoga sessions a week. They also asked them to practice an additional 30 minutes at home, once per week.

At the end of the trial, the subjects - all yoga novices - reported that the severity and frequency of their symptoms had reduced, while their quality of life had improved by more than 40 per cent.

It's thought that the deep breathing involved in holding yoga postures causes similar respiratory stress as in an asthma attack - as the subjects became used to this, they were better able to deal with their asthma.

Yoga is an excellent way to relieve symptoms because there are no side-effects, unlike modern medicine such as corticosteroids,' said the lead researcher Amy Bidwell.

'For some people, regular yoga could mean they need less medication.'

As a firm advocater of Yoga, I found this study to be quite interesting. After having my first child I had some roundness in my back due to muscle loss in my abdomen and the additional weight of my breasts due to breast feeding. Yoga not only helped with strengthening my body but also opened up my chest and straightened out my back. I was able to breath deeper and my posture improved tremendously.

I can therefore understand how Asthma can be improved by gentle yoga exercise.

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Grandma yoga master at 83 years of age

What a remarkable woman!

Bette Calman was a pioneer of yoga in Australia during the 50s, ran yoga centres for 33 years and made regular TV appearances in the 70s.
8 years ago, she moved to Melbourne to retire, however at the time her daughter Susie, who is also a Yoga instructor, was looking for fill-in teachers at her yoga studio. Her mother began working as a fill in and now at the ripe age of 83, teaches up to 11 classes a week!

With 40 years of teaching under her belt, the Williamstown wonder is living proof that a lifetime's dedication to the healthy pursuit can keep you nimble, the Herald Sun reports.

While others her age complain about aches and pains, Mrs Calman focuses on getting tough maneuvers right.

Mrs Calman is a master of many difficult yoga poses such as the "peacock" where the body is held in a horizontal position by the strength of the arms alone.


She can also perform poses such as the lotus, bridge and handstand with ease.


Her flexibility puts many of her grandchildren to shame.

"I'm proof that if you keep at it, you'll get there. I can do more now than I could 50 years ago," Mrs Calman told the Herald Sun.

'Yoga keeps you young,' she said.

'Never have I gone to a yoga class and wished I was somewhere else, because I know I'm going to come out feeling on the top of the world. There will always be yoga.'

You can click here to watch this video of this amazing woman.

(Photo Source: Chinanews.com.cn)