Do yoga in a strange language says Lululemon’s Amanda Casgar

SINGAPORE — You may have noticed some new murals in Haji Lane and Boat Quay, as well as a bus decked out with positive manifestos around town recently. These are all courtesy of Lululemon Athletica, a Canadian fitness gear brand that opened its store at ION Orchard last week.

The brand’s cult following across the world has been partly due to the sense of community it builds wherever it has a presence, said Amanda Casgar, brand and community director of Lululemon Athletica Asia.

“It’s not just about opening stores. We start with showrooms, work with yoga and gym studios, and want to inspire others with outreach events,” she explained.

Although Casgar’s job takes her around the region all the time, she makes it a point to stay healthy and be positive on the road. “I meditate every morning — really easy stuff such as keeping still and deep breathing for 10 minutes — and try to find a yoga class to attend. Yoga is a lot more popular now, so it’s not hard to find one to drop in on.” Serene Lim

Q: You live in Hong Kong where it’s extremely hectic. What do you do to stay Zen?

A: I hike. I love the outdoors and Hong Kong is actually great for hiking. Hiking up Dragon’s Back or The Peak is pretty convenient and the views are amazing. It really energises me and there’s a sense of clarity in seeing things from above.

Q: What’s the most memorable yoga class you’ve attended while in a new city?

A: It will probably be in Shanghai. I followed a colleague to a yoga studio for the locals and it was so surreal listening to the instructions in rapid Mandarin from this pint-sized older lady and trying to keep up (with her). But yoga poses are the same everywhere and you begin to appreciate being in sync with the flow and movements even though you’re from a completely different culture. We’re all the same on the mat.

Q: Do you sweat it when things go wrong on a trip?

A: Naturally, there’s a part of me that’s annoyed. But what can you do? You can’t change the situation, but you can change your attitude. I remember being stuck at an airport in New York and everything was delayed when I was supposed to be attending a good friend’s wedding. I decided to cheer up by being friendly and ended up talking to a stranger, becoming pals. He’s a sportsman and even did a Lululemon shoot for us.

Q: Lululemon is known for its many manifestos that are printed on its bags. Which is your favourite and one you can relate to as a traveller?

A: I’ve a few I really like, but I think I’d pick “Creativity is maximised when you’re living in the moment”. Travelling is about being in the moment!

Luluelemon Athletica’s store is at ION Orchard, #B1-11. It will host weekly community exercise classes next year — check out the store for more details.