Leave your oms at home.
For Jian Pablico, a fitness instructor and co-founder of North Vancouver's Distrikt Movement, yoga is just one facet of his classes, which can also include high-intensity interval training (HIIT), squats with medicine balls, and on Fridays, beer.
And while that might sound like the complete opposite of most practitioners, it's also exactly why he's been one of Lululemon's ambassadors for more than two years, and a key part of their This Is Yoga campaign.
"Our goal is to inspire Canadians of all backgrounds to elevate their lives through the power of practice, in all of its forms and to ignite people's passion to live a life they love," explains Duke Stump, Lululemon's executive vice-president of brand and community.
In honour of International Yoga Day on June 21, the company is celebrating things about yoga that go beyond postures — but to be honest, we'd be happy if we just got to watch Pablico do this all day.
In all seriousness, the capoiera-trained teacher takes it to the next level by focusing on empowering the next generation in purely positive ways. Working as an instructor with Safe Teen, a program that teaches young people gender-specific strategies for managing fear and anger, he teaches nonviolence as the first and foremost response.
"The concept of the program is simple," Pablico tells HuffPost. "When we raise young men to have inner strength and empathy, we automatically create a safer space for women."
"When we raise young men to have inner strength and empathy, we automatically create a safer space for women."
The father of two also holds classes at his studio via Varsity Initiative, a program that is as much about getting kids to move through yoga, dance and martial arts as it is about teaching them to lead and be productive community members.
"When young people connect with 'adults' as real people, they are more likely to trust you," he explains. "Admitting that I am not perfect is my first step and I think young men resonate with that. Yoga is how I get male youth together but it is off the mat, during conversations, connecting and retreats that is most important.
"I think it's no longer a matter of re-defining masculinity but rather un-defining it."
And no matter whether it's for grown-ups or kids, Pablico's priority remains the same — to get as many people connecting to their bodies and moving in a positive way.
As he explained to the Vancouver Sun, "I wanted to be a part of disrupting what the landscape of yoga looked like as seen by those in the Lululemon collective. I believe that the practice of yoga in all forms is beautiful and transformational, and I wanted to share that with those who do not have access to it."
"I believe that the practice of yoga in all forms is beautiful and transformational."
His motto, he tells us, is simple.
"Acknowledge your privilege, find ways to dismantle it and create space for others to empower themselves."
That sounds like a statement every person, regardless of how many yoga positions they can manage, can get behind.