We’re loving a good power pose these days. Who doesn’t want to feel more powerful, and more prepared to take on whatever life throws at you?
So we got together with Athleta—who’s all about the “Power of She” and empowering a community of women and girls—to celebrate the Power Pose. (We want to see YOURS on Instagram, btw!) And we also wanted to go deeper and tap the wisdom of our instructors, who bring potent power to obé every day. Here, we sit down with one of our yoga instructor superstars, Lulu S.
What music do you dance to (or sing to yourself in the mirror, no judgment!) when you want to get in touch with your power pose?
My go-to’s are Grimes, M.I.A., Solange, Angel Olsen, Robyn, Rosalía, or anything by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I love female artists who are not afraid to be themselves—and be unapologetic and raw. I feel like Karen O is a great example of that.
I also love to listen to psych rock, something a little heavier—like the Black Angels, Brian Jonestown Massacre or Thee Oh Sees. There is something about that music that makes me feel like if I closed my eyes, I’m could transport myself to a dusty desert. Something about that kind of landscape helps me tap into my inner power, it has so much magic and mystery.
I love the dynamic of moving to music that really takes you on a journey. I always joke that I became a yoga teacher so I could be in charge of the playlist. I put a lot of love into how I craft and curate a musical experience. I love when the playlist takes you for a ride.
Finish this sentence: I feel powerful when…
I feel powerful when I can get out of my head and into my heart and when I can accept the invitation to take up space unapologetically! I also feel powerful when I’m connecting to something outside of myself. Dancing in nature can be a great way to experience that. Finding a wide open space and allowing yourself to feel that expansiveness in your body. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just running and jumping, and not worrying about what it looks like.
Rooftop dancing is a big one for me here in New York City. It’s a little trickier in the wintertime. But being up there, feeling the sky, noticing the clouds—there’s nothing like it. I feel amazing in Athleta’s Powervita™ bodysuit as well. It’s sexy, it’s soft, it makes me feel great!
What workout (or movement) makes you feel like you can take on the world?
The combination of my dance and yoga practices. Improvisation is one of my favorite ways to move—whether it’s dancing free or flowing on your mat or just picking up your weights and going for it. Movements where I can feel the exchange of trust between my mind, heart, and gut. Improvisation puts me in a flow state of taking a risk and going for it. It’s empowering and really demands that you ride the wave of the present moment.
I’m a big believer that form helps you find freedom. For example, within a yoga practice, you could do the same pose for 20 years—and it’s never the same pose. The more I explore the poses, it opens up all my other movement practices. Committing to my practice gives me a boundary, and I have found that kind of discipline actually strengthens my creativity. It helps me tap into even more power and joy when improvising.
Okay, here’s another sentence to finish: I’m ready for anything when I put on…
My red lip! A red lip is bold, it’s empowering. Like a small power pose. Whenever I’m having a day where I’m not feeling my best self, a red lip gives me a boost. It’s like, you got this, you can do this. And you could pair that with a Powervita™ bodysuit, and it would be bomb.
Who is your all-time power icon, and why?
That’s so tricky to nail it down to one! I’d say Karen O. is definitely an icon for me. She has an unstoppable energy that is playful but also means business. I love a rock star (especially if we’re talking about a power pose)! Also Stevie Nicks, David Bowie, Patti Smith, and Madonna. They were all willing to take a risk and go against the grain.
What was the biggest turning point in your life, where you stepped into your purpose?
I’d have to say when I took the risk to quit my waitressing job to teach full time. It was so scary because it had given me financial freedom to pursue dance and yoga. I had to just believe that if I was on the right path, it would work out. And if not, I would figure it out! Sometimes you just have to take the risk and trust yourself and your gifts.
I think what really allowed me to do that was consistently checking in with myself through my yoga practice. It helped me build to that moment. It’s so symbolic—the time you spend with yourself on the mat, in a movement practice. You’re making space in your lungs for breath, for energy, for potential. My practice empowered me to find my voice, to find myself. It’s still very much a process!
What’s your advice on feeling strong again, when you’ve been knocked down? Any re-empowerment strategies?
When you get knocked down, let yourself feel what you feel. Give yourself the space to not go for the first impulse to fix or shift or change. If you try to power-push through your feelings, they’re going to come back in another way. If you can take a moment for yourself, it makes all the difference: re-ground, re-connect, and make a plan. And know that that can start small.
Another great way to bounce back is to shift the way you’re thinking about routine—and turn routine into ritual. Instead of checking things off your list, think about what you’re doing as a ritual that will bring more joy back into your life.The more that you’re in practice, the easier it is to bounce back. It’s not that you’re not going to get smacked in the face by life. It would be wonderful if terrible things never happened to us, but they do.
But the ability to just tune into your breath allows you to start again. Then from that place, make a choice and observe. Then notice your habits. Then if there’s something you want to shift, you have the power to make a choice. And know that you have these routines, these rituals that you can always come back to, to re-ground no matter what life tosses your way.
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