Lululemon Athletica Inc., synonymous in some quarters with the “corporatization of yoga,” got a powerful, albeit implicit endorsement Wednesday from none other than the Dalai Lama.
Lululemon said both organizations share a common vision for developing the next generation of compassionate leaders in the world and are committed to engaging and empowering healthy communities. Through their partnership, they will build the capacity for communities to promote mindfulness, or a non-judgmental awareness on the present moment, to foster heart-mind wellbeing in children and youth.
Lululemon will partner with the Dalai Lama Center on a variety of initiatives including researching the connection between mind-body-heart, sharing the work globally, and expanding the reach of the Center’s Heart-Mind education initiatives.
“In our 16 years working through our stores and communities, we have learned the positive impact created when athletes, yogis, and leaders leverage the connection between the heart, mind and body,” said Lululemon CEO Laurent Potdevin, who is shown in the photograph standing to the right His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Together with the Dalai Lama Center we have a unique opportunity to further inspire a compassionate, mindful generation. We truly believe that through this powerful partnership we will create real change in the world.”
“At the Dalai Lama Center, our mission is to educate the hearts of children by informing, inspiring and engaging the communities around them. We are grateful for the support from Lululemon to engage our community and look forward to working together to promote education of the heart, which results in more peaceful, secure, engaged and compassionate children,” said Fiona Douglas-Crampton, President and CEO of the Dalai Lama Center.
Tomorrow, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will host a discussion with community and business leaders including Douglas-Crampton and Potdevin, on how to collectively impact change within the community for future generations.
Established in 2005, the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education is a non-religious, non-political, not-for-profit organization. The Center is inspired by the Dalai Lama’s belief in the importance of balancing the education of children’s minds with that of their hearts. The DLC educates the hearts of children by informing, inspiring and engaging the communities around them. All of the Center’s programs aim to create support and environment to enable positive human qualities in children and youth.
