Fit for a Queen: My Lululemon Royalty Makeover

Yesterday, I had a taste of what it’s like to be treated like royalty – imagine me, a queen! I was pampered and accommodated in a way that my disability barely registered.

The story begins a few weeks back when I bumped into my gym idol, Chelsea, at Planet Fitness. I feel super lucky when I get to see her at the gym, lifting hardcore like one of my idols who I aspire to be. Despite our schedules being polar opposites – she’s a fitness instructor at CYCLEBAR – I feel super lucky when I get to see her at the gym, lifting hardcore like one of my idols who I aspire to be. I mean, we share a love for the magical bath machines at Planet Fitness. Now, this friend of mine is a big deal; she’s a fitness guru and also a Lululemon ambassador. So, when she told me she got the chance to have someone she admires come in for a Lululemon fitting, I was all ears. I mean, I’ve never owned any fancy Lululemon gear, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Fast forward to yesterday at the Garden State Mall. I parked right outside Nordstrom’s and strolled in with a spring in my step. Well, the spring was figurative, since I was the only one “scooting” – my trusty motorized scooter. My entourage consisted of Chelsea, my idol, walking alongside, my eight-year-old son, Sean, and even my mom, who were all on foot. We walked a short distance to Lululemon, which was super convenient thanks to our strategic parking choice.

Upon arrival, the first thing that struck me was being asked for my name. Little did I know, my name would grace a board outside my own fitting room. Yep, I had a personal fitting room – marked with my name, so no one else could sneak in. I had claimed my territory, and it felt pretty royal.

And here’s where it gets even more special – I was introduced to two amazing Lululemon angels, Alexandra and Taylor. Alexandra was an angel and was there to offer suggestions and get me anything I wanted to try. Since I couldn’t physically keep getting up and walking around to fetch sizes, they came to my rescue. And guess what? They did it in cute Lululemon getup, of course. Taylor was a vision in light purple, from scrunchie to toe. And let me tell you, she moved with such grace, bopping and moving gently to the store’s music. It was a heartwarming sight that truly brightened my day.

The fitting frenzy began with leggings. They wanted to know my style preference – flair, tight fit, you name it. Given that I sport a walkaide on my right leg, I opted for a little flair at the bottom. After trying on regular leggings (which were oh-so-comfy), the classic tight fit at the ankle proved a bit of a struggle due to my walkaide. So, capri-style it was, and boy, were they comfy! I practically had to be pried out of them.

Then came the tops, and I was spoiled for choice. But guess what? I picked the first one – a coral-colored short top with a pattern and reflective dots on the side. Now, I can’t recall the last time I rocked a shorter top, let alone one so darn cute. Normally, I opt for comfort with a touch of flair to combat the MS-induced heatwave. Sweating it out isn’t an option, as it leaves me fatigued, so I strive to stay cool. And cool is exactly how I felt in that top. Oh, did I mention the new sports bra? Yep, that was a winner too.

At the grand finale of this amazing experience, Chelsea and I snapped photos and videos for her “content” to share with her social media realm. And guess what? I strutted out in a fantastic Lululemon ensemble, gifted to me because I’m an inspiration. To think that I inspire someone enough for this – it was a gift in itself. They had to remove the tags so the alarms wouldn’t sound, but they did it with a handheld tag remover right in the fitting room.

As they packed my original clothes into a cute Lululemon bag, I realized I need more of this cuteness in my life. It made me feel extraordinarily special. And before I strolled out, Alex, one of the managers, caught me for a chat about the experience. During our conversation, I learned that his mother-in-law battles MS. It never ceases to amaze me how much MS touches lives, whether it’s directly or indirectly. I count myself lucky to have another day to stroll or scoot, thanks to my fantastic drug therapy and twice-yearly infusions.

I’m beyond fortunate to hit the gym daily and maybe inspire a soul or two. And let me tell you, wonderful things unfold. My world has become richer since I embraced my chronic illness and stopped letting it dictate my life. Now, on top of everything, I get to strut in looking real cute! A heartfelt shoutout to Lululemon, Chelsea the ambassador, and the warm and welcoming staff at Lululemon in the Garden State Plaza mall. You’ve made this queen’s day!