Lululemon has launched a brand first video podcast series in China. The new series, titled Conversations on the Mat (垫上见), debuted on video-streaming platform BiliBili in early June. It brings together athletes, ambassadors and coaches for discussions that use yoga as a starting point to tap in a bit deeper to what makes good athletic performance.
The first episode features Lululemon ambassador and actor Zhu Yilong (朱一龙), who joins veteran journalist Chen Xiaonan (陈晓楠) for a conversation filmed on the Great Wall. Reflecting on his first formal yoga practice, Zhu explains how many of yoga’s principles had already shaped his life through acting, training, free diving and breathing exercises. The discussion centres on the relationship between relaxation and strength, and how slowing down can become a source of performance.
Subsequent episodes expand the concept across different sporting disciplines. Former Chinese national table tennis player Niu Jianfeng (牛剑锋) discusses the role yoga can play in managing pressure and maintaining focus, while figure skater Zhu Yi (朱易) explores how the practice helped her recover from injury and build a stronger connection between body and mind.
The programme also features Lululemon ambassadors and yoga instructors including Lin Min and Ryan Leier, both of whom draw on years of experience working with elite athletes. It’s not trying to position yoga as a standalone activity. Really, the series presents it as a tool that can support a wide range of sports and lifestyles.
The Dao view: Lululemon is mining a deeper connection with audiences with its podcast
The launch reflects Lululemon’s broader effort to build cultural relevance in China through content as well as products. Over the past decade, the brand has invested heavily in local fitness communities, ambassador programmes and experiential events.
Conversations on the Mat extends that strategy into long-form media, giving Lululemon a platform to tell deeper stories around wellbeing at a time when Chinese consumers are increasingly interested in holistic approaches to health and performance.
