« November 27, 2011 - December 3, 2011 | Main | December 11, 2011 - December 17, 2011 »
Happy Friday! This week we're giving away a 5 class package-perfect for a Lithe newbie or veteran ($95 value)! For a chance to win, please visit our Facebook page, "Like us" and then leave a comment at the post. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow and the winner will be announced on Monday! Good luck!
Images of Lithe Instructor, Carrie Gero via Dominic Episcopo.
You won't see them on the schedule anymore, but you may see them working hard right next to you at the studios! Heather Burt is back at work and busy spending time with her new baby and Jessica Procini is focusing on her business. Best wishes and love from everyone at Lithe!
Images of Heather Burt in Thigh High and Jessica Procini via Dom
Lighten up with local lettuces and greens! Our TLT Salad is our healthy take on the classic BLT. And, you'll love the beautiful dehydrated tomatoes and the delicious, fresh dressing! Ingredients: Spinach, arugula, tempeh, roasted red pepper, tomato, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, sesame oil, dressing (tahini, sesame oil, lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes, white vinegar, extra virgin olive oil) $8
Fall in a bottle! This smoothie fills you up for HOURS with it's high fiber content due to the beautiful pumpkin. The pulp and seeds of a pumpkin are considered super foods because of their excellent health benefits. A cup of raw pumpkin contains only 30 calories, no fat or cholesterol, 1 g of dietary fiber and no more than 8 g of carbohydrates. The pulp also contains many minerals and vitamins such as A, B-6, C and E. Banana adds potassium and the addition of flax seeds (one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet) provides:
Want another reason to drink up? Recent studies have suggested that flax seed may have a protective effect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Ingredients: Banana, Pumpkin, Fresh, Hydraulic-Pressed Apple juice, Flax Seed, Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Agave $7
Destined to be a favorite! Our healthy spring rolls with Tofu and your favorite peanut dipping sauce! Ingredients: Spring roll wrappers (rice), pan seared tofu (tofu, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, extra virgin olive oil), spinach, cilantro, mint, carrot, daikon, celery, peanut dipping sauce (peanut butter, hoisin sauce, water, lemon juice, ginger, chili) $7
If you’ve been following me since my Lithe Diving days, you may have noticed that I love to include a bit of music somewhere in my posts. Whether I’m being brutally honest about the fact that I’m not the slightest bit hip, or that I unabashedly like pop music by the likes of Britney Spears (or Britney S. Pierce) and Ne-Yo, or just indulging in a bit of nostalgia with some classics, I like to leave you with something to hum along to...even if you hate yourself for it.
The famous Kabbalah guru, Madonna, once said the wise words, “Music. Brings the people. Together. Yeah.” And whether you consider yourself bourgeoisie or rebel, it’s no secret that music can have a transformative effect on your mood. It sets the tone and energy of whatever you happen to be doing while listening to it. It’s no surprise then, that this extends to Lithing. And in my three years in and out of the studio day after day, I’ve always wondered how exactly the music is selected for classes.
I went to Lauren with my burning questions, and she introduced me to Justine Masters, a sound designer who specializes in curating a musical identity for her clients, and has been doing just that for Lithe Method for the last 4 years.
Now, I like to think that I know my designers. Like all E! viewers, I love knowing who’s wearing what. I recently learned, for example, that Kim Kardashian reportedly dropped $100k at Hermes, on an array of the label’s famous Birkin bags, which start at $9,000 bucks and go as high as $240 grand A POP. And since Sarah Jessica Parker first pranced across the screen in her 5 inch Manolo Blahniks on Sex and the City, I’ve been drooling over the likes of Jimmy Choo and Giussepe Zanotti. But designer music?
That’s an entirely new concept for me--one I hoped that Justine could illuminate when I sat down with her to learn more about the music that meets our ears during our leg-quivering workouts. I wasn’t disappointed.
When I asked Justine what exactly a sound designer does and how that’s different from a traditional DJ, she explained it by saying, “When you are DJing at a club, playing popular songs is part of knowing how to work a crowd. In the realm of sound design, people are not on the dance-floor; they are having a drink at a bar, eating dinner, working out, lounging by the pool etc., so the music is a more subtle yet important factor in their experience.”
Justine has been creating those musical experiences since she was 13 years old. “I used to make mix cassette tapes for all my friends when I was in high school,” she said. “I couldn't help myself! When music excited me, I wanted others to experience that excitement also, so I made them tapes.”
In her current role as sound designer, Justine continues to share the music she loves, like: Nina Simone, The Police, Bob Marley, Sade and the Black Keys (to name a few) to curate playlists for boutique hotels, restaurants and high-profile, private clients. All admittedly different than music one needs to hear to sustain them through a workout as difficult as Lithe.
So how did she go about understanding Lithe’s musical needs, I asked her. “Lauren was looking for sounds that matched the energy flow and creativity of her workouts. She wanted the music to inspire her Lithers, not just serve as background noise, so I took some of her classes. I even took one without music, to understand what was missing.”
After realizing for herself how exhausting and demanding the classes were, Justine knew exactly what the music pumping through the speakers at Lithe need to do. “I selected songs with one thing in mind: motivation,” she said. “I wanted the music to be a motivator, an inspiration and an aid for getting through a class. When you are working out and sweating, your instincts become very primal, so the music I chose speaks to that energy.”
When I asked who decides what gets played in class, Justine said her playlists are designated as Hi-tempo, Mid -tempo and Slow-Mid Tempo. And with over 400 playlists to choose from, Lauren and the instructors make a choice from the vast and varied selection based on the pace of the class.
I went on to admit to Justine how much I love hearing top 40 hits in the studio. How hearing a song I know and recognize gives me such a boost in class, and wondered why she didn’t choose more music that Lithers may immediately recognize.
She responded by saying, “Lauren and I both agreed that Top 40 has a much shorter shelf life when played on repeat. Plus, we want the music to be as creative and out of the box as the workouts are! People are coming to Lithe for something different in their workout, so they should expect that in the music as well.”
I had to give it to her, there’s nothing worse than hearing Rihanna and Eminem telling me they love the way I lie for the 10th time in a one-hour car ride. If had to hear them duetting it up at Lithe too, I might jump out the window. (Now THAT’S some serious Lithe Stalling.)
“Ultimately,” she said, “I want to draw a positive attention to one's body--that is a big reason Lithers are in the studio--to be in tune with their bodies. Its about getting out of your head and into the movements.”
Now that’s certainly a tune I can get down to. As with everything in Lithe, it seems even the music has meaning, and is hand selected carefully to compliment the workout. I’ll certainly be listening with a new appreciation.
Images of Justine Masters: Justine at Miss P's Place in Jamaica, Justine singing, Lithe Escape Grenada with Ellen & Liz Solms and Justine in her hometown of NYC
Another great vegan roll up! Rich, 'meaty' mushrooms & walnut pate (a lithe favorite!) with spinach and tempeh wrapped in lavash. So, so perfect for this time of year. Ingredients: whole wheat lavash, tempeh, mushrooms, spinach, roasted red pepper, soy sauce, walnut pate (walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, celery, black olives, parsley, garlic, onions, soy sauce, cilantro) $8
Wait until you guys try this one on. I'm loving it in Sapphire (above). Fits nice and snug and it's really comfortable, supportive and so flattering. This Lithe Wear piece will be in soon!
Image of Lither, Jaclyn Obeso wearing Lithe's Ultra Support Performance Bra & Lace Insert Leggings in Black via Dom
Are you stuck on a particular workout that you love - maybe you're jamming out in Sleeveless or Skinny Mini on a bi-weekly basis - STOP! Instead, change up you schedule for the next two weeks and amp up your intensity. Your muscles will think, 'What the heck just happened? You're body, mind and soul will be challenged and changed for the better!
Image of Lithe Instructor, Cori Tilman via Dom
Recent Comments