IMMERSE YOURSELF {BY SAYEH}! 20 Jun 2012

When most people find out that I grew up in Texas, they usually cock their heads to one side and, completely confused, ask me how I ended up in Philly. (I think this is a testament to the Philly identity crisis. Native Philadelphians have a lot of pride in their city, but are simultaneously extremely befuddled by the notion that someone would move here on purpose.) My response is usually a long and winding one, much like the road that brought me here, and begins in a small town called Aix-en-Provence in the south of France.

It was 2003, and I was studying abroad. Thrown together with students from various universities from all over the country, I arrived in France feeling overconfident about my broken French. With my beautifully embroidered new journal tucked into my bag, I fantasized that I would spend hours writing and reflecting while sitting in beautiful cathedrals under golden shafts of light, or in parks unfurling the mysteries of life whilst gazing up at the same mountains that Cezanne did.

Things didn’t quite end up like that. I did write in my journal, but instead of ruminating over Decartes, I mostly waxed philosophical about my boyfriend at the time, who was studying abroad in another city. (I recently came upon this journal at my parents’ house and was SO annoyed at my 22 year-old self. I wanted to yell at her that she was in FRANCE, and to stop lamenting and go eat a croissant somewhere.) Ultimately, what I had envisioned as this solitary eye-opening experience instead became about something totally different. Facilitated by copious amounts of cheap wine, unctuous cheeses passed around and spread on freshly-baked, crusty baguettes that I carried home in my backpack everyday, I abandoned my solo vision quest, and instead fulfilled the fate France had in store for me--starting a lifelong friendship that would eventually bring me to Philly.

I vividly remember first meeting my roommate. I was wearing a Strokes t-shirt (even though I barely knew who they were), and was sick with a cold. She had amazing wavy blonde hair,  was exhausted from her flight and was wondering how on earth I was so peppy. Julie from Philadelphia. We were placed together in a tiny house, a few minutes outside the city, far from everyone else on our program. It didn’t take long for us to dive head first into all things France. We made French friends, me with my steadily-improving vocabulary. Julie, already fluent. We ordered things like warm goat cheese wrapped in impossibly thin pastry, shopped in tiny boutiques, and danced to terrible techno in tiny underground clubs. Me carrying my heels through the cobblestoned streets on the way home. Julie always wearing flats.

Fast forward almost a decade, and I live down the street from her, deciding after years of visiting and loving Philly more and more each trip, that it was time to make the move permanent. Invited into her circle, I made friendships of my own with some of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. All of them bringing something unique and new into my life. They would become my roommates, my confidants, and my new support network. And most recently, my workout partners.

Imagine my surprise, when 4 of these women including Julie, emailed me separately, asking about Lithe Immersion. Some of them had dabbled in Lithe before--all of them were nervous--some remembering the pain first-hand, others had heard about it in vivid detail from me. But they were all ready. All had to come to a point, for various reasons, where they wanted to take the plunge and really invest in their physical fitness and to enjoy the boost in their mental and emotional outlook that inevitably comes with taking control of your body.

I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Clearly, we established last week that I’m obsessed with Lithe and love talking about it. Who better to do that with than my close friends? And oh the talking that we did. The hilariously epic email threads spawned from their Immersion experience encapsulated the highs and lows of Lithing so perfectly. And aside from looking like a beautiful Benneton ad, my girlfriends are funny and eloquent in the ways very unique to their personalities. I asked each of them, in turn, to share what this experience has meant to them. And for those of you considering Immersion or Lithe in general, I’ve shared a bit of what they told me.

Lindsay (the candid and loyal)

"I had once considered myself an avid exerciser, and had worked really hard to lose 45 pounds two years ago.  In the past year, I have managed to gain almost all of that weight back, and have struggled to find a program that works with my lifestyle, and that I can stick to. Through Immersion, I saw that body change could be a real possibility. I have signed up for classes 4 or more times a week, and am ready for the change and the challenge!"

And stick to it, she has. At her house just last night, we commiserated about the torture that is Elizabeth’s fast-paced Skinny Mini.

Rachel (the one who always laughs at my jokes no matter how bad!)

“What I enjoyed most about immersion was the support and positive attitudes of the teachers. The workout is killer, and it was great to have them always willing to answer questions and help us work on our form to get the full effects. Immersion has been a great reminder to get myself in gear and work on getting rid of my jigglies. Feeling strong = feeling good.

And boy is this lady strong. We did Higher Power together last week, and she made me look like I was the one fresh outta Immersion. This lady is a beast! In the cool, hot way. Not in the giant hairy way.

Michi (the insightful and empathetic)

I think the primary thing I am taking from Immersion (aside from the mechanics, and getting over feeling like a complete fool doing that loud breathing) is the much needed reminder that making big change in your life isn't about huge gestures and declarations. What it's really about is the teeny tiny ways you can ask yourself to do a little more, a little differently. One more sumo when you think you might die or fall over and humiliate yourself in front of the class. Ten more seconds of holding that squeeze. Buying an apple when all you really want is a Tastykake brownie (the kind with the nuts on top). Those small gestures create small changes, and small changes build on themselves to create new habits, and new habits are what you need to get healthier and stronger. At least that's what I hope!

I couldn’t have said it better myself, Mich.

Julie (the curious and true)

As a lifelong exercise avoider, this was a giant sumo outside of my comfort zone, and I was fully prepared for Immersion to kick my butt. What I didn't realize, though, is by working through the pain how much mental clarity I would come to gain. Sure, by the second session I could barely sit, walk down the stairs, or reach my head to shampoo -- but it's what was going on inside my head during and after class that was truly amazing. I found myself being so immersed in immersion that apart from focusing on getting my tuck right and trying not to hyper-extend my stupidly over-flexible joints, my brain was literally blank. Never have I ever experienced anything like that -- an absolute absence of thought. It was exhilarating. Something postive and fulfilling. With my closest friends.

So even though Julie and I are no longer navigating the spiralling alleyways of Provence with wine-stained teeth and our 20s-induced confusion about life, we are still immersing ourselves in something. Only now we walk down the dimly lit streets of Fishtown, with these amazing friends, in an equally wondrous city to visit each other, to grab a bite, and now to Lithe.

See you in class!

From left to right: Lindsay, Rachel, Michi and Julie at Lithe Old City via Sayeh

Comments

[Nisha]

Sayeh - I was actually thinking to myself the other day, as I am now venturing into Philly for classes, that I hope you are in one of my classes at some point - just so I can say hi and thank you for continuing to keep it real, but at the same time be inspirational. And clearly, your girlfriends do the same for you...

[amanda]

This is a fabulous post Sayeh (and the rest of you ladies!) Michi, I couldn't agree more: small changes accumulate over time to more fundamental transformations. Keep up the good work! What a wonderful community, thank you all for sharing.

[Lauren Boggi Goldenberg]

Gorgeous ladies!

[Sayeh]

Nisha, I would LOVE to meet you. I'm usually at the OC location;) My girls do indeed keep it real and this is why I love them so much. And thank you Amanda. And you are right, Michi is quite a sage (which I wanted to include as one of her descriptors). I rely on her insight always.

[Jenna]

Loved this post, Sayeh!

[Anna Marie]

love love this post, sayeh! truly inspirational. i think it's one of the things i miss the most about lithe--the amazing women!

[Regina]

Fantastic post, Sayeh. It is such a treat to share Lithe with friends, and it's even better when they become regulars, too!