fithiphealthy

SAYEH'S LIVING PEELED! 6 Mar 2013

Peeled!

What you need: Peeled Sleeves! (These are optional. You can bring your own, or order them at any studio. Once you pay for them ($10 or $12) they will arrive within 30 days.)
Props: 3lb, 5lb, 8lb weights, Hipster box, gliders (purple pads from Short Shorts for those not wearing arm warmers) Grapefruit essential oil spray
Clothing Considerations: Whatever you’re comfortable in
Sweat Factor: Pretty good sweat (but you should be presentable public after)

Recently, I was treated to a very sweet V-day gift of a facial. Growing up with a mom in the beauty industry, I got facials regularly. My mother would spy a blackhead on my nose and send me marching to the esthetician in her salon. (Tough life, I know.) But, as an adult, I can rarely justify the expense or make time for them, so this was a wonderful relaxing treat...until the peel. 

If you've never had a facial before, typically you lay on a massage table face up with your hair in a wrap away from your face, under a sheet with your shoulders and decollete exposed. The esthetician then cleanses your face of any makeup, dirt and oil. All the while, a neat device sprays gentle steam onto your face to loosen your pores and make your skin more pliable. Your skin is then examined under a giant magnifier with lights (your eyes are protected of course) and depending on your esthetician's style, she'll go to work cleaning you out--removing black heads and squeezing zits with various tools and sanitary techniques that minimize damage and scarring to the skin. After which, she usually applies masks and gels and lotions and peels...depending on what you request and are hoping to achieve. 

Now you may recall a certain episode of Sex and the City where Samantha gets a chemical peel right before a big PR event and ends up with a crazy blueberry face forcing her to wear a veil like Lydia from Beetlejuice to hide the damage. The peel I got was nothing like that. (Although I hear those peels can do wonders!) It was a slightly acidic concoction that my facialist made and applied to my face to help slough off the dull outer layer of my face to make room for a bright new, shiny glowy me. Sounds like a great plan right? After having your skin poked and prodded, it felt like she was applying lemon juice and salt onto my raw and tender skin. "Is it burning?" she asked. I replied that it stung a little to which she casually responded: "It will get more intense, so let me know if you can't take it anymore." 

What is this? I thought. A spa or Guantanamo Bay? After a few minutes of wiggling my toes and gripping the sheets in discomfort, she came to my rescue and removed the peel with gentle pads soaked in...something. SWEET RELIEF. She then massaged my face and neck into a blissful oblivion. I emerged from this appointment feeling an odd combination of relaxed and slightly abused. It wasn't until I saw my skin in the mirror that I realized it was all worth it. It looked SO CLEAN, and fresh and glowing. Literally. It was incredible. The results were SO immediate, I couldn't believe. Totally worth the few minutes of the total discomfort. 

This is exaclty how I would describe Peeled the class. Incredibly painful, while being kind of fun, and leaving you feeling sore in ways you never knew you could be sore, but also emerging with immediate results like definition in your arms that you KNOW wasn't there the day before. It's crazy. 

You begin the class by spraying Grapefruit oil on your arms for beneficial toning, circulation and diuretic effects and slide on your arm warmers, if you have them. Then you grab your 3lb weights and do a series of standing arm work which incorporates the lower half of your body too. This portion left me wanting to suck my thumb on the mat until it was over. Then you bump it up to 5lbs for another series of arm, chest and back killers which will have you wondering how you are still able to get your limbs to cooperate. From there you take a quick "break" from the weights and so some sliding ab and arm work using either your arm warmers to help you slide on the wood floor or the gliders if you don't have any. After that, you pick up the 8lb weights, throw them onto your shoulders and do various squats using the Hipster box to guide you (you never step up onto it). This part was my favorite because I could give my arms a break, which at this point were telling me to go F myself, and use my legs and butt instead. 

I walked out feeling incredibly sore right away, and am still feeling it in my shoulders chest and back 3 days later. BUT, my boyfriend went to touch me on the arm yesterday and said, "Whoa Schartzenegger! Take it easy!" and couldn't stop gripping my biceps and feeling them in disbelief. So was it kind of agonizing? YES. Was it worth it and did I see results basically 5 minutes later? YES. 

You know what they say. Beauty is pain. But, Peeled definitely qualifies as the good kind. 

See you in class!

SAYEH'S LIVING FREESTYLE! 6 Feb 2013

Freestyle!

What you need: Gloves! (depending on the lineup this changes, but you should bring them since you won’t know ahead of time)
Props: Everything is game at anytime
Clothing Considerations: Whatever you’re comfortable in
Sweat Factor: Sweat-fest 2013

During high school, I went through a phase where I full on thought I was Aaliyah--the R&B protege of Timbaland and Missy Elliott who was allegedly romantically involved with R. Kelly when she was only 16--hence  her hit song, “Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number” (cuz a noun ain't nothing but a thang), in case you were curious about the logic. I wore Adidas track pants, and little white tank tops, hoop earrings and crispy white Adidas shell toes. I alternated this outfit with my Polo Sport getups and my Tommy Hilfiger overalls (one strap only) and CK One perfume/cologne. I hung out with a crew who also thought they were various R&B and hip hop stars. When we would all get together at a party or at a gas station (why did we hang out at gas stations?), the guys would inevitably battle each other in the form of freestyle rapping (it was the 90s, I have no other explanation). If this picture would lead you to believe that I grew up in a place straight out of the movie 8 Mile, guess again. We were as suburban as it gets. Don’t ask. Again, I blame the 90s.

During these rap freestyle battles, people would would oooh and ahhh over various vicious lyrics that were aimed at embarrassing the other rapper. We laughed and cheered while people’s mothers were bashed and every insecurity they never spoke of aloud was exposed for all to see.  And every once in a while, perhaps after one too many swigs of Fuzzy Navel wine coolers, some of the girls would jump in. I’m pretty sure one of the lyrics I “spit” (that’s what you do to lyrics) went something like: Step to me, girl, if you must. But if I were you, I’d make like Punky and increase your bust!” Ooooh buuuurn. Needless to say, I didn’t grow up to be a professional rapper or musician of any kind and was usually laughed out of the circle.

Thank God Lithe’s Freestyle has nothing to do with rapping, terrible malt liquor beverages or questionable 90s wardrobe choices. Although writing about Freestyle is equally challenging because it changes every week. It includes lineups from any number of Lithe classes, and keeps you guessing as to what’s coming next. When I took it this week, we used the dowel rod, pom bands, and did a combination of moves from High Waisted, Skinny Jeans, Thigh High & Split (that’s where I stopped counting).

Not knowing the sequence of events keeps class moving quickly. You’re not psyching yourself out about all the pain you know is coming next, so it’s a pleasant surprise when class is over before you know it. It’s also a great way to introduce yourself to classes that you haven’t taken yet. High Waisted, for example, is on the list of class I haven’t taken yet--but now that I’ve taken Freestyle I have an idea of what to expect when I do take it--making it feel less intimidating.

When you take Freestyle, you should come prepared for anything. You may stay on the mat most of the time; you may be up and jumping (so the instructors tell me). What I do know is that you will NOT have to bust out in a rap, or worse hear me rap. But I do think we should bring back one-strap overalls. Maybe a twist on the Calorie Trashers?

See you in class!

SAYEH'S LIVING LITHE 101! 30 Jan 2013

One of the best things about Lithe Method is that classes are always changing. Even a staple like Skinny Jeans is different depending on the instructor you take. The moment you think you’ve conquered as many classes as humanly possible, Lauren adds more. Enter Lithe Passport. I take every class Lithe offers and give you a little preview of what you can expect if you sign up. New reviews to look forward to? High Waisted, Rock Steady, Peeled, and Freestyle. But not today. Today I go easy. Today I review 101. It was my first class back after my epic fall off the wagon, and one that has changed since the last time I took it.

Lithe 101

What you need: Gloves
Props: 3lb weights, Every band (Thinny, Pom, Higher Power)
Clothing Considerations: Whatever you’re comfortable in
Sweat Factor: Light Sheen

We all know what 101 means. The basics. No matter what you want to learn, you usually start with 101. Wanna be a doctor? Biology 101 first. You’ll learn the parts of a cell--the building blocks of life. English teacher? English 101. Thesis statements, syntax...you get the idea. It’s no different for Lithe. It has its own vocabulary and structure. And if you don’t know the basics, you will find yourself feeling confused, uncoordinated and discouraged, if you plunge right in without a little background and practice. And since the goal is to not only get motivated to START working out (ahem, me), it’s also to STAY working out (shame wince).

The first Lithe class I ever took was High Mini (before Immersion was required and before 101 existed). I was the definition of a hot mess. My form--well there was no form to speak of. And when I realized we were doing 30 of everything, on BOTH SIDES, I almost passed out. The result? I was so sore that I had to crawl (no joke) up my steep stairs for a few days, and I didn’t go back to class again for a long time. Had I eased myself in, my entry would have been a little less traumatic, and I wouldn’t have felt so intimidated by the classes.

So as I sat with MindBody open on my computer for the first time in a couple of months, and stared at all the classes, I knew I didn’t want to do that to myself again. 101 jumped out at me as the perfect first class back after a hiatus. Back to basics like Ina Garten. Because although I know my Lithe vocabulary--the difference between neutral, imprint and tuck--I just wasn’t ready to jump right back into an insane calf-pumping sweat fest. The class started with brief background information about Lauren and the story of Lithe. One which, if you haven’t heard it, is really good to know. For me, it’s always easier to invest in something when I know where it came from and why. Then came the “six principles” of Lithe. Something I hadn’t heard before--at least not all together. Our instructor walked us through them--6 building blocks of the method--feet placement, spine alignment, shoulder placement and more--an organized list of all the cues I’ve heard for so many years. “Keep your shoulders away from your ears! Stay in one long line!”

It was the perfect refresher. I immediately remembered all the things I needed to keep in mind to get the most out of the workout. Then we dove in. The music was a little slower-paced, but the workout was still challenging. We did the standard ab-prep. Push-ups (if you can call what I did a push-up), see-saws, tricep dips...the works. Then up on your feet to go through each of the bands and do a series with each to familiarize or in my case reacquaint myself with each of the band. And to cap it off, some cardio cheer sequences. The dancey cheer choreography that pops up in many of the higher energy cardio classes. Sequences that can leave you feeling uncoordinated and lost, if you jump right in at full speed with girls that have been doing them for months. 101 was the perfect opportunity to remember and practice at a slower pace.

The best part about 101? It made me realize that yes, I’m rusty. Yes, the 3lb weights feel like small anvils. BUT I wasn’t as in bad of shape as I thought. I was keeping up fine and wasn’t as winded or sore as I thought I would be. In fact, it gave me the confidence (although still slightly terrified) to go ahead and take High Mini for my second class. And although it was tough, and I know I’m going to be super sore this week, I felt prepared for it.

So if you’re in my position, feeling daunted by coming back to Lithe...don’t sleep on 101. Take it and you’ll be shocked at how much better you’ll feel about mainstreaming back into the other classes. If you’re mainstreamed, but feel like you need a little refresher on form, 101 will do you wonders too. When I was in my Lithe beast mode I remember thinking 101 wouldn’t give me a workout, so I would shy away from it even though I had questions about my form. Taking one 101 will still not only still make you break a sweat, but it will help you workout more effectively in your tougher mainstream classes. It’s worth making the pit stop for because you’ll be doing things right and burning more calories in every class you take thereafter. After my experience this time around, I know I’ll certainly be there from time to time.

See you in class!

ROCK STEADY! 2 Jan 2013

Break it down and shout it out. Stomp, slap, clap & sweat with this total body workout.  R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  All body, all heart, all L-I-T-H-E, via CCS & our Twiggy bands.  

Image of Lithe Instructor, Danielle Ingerman wearing Lithe (and a faux pom) via Dom

GET LITHE IN 2013! 23 Dec 2012

Getting started in 2013?  Slow and Steady wins the race.  We have three Immersion courses in January!

Old City

Tuesdays & Thursdays 7pm-8pm, beginning January 8th

Rittenhouse

Mondays & Wednesdays 8:15pm-9:15pm, beginning January 7th

Main Line

Tuesdays & Thursdays 8pm-9pm, beginning January 8th

Image of Lithe instructor, Jaime Powers wearing Lithe via Dom

HIGH WAISTED! 10 Dec 2012

 

High Waisted literally has all your bulge-prone bases (waist, abs, hips and glutes/low back) covered with an hour of Lithe's standing CCS sculpting work utilizing our Pom bands and Calorie Trashers!  It's paced like Thinny and requires balance and flexibility so we'll be moving slowly but you'll be really sweaty, so grab your gloves and your Calorie Trashers for superior results!

About the Calorie Trashers prop:  Many of you want to know if you need to purchase our Calorie Trashers.  Like any other wearable Lithe prop (Hot Legs, Peeled Sleeves or our Cinch Band), I highly recommend it but it's not mandatory to take the class.  I developed the workout to work in conjunction with the prop so that you achieve the best results possible. 

In this case, the trashers work like a steam bath.  The increase flexibility and promote water weight loss from the waist, hips, thighs and glutes.  High Waisted requires flexibility and if you're super tight and you know that you're not going to purchase the Calorie Trashers, you're going to have a tough time in High Waisted.  You won't be able to modify by dropping to your kness or using a barre.  Up for the challenge?  Purchase them! You'll see instant de-bloating, water weight loss and speedy results.  Wear them to Rare Form, Thinny, Sweet Cheeks or any FreeStyle to up the ante and your flexibility.  It's like "Hot Lithe," (Except you can breathe).  FYI, If you're trashin' it, remember to bring an extra pair of underwear and pants in your gym bag! 

Image of Lithe Instructor Melissa Weinberg via Lauren

PEELED! 6 Dec 2012

My Monday 12:15pm Peeled class in Old City kill it every week.  Citrus fills the room, moods improve and everyone walks out armed and dangerous.  A few particular favorites got us through it:  Boys Boys (original mix) by Madmotormiguel & Sebo, Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell and Go on Then featuring Jem Cooke (original mix)

Images of Lithe Instructors, Diana Khuu, Melissa Weinberg & Lithers via Lauren

PEELIN' THE BURN. 8 Nov 2012

Our latest and greatest sculpting workout is setting off heart rate monitors all over Philly.  Grapefruit energizes, three zone toning zaps the arm, armpit and chest, while upp-ing the weight to 8 (16 lbs total) makes it great.  Check out the Peeled burn (including after-burn) from two hard-working Lithers, above!

Image of Lauren Boggi Goldenberg in Peeled via Dom

FREESTYLE! 3 Nov 2012

All Lithe with infinite lineups!  Our brand new, "best of" Lithe, total-body Freestyle workouts are fresh, constantly varied and 'ab'solutely challenging for Lithers who love mixing it up.  Love Lithe's Split?  Freestyle goes beyond the barre and bands.  You'll be working above and below the belt, so jump in (and bring your gloves!)...you never know what you're going to get! 

Images of Lithe Instructors and Lithers via Dom

PEELED! 5 Oct 2012

Get Peeled in late October/November!  Prepare to flaunt your arms fearlessly with the third workout in our Wrap Star series!  Peeled is a powerful, triple-action workout designed to sculpt the entire body, hone-in on the inner arm, and re-texture and tone the skin (sayonara cellulite!).  *Spray on our citrus, slide on our Sleeves, and get slinky (and sweaty) with our sexy, CCS floor sequences.  

I’ve been using essential oils for years, and Grapefruit Essential oil is one of my favorites.  Cold-pressed from the rind of the grapefruit, it's optimistic, cleansing and revitalizing.  Its bright aroma enhances self-esteem, energizes, fights PMS and will get you moving (I keep it by my bedside for those tough 6AM classes!). Pink Grapefruit is also known to curb appetite, improve metabolism and has been proven to stimulate the lymphatic system.  When applied topically, like we do in Peeled, it can have beneficial toning, circulation and diuretic effects. 

*If you have a Citrus allergy we do not recommend using Grapefruit Oil.