fithiphealthy

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!

Love that this 40-something mother of two went for her dreams! Go Laura!

Image and article via Fitness Magazine

DEAR LITHE {LOVE LETTERS}.

Dear Lauren,

I recently celebrated my six month "Lithe Anniversary" and wanted to share this photo with you, along with a Lithe Love Letter!  I really want to Thank You and all the amazing Lithe Instructors for such an inspiring, effective, and transformative program! 

I began Lithing in May as a way to get in shape for my wedding.  I've been doing yoga for years and love it but I wasn't getting the workout I needed to see results and tone up.  I've never considered myself a "gym person" so I was looking for a program I could get into and stick with.  Lithe has been more than I ever expected!  Not only are the workouts fun, but they leave you craving more.  It didn't take long for me to see muscles I never even knew I had!  Every week as I checked off classes in my Lithe passport, I gained a new confidence knowing that I was working so hard to reach my goal. 

I lost almost ten pounds leading up to the big day.  My arms looked well-defined and most of all I felt great.  I'm continuing to take classes and it's rewarding to know that I'm doing something so good for myself.  Lithe really is a community – of amazing, inspired women!  And I feel fortunate to be a part of it.  Thanks for creating and running such a wonderful program!  Best of luck as you continue to expand your business.  And much appreciation to you, the amazing Lithe staff, and fellow Lithers everywhere!

Jackie

Image of Lither, Jackie N. via Jackie

PAIGE'S RETREAT!

 

While I finish planning out the details of our next Lithe Escape, I'm heading out of town to one of my favorite places in the world (Jake's, Treasure Beach, Jamaica) to spend some time with some of my favorite people at Paige Chapman's Jamaican Yoga Getaway.

Think: Yoga, spa treatments, delicious food from Jamaica's bread basket, snorkeling, quiet nights, ocean breezes, sunshine and salt air.  There are a few spots left. Who wants to come with?  April 19th-23rd.  If we overfill Jake's we can stay at the beautiful Hope House!

Download Info Sheet

Rates:

$1400 shared room

$1600 single

Images from last years retreat at Jake's via Paige

I'M LOVING...

 

The back of Lithe's Flashdance Top (Coming Soon!), The Middle Eastern spice, Harissa (adds major flavor to my latest low-fat meals), Mars at 6 months, Ella's Kitchen baby food is good for him and perfect for when I don't have time to cook (Mars goes nuts for baby brekki!), Mamma Chia (I'm addicted) and Lithe's Waspie. 

Images via brand websites and Lauren Boggi and Lithe Instructor, Bari Rosenthal via Dominic Episcopo

CARDIO CHEER AT THE SUPER BOWL?

Did you guys see Madonna busting out some of those L's, High V's & Low V's during the Super Bowl half time show?  What did you guys think of her performance?  Everyone I speak to is split. Some loved it and some thought she wasn't the Madge that she used to be.

Image of Madonna via BBC

FEBRUARY SCHEUDLES!

A lovely month...

Download OldCity February

Download Rittenhouse February

Download LibertiesWalk February

Image of Lithe Instructor, Melissa Weinberg via Dom

INSPIRATION.

Via Coolhunter's FB page

CLOSER.

Looking out the window during class?  Thinking about work?  Clear your head and move closer to the front of the room if you feel yourself zoning out during class.  

Image of Lithe Instructor, Meghan Grauzlis via Dom

DEAR LITHE { LOVE LETTERS}.

I decided to do the Fall Challenge to challenge myself.  I've been a Lither for less than a year.  When I registered for Immersion, I took a couple 101 classes before because I figured it would help me know what I was in for. It was hard but invigorating, more than I had expected from hearing about it.  I have friends who swore Lithe was amazing (Bela Shehu and Danielle Rossi).  Well, they looked amazing so I figured, why not? I've done gyms for years, Yoga, some Pilates, martial arts (Tae Kwon Do), I cycle and hike - I've basically been a fit woman . . . but, I have ALWAYS hated my legs. Actually the feeling is beyond hate, I am ashamed of my legs.  I have not worn a pair of shorts since I was 13 years old, swimsuits were the same. I went through my adult life hating summer because I hated my body. I never had experiences sharing a summer house with people because it would have meant I could not hide behind clothes. I would actually feel envy seeing women in shorts or short skirts because I could not imagine how it must be to have the freedom to do that.  Not just the "perfect-bodied" girls, I would even be jealous of the girls with all their rolls hanging out in glory in clothes far too small and giving us way too much to see.  I wished I could feel so free.

So 30 Days.  It was butt-busting. I will admit that at least 2 out of the 5 days a week that  I needed to Lithe to meet the challenge I felt, I can't do it today. Or I don't want to do it. Or I'm too tired.  Or who cares?  I will still have the same ugly legs. But I told my husband, my family and my friends I would complete this.  I got HUGE encouragement. With my rescue inhaler always at my side to save me from an acute asthma attack, I did it. I showed up.  The funny thing is I loved every minute of it, even the minutes I hated when my body felt pushed too far.  Thank doG for the voices of all the instructors who chimed in, as if divine intervention, to say, "You are almost there, last set". And I would realize I was there, the last set.  And I would feel shocked and amazed and so damn proud.

My husband has been a great supporter.  In the beginning of my Lithe experience, he would say, "Oh, you look 10% Lither"! I was so excited I'd try to explain Skinny Jeans or Thinny. He didn't totally get it but he listened to me. Then he saw me change.  Not just my body, but my entire attitude.  When we went away for 6 weeks during the summer, I was trying to do Lithe exercises on my own (believe me, it is NOT the same!). But I was holding stiletto in 2nd on a floating dock on a river in St. John's, New Brunswick Canada.  That's when I realized I am a member of the "Cult of Lithe". Since our return in September, I went to a class the day after our trip and haven't stopped.  After completing the challenge, my husband said, "Babe, you are 24.8% Lither"!

I have muscles and cuts in my body I am so proud of.  I almost feel like I should name each new cut after Lithe instructors.

What is truly amazing is that I have two extruding discs in the top of my C-Spine from a traumatic cycling accident that have caused relentless pain for years.  Since I have Lithed, I no longer have to seek acupuncture and therapeutic massage treatment for this injury. I also have chronic asthma and my lungs have become stronger. Hot Stepper was probably the hardest class for me because of the breathing. I've never been at the front of the pack but I make it. This challenge has been a benefit to my health in more ways than I can explain.

I entertained a huge house full of people for Thanksgiving. I still had to finish my challenge. The night before Thanksgiving, a shelf collapsed on the door of my fridge sending glass shattering, I was barefoot. A vein on my foot was punctured and would not stop bleeding. I was up until 4 a.m. getting the wound to stop. The last two days of the challenge I did it with foot injuries (also got embedded glass on the bottom of one foot). Yep, I kept my socks on and Hot Stepper was grueling for me.

The best part of Thanksgiving is that I wore a short skirt as I hosted. No, not hooch short, but above the knees which is a freedom for me that is hard to describe. I wore a black pleated skirt with tights, heels and a great blouse.  My husband loved it. All through the day and night, I remembered to relax my shoulders, tuck, stay in my stilettos and breathe. I felt beautiful.  I loved my legs that night and the way they worked (bleeding toe and all) to deliver food, happiness and love to my family and friends.  There wasn't a point that I wanted to hide my body - I actually did not think about it.  I felt confident. That spells F-R-E-E-D-O-M. Yes, I was cheerleading that!

So, I am thankful for the Fall Challenge. The part that will make you all laugh is my husband said, "When does Winter Challenge start?"! He saw how much it changed me.

So, can 30 days change a person? Yes. Yesterday I purchased a black sequined short skirt (even shorter!) for New Year's Eve. I'll still wear it with tights but it is progress and I will wear it with a new-found freedom and you better believe, I will look LITHE!

Thank You Lauren - you have touched so many women's lives.

Hugs to you all - I made it!

Heather Steiner

I'M LOVING...

Love Bar Chocolate (made right here in Philly!), roller skating (developing our very own workout on wheels!), Esperanza Spalding, Jamie Magazine, anything by Ace & Jig and Haute Hippie's leather shorts for spring.

Images via Brand Websites & Net-A-Porter