fithiphealthy

GET LITHE!

 

 

Wanna learn how to Lithe?  We have FOUR Immersion courses starting at our Philadelphia locations in February:

Rittenhouse:
Monday & Wednesday beginning on Monday, 2.1.10 at 8PM 
Tuesday & Thursday beginning on Tuesday, 2.16.10 at 8:15PM 

Northern Liberties:
Tuesday and Thursday series beginning on Tuesday, February 2nd at 8:15pm  

Ardmore: 
Monday & Wednesday beginning on Monday, 2.1.10 at 7PM. 

If the Immersion classes don't work for you, you can opt to take our Lithe 101 class or a private session at your convenience. You can sign up and purchase online or call 215-545-5144 to register.

Image of Lithe Instructors Elizabeth Sturgis & Nicole Sewall in Hot Legs via Dominic Episcopo.

WANNA LITHE?

Get Lithe!  We have FOUR Immersion courses starting at our Philadelphia locations in January:

Rittenhouse:
Monday & Wednesday beginning on Monday, 1.4.10 at 8PM 
Tuesday & Thursday beginning on Tuesday, 1.12.10 at 8:15PM 

Northern Liberties:
Tuesday and Thursday series beginning on Tuesday, January 5th at 8:15pm  

Ardmore: 
Monday & Wednesday beginning on Monday, 1.4.10 at 7PM. 

If the Immersion classes don't work for you, you can opt to take our Lithe 101 class or a private session at your convenience. You can sign up and purchase online or call 215-545-5144 to register.

Image of Lauren Boggi on Lithe's Higher Power® Band System doing Goddess Abs in daggers via Dominic Episcopo.

GET STARTED!

 

Our December Immersion is right around the corner!  Beat the crowds and get started before January!  

Center City:  Monday & Wednesday starting December 7th at 8PM  

Ardmore:  Monday & Wednesday starting December 7th at 7pm 

Thigh High image of  Lithe Instructor Nicole Sewall via Dom.

WANNA LITHE?

 

Get Lithe!  We have another Immersion course starting at our center city Philadelphia location next Tuesday!

Center City: 

Tuesday and Thursday series begins on November 17th at 8:15pm (no class on Thanksgiving, Nov 26th-Last class will be held on December 8th).

If the Immersion classes don't work for you, you can chose to take Lithe 101 or a private session at your convenience.  You can sign up online or call 215-545-5144 to register. 

Image of Lithe Method instructor Carrie Gero doing roll ups at the barre.

ENTER LITHE.

Because Lithe isn't a "drop in" studio, all new clients are required to take the Immersion,  one (or a few) Lithe 101 classes, or a private session before entering regular level classes. 

Many people cannot take the 8 PM Immersion for whatever reason, but so many of you are pulling out all the stops, re-arranging schedules and asking hubby's, babysitters and doggy-daycare to deal with the kids for an hour so you can get started and on schedule at a time that works for you. 

I really like the newbie dedication and commitment that I've been seeing around the studios lately.  Many people are taking the 101 classes and/or private lessons and then are diving right into regular classes and they are doing just fine and dandy. 

It's so cool to see and I'm impressed and proud.  Congrats!

Image of Lithe Instructor, Bari Rosenthal via Dominic Episcopo.

IMMERSION X2!

Did you miss the boat?  We've added another Rittenhouse Immersion beginning mid-month on October 13th on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:15 PM! 

Image via Daniel Egneus.

ASK THE INSTRUCTOR!

Hey Lauren, 

I just completed the Immersion and I really want to take advantage of the monthly unlimited.  I feel like I'm on the weaker side right now.  Will I hurt myself if I Lithe 5-6 times a week?  

Great question, T.  Remember that you'll be doubling your Lithing time, so you should absolutely ease into it. 

Our monthly unlimited programs are good for 30 days from date of purchase, so I would advise taking three classes the first week, four classes during week two/three and then build up to 5 or 6 classes during week three and four. 

Try to take advantage of Rare Form and Melt if you can.  Also, our Lithe 101 is on the schedule to help clarify things. Some people stop in just to ask us if their form is on point or if they are doing a particular series correctly.  

If your form is pretty good and you have no injuries or issues, you should be just fine. The best way to avoid injuries is to perfect your form, listen to your body and go slow in the beginning...You don't want to Boot-camp yourself!  

Image via Garance Dore.

LITHE 101.

So you want to learn how to Lithe but you've missed the Immersion or for whatever reason, you cannot take the Immersion or a private session?  Take Lithe 101! 

Lithe 101 is another entry level class for Newbies who are fit with no injuries.  No, it does not take the place of the Immersion.  Yes, it's still a workout!  Lithe 101 is also great for those of you who have taken the summer or a month off, or any Lither who needs a refresher. 

Don't remember how to tuck, go neutral or imprint?  Maybe your having a rough time with a certain barre series and need/want an explanation or correction?  Need a little extra help with the bands?  The 101 is for you. 

As you all know, our regular level classes are not beginner friendly and we will not slow down our regular level classes for beginner level questions/issues, so please sign up for the 101 and get the most out of the method!

Image of Lauren Boggi via Dominic Episcopo.

TOUGH-LOVE.

The image above reminds me of someone who has no Lithe knowledge in a regular level class : )

After a rough start with Lithe, newbie, "A" writes:

Dear Lauren,

It is a good thing I don't need my leg/arm/stomach muscles to write you an e-mail as I am like a piece of cooked spaghetti right now. I just wanted to give a little testimonial re: taking a private beginner's session and signing up for the Immersion Program prior to taking regular Lithe Method classes.

I am a recent NYC transplant who is getting married in a little over 4 months and I was reluctant to follow your protocol ("what? Me? Need intro classes - But I KNOW how to use my body and I have practiced yoga and I don't have time for this beginner's thing - I need to get in shape for my wedding dress ASAP and I swear I will keep up with your classes") but boy am I glad I took your rules seriously.

I just got home from my private session with Tiffany (loved her!) and I would have never made it through a regular class without being guided through the basics of the Lithe Method first!

I am looking forward to my next private session so that I can continue to figure out proper techniques and so that I can come to regular classes and actually reap the benefits of Lithe rather than ending up exhausted, frustrated, and left behind!  Thanks so much for the tough-love. 

Hey A, 

Great, great, great!  Thanks so much for understanding our policies and taking the time out to write to me.

As you know, I'm really strict about people learning how to Lithe correctly before they enter regular level classes.  Our regular level classes are not for beginners and so many "fit" people want to get started NOW in our regular-level classes and don't want to hear that taking the Immersion or a private IS getting started. 

It literally takes people who do not take the Immersion (or 2 privates or three Lithe 101 classes) at least 10 weeks to 6 months longer to see results because they have to figure out what the heck is going on, keep up, boot-camp themselves and even worse, it throws the whole class programming and class levels off course.  it's kinda like dropping into an advanced level salsa class without knowing a thing about salsa. 

I've seen people go even longer than that without knowing what they are doing--Especially those who come in with no Lithe Immersion knowledge and apply their classical Pilates or Yogic breathing and principals to what we do in our classes and we see and hear it all...Yoga breathing, no pelvic placement, unstable shoulder girdles, ribs popping, Ron Fletcher style "ch" breathing, Bar method tucks...I can go on and on. 

Good for you, "A", --Now that you know how to Lithe and what you are doing (by applying our 5 basic principals), you will see results and will be looking fab in that dress in no time flat!

"The Difficulties of Staying in Shape" Illustration via Marcos Chin. 

1 STEP FORWARD, 2 STEPS BACK.

Ugh, here I go again.  Let me preface this by saying that I'm not posting about anyone in particular and I'm not writing about Lithe beginners who have taken our Immersion course.

We're officially installing a new policy as of today and all of you regular Lithers will be oh so happy, every "green," rookie Lither will thank me in the end and our oh so "patient" instructors will all be walking on air. 

Our previously "mostly mandatory" Immersion is now absolutely 100% mandatory and a pre-requisite for all of Lithe Method regular level classes at EVERY LOCATION. 

We don't care how fit, friendly, fun and fabulous that you may be and we don't want to hear the but, "I've taken yoga, Pilates and/or another fitness method that uses a ballet bar"--It's not Lithe Method and it's always a  hot mess when beginners with no Immersion are in our regular level classes. 

Ya know, I'm not sure if people think that we're blowing smoke up their bums when we tell them that Lithe is best learned, taught and programmed the way that we've created it.  We are not a drop in studio! 

Bottom line is, if you want to Lithe, you're going to come through the program correctly, commit to taking the Immersion (or at least most of it) or two private cram courses so that our regular classes are not anything but what they should be and you get the results and attention that you want and deserve. 

Teen Creeps Illustration by the awesome, Rik Lee