Armistice at Lithe Method

Category:  Strength, Core

Target Zone:  Arms Location:  Rittenhouse, Main Line, Olde City

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We are officially in the countdown until summer...aka bikini wearing weather ladies! Along with tight abs and skinny thighs, we all really want those tight, toned and cut arms that look great in strapless dresses on summer nights. Well Armistice at Lithe Method is the answer!  Since I added Armistice to my weekly schedule, I've been borderline obsessed and can't wait to go back for more! Let me preface this by saying, this is not like other Lithe classes. There is little to no cardio, only light perspiration sweating, and no bands involved--BUT this class is legit! Armistice is a great class if you want to take a break from cardio, your legs are beginning to feel a little lethargic, or just 'don't feel like it.' For the fitness freaks, pair with running or spinning for a full body workout. 

The class starts out on the mat, mainly focusing on the arms with hand weight and abs. From there, the sequence goes in an intense abs series for about 10 minutes. The sweet relief after being done abs is like nothing else, especially when the instructor told us to stand up and drop our weight. What?! This is going to be easy! Just as my brain started buzzing that I should have worked out this morning, we went into an intense arms sequence sans-weights that had my arms begging for the end of class. I left class feeling toned and lean, the perfect first step to getting ready for Memorial Day Weekend!

Instructor review: Emily R at Flywheel Sports

Category:  Cardio

Target Zone:  Butt, Legs Location:  Rittenhouse, Main Line

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Chatty Cathy. This was one of my first observations about Emily and her Flywheel class. The woman randomly talks at a million miles per hour throughout class--not only entertaining, but endearing. Random tangents about her plans for that night, what a song reminds her of, or pretty much anything. Absolutely loved it...the level of chattiness brings more to the full experience and I found it cool that she can talk so comfortably during class. 
Shout Outs. There was some talk directed at certain people in the class. I love the connection that she makes with people in her class--made me jealous! Guess I need to sign up for more of her classes! 
Consistent. I've "flown" with Emily in both packed classes, and a private session, and she is consistent in both scenarios. The private session was only 12 people with several of those riders being newbies. Honestly, I thought it just wasn't going to be the same experience as she is with a full house. Not the case--she got up on the instructor stand and was screaming just as loud, if not louder...but that might have just been because I was front and center. 

The class. There were a bunch of pretty fast out of the saddle jogs, which I was really digging. Then we did a bunch of hills--mostly "40-40" hills, adding some forward and back choreography to really push to the max. A few 15-20, 100 rpm sprints, which felt good on the legs, terrible on the lungs. Arms were killer, a lot of the same moves repeated over and over again. BURN.  Music. She plays EVERY. single. kind. of music. LITERALLY. You will never get bored during a ride with Emily because she's playing everything from Miley to throwback 50 cent to country music. Excellent timing and loved the volume increase during a the tough pushes.  Check out her playlist this month here on philly.com. 

PS & Co Sneak Peek Weekend

Going into this weekend's "Friends and Family Tasting" at PS & Co. our expectations were HIGH (if you couldn't tell from last weeks intro post). After months of waiting for Andrea Kyans latest venture, the retail extension of her Pure Sweets/ Pure Tonics brand, we went in expecting greatness, and we were NOT disappointed. Stepping inside this rustic chic haven, I immediately fell in love with the exposed brick, wooden crates, glass bottles and jars lining hanging grates, brown paper scrolls displaying messages and menu options, and potted plants which were perfectly perched on barn wood shelving. The PS & Co team truly hit a home run with this space. And then there's the food! Well we'll have to wait and see what the final menu looks like, but my taste of the the butternut squash quiche with quinoa crust left me wishing for more.. a LOT more. Can't wait for the Grand Opening in just two weeks!!

PS & Co: Putting A New (and Healthy) Twist On The Traditional Bakery, Right In Rittenhouse

Philly, meet Andrea. One of our favorite entrepreneurs and ambassadors for healthy living, Andrea is a true Philly gem and a lady whose commitment to creating healthful, delicious and PURE sweets and sips has already taken the Philadelphia health and food world by a storm. Running her businesses; Pure Sweets and Pure Tonics from her (temporary) headquarters in a converted Church turned trendy office space, Andrea is passionate about her craft; delivering healthy and nutritional food without compromising the taste. And she's about to take her brand to a whole new level with the opening of PS & Co; an artfully designed, aesthetically amazing flagship retail store and collaborative kitchen. We CANNOT wait.
So in honor of the "soft" opening/tasting this weekend, we wanted to bring Andrea onto the blog as our first guest blogger to tell you a bit about the amazing things to come at PS & Co! 

"P.S. & Co. is the retail expansion of Pure Sweets (desserts) and Pure Tonics (cold-pressed juices).  I'm proud to be giving Philly something it doesn't have already.  We will be serving Asian-inspired comfort food with a healthy twist.  Many dishes have been inspired by my Burmese and Chinese upbringing, as well as frequent travels and time lived in Asia.   Our entire menu and kitchen is 100% gluten-free and plant-based.  We strive to maintain our entire list of ingredients to be 95% organic or greater. 

I am most excited to launch in-depth health supportive classes and workshops this summer.  We have a beautifully and artfully crafted space re-using old materials, creating an organic, rustic feel.  There will be an indoor and back patio space perfect for private events.  There's nothing else like this.  I feel very lucky to have had an incredible support system and design team to make this dream space come to life.   I hope to pay it forward by doing as much as good as possible!"

Stay tuned for pics and a full recap of the events this weekend and get ready to see it for yourself when PS & Co officially opens for business in just a few short weeks!

The Trials and Tribulations of Travel... On A Health Kick

HOME sweet home.. Finally.. Well actually I’ve been home for a few days now but it seems like after 1 week away there is somehow 3 weeks of “stuff” to get caught up on. How is that even possible? Anyway… LOVE, love, love to travel, but a week out of the “normal” routine can be stressful! Especially when it comes to keeping up on your campaign for a more healthy body and self. Whether for work or play, the excuses are easy to come by and the pounds are easy to add on when you are on the road. Big dinners, an ample supply of cocktails (hopefully), beach time, work time, spa time, golf time, family time, whatever it is, exercise time is rarely part of the equation. And no one wants to be that person who brings their own lunch to a meeting, says no to the side of fries, or sips on their club soda during margarita night. So what to do? With spring heating up and summer just around the corner, finding a way to keep the fitness train moving forward despite beach vacations, bachelorette parties, or other less exciting plans like work trips is critical. So here are a few tips to consider…

1)      Pack your sneakers. We’ve all been there, looking at our suitcase and thinking “there would just be SO much more space if I left the sneaks at home”… Well don’t. Once you’ve carted them wherever you’re going, you’ll feel guilty letting them sit idly for the rest of the trip.

2)      Make your exercise social.  There’s no reason why you need to leave the party to get your workout in… Bring the party with you. Take the initiative to book your group into a fun class, set up a group session with a trainer, or just find a good walking/running route.  

3)  Explore. No better way to see a new city than to run (or walk it). Take in the sights, scents and sounds and all of a sudden you will have been running for an hour without even realizing how long you've been on the go. (Note: If you are directionally challenged, make sure you have a map or at least a method for finding your way home!)

4) Plan. In today's day and age, all you have to do is hop on the internet to find a local studio or gym. Put in 5 minutes to do some pre-trip research and join in a local class. Who knows, maybe you'll pick up some local fitness knowledge that you can bring home with you. 

5) Go shopping. Discipline and vacation are two words that shouldn't go in the same sentence. I agree... to a point. Just because you're on vacay doesn't mean all inhibitions have to be thrown to the wind and its easy to take some pre-emptive action to keep yourself in check. Go to the local store, buy some (healthy) groceries for your hotel room/house and try to mix in some healthy choices along with the fun indulgences. Breakfast is an easy one. Stock up on yogurt, fruit and granola and save yourself the calories and $$$ of the typical breakfast buffet. 

6) ENJOY. Don't be too hard on yourself... If you're on vacation, you SHOULD treat yourself to some rest and relaxation. If you're traveling for work, you're schedule is packed with meetings, meals, and arguably too much time with your colleagues. Just remember, you're workouts, classes, and healthy food will all be there waiting for you when you get home. 

Thigh High at Lithe Method

Category:  Strength

Target Zone:  Legs, Butt Location:  Rittenhouse

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I wasn't sure what to expect for Thigh High class at Lithe Method, but I signed up anyway under the impression that I've liked every class I've ever been to at the Rittenhouse studio. I walked in and looked around at all of the veterans in the class, who had a Svelte stick, aka a 4-foot wooden bar, at their spot, so naturally I followed their lead and grabbed one. The music began, everyone stacked their hands towards the top of the Svelte stick, and it was 60 minutes of grueling leg exercises. The beginning of the class started off with a brief warm-up, but I quickly started to understand why the class is called Thigh High. For one of the series, we stood in stiletto, squatted all of the way down to the ground, and back up verrrrry slowly...for 3 sets. That's when the legs really started to burn (and shake) and the sweat started to fall to the ground. I loved the challenging lower body exercises, but was disappointed by the after thought of upper body at the end of class.  I know Thigh High is very focused on the lower half, but I would've liked at least five minutes towards the end to focus on the upper body. Overall, I left the class happy with a good sweat, feeling tight and toned!

Countdown Until Spring

The countdown to spring is officially ON. Only one week from today and we will be basking in the warm spring sunshine while relishing the bright blossoms and luscious greens that will line the charming streets of Philly… supposedly. Well even if “spring” as we know it takes a little bit longer to arrive this year, remember, summer bodies are built in the winter! So, the longer the winter, the better the bod. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

So in honor of the 7 official days of winter remaining, here is our 7 for 7 challenge: Stick to these 7 tips for the next 7 days and finish this winter season with a bang.

1. Hydrate. Up your water intake and enjoy all kinds of benefits including but not limited to; better workouts, more energy, better digestion, and better skin. My latest thing is after brushing my teeth in the morning, I try to drink 10 big sips of water (or a full glass). It wakes your body up and lets your system know it’s time to get going.

2. Sleep. At least 7 hours every night this week (including the weekend).

3. Go natural. Focus on eating whole foods – fruits, veggies, lean meat and fish. Avoid anything processed (hint: if it comes packaged in a bag or box beware).

4. Winter Whites. Cut out the “comfort food” / white carbs that can become a go-to in the cold winter months. Try to stick to foods with more color and more nutrients to keep energy levels up and extra pounds down.

5. Try something new. As you prepare to switch it up for spring, try to expand your horizons outside of the normal routine. If you’ve been stuck in a gym to avoid the frigid temps, try something outside. If you’ve been on a cardio kick, try adding in some yoga or a lower-impact option to give your joints a break from the stress of running.

6. Stretch it out. Getting to a yoga class once a week is great, but research has shown that the benefit of a little bit of stretching every day is actually greater than one hour long yoga session every 5 days. 10 minutes of stretching/yoga every morning is a great way to start your day, and within a week you will see improvement in your flexibility.

7. Crunch time. Up the ante on your summer six-pack by tacking on 10 minutes of ab work before bed every night.