We tried it: Lithe on Location at Hotel Monaco

In an effort to keep even the weariest of travelers refreshed and renewed, Philly's new Hotel Monaco partnered with local fitness favorite Lithe Method to launch an exclusive "Lithe on Location" weekly fitness class. Every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. you can get your workout on with Lithe instructors in the fresh air on Hotel Monaco's Stratus Rooftop Lounge (weather permitting, of course!).
 
And that's exactly what I did this Wednesday when I woke up extra early and followed along as Lithe instructor Tiffany Nork led five of us Lithe newbies in a custom-made CCS fitness regimen — that's Lithe-talk for Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting. CCS is an awesome blend of muscle-shaking cardiovascular, cheerleading-inspired aerobic, and strength training exercises.
 
If you're not familiar with Lithe, Lauren Boggi's workout is widely known for its signature higher power resistance bands that are suspended from the ceiling. Now since this is the first "on location" class Lithe has offered, it's a twist on the total-body workout using primarily your own body weight and a few innovative props.
 
"I really have to take into consideration that most people have never taken Lithe before. So we may not do as many reps or as many sequences — it's just about modifying a lot of the moves," said Nork (who, by the way, is eight months pregnant and breezing though this workout).
 
Keeping this in mind, Nork opens every class with a quick lesson on Lithe's principles: deep breathing, which helps you to incorporate your abs with every move you do, and three spinal positions to help you keep perfect form.
 
While the CCS regimen features a myriad of different sequences and exercises, Nork lead us through a circuit of high knees, a jog, a high V-low V with a calf pump, a twist, a single jack, a double jack, three jacks with a plyo, the step together touch, the scoop, the clam digger and ended it with the wave to the crowd move that really unleashed my inner cheerleader. Tired yet? Because I was! And that was only a 10-minute sequence.
 
The rest of our hour workout targeted our arms, core and legs using hand weights (that made 3 lbs. feel a lot harder than it looks), resistance bands to get our legs burning, and a small exercise ball to ensure we were engaging abdominal muscles I didn't even know I had!
 
This class is only available to Hotel Monaco guests, local Kimpton Inner Circle and InTouch members, but you can always join one of 25 daily Lithe classes held at four different studios in Rittenhouse, Old City, Northern Liberties, and on the Main Line in Haverford.

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.