  A new method to measure the superconducting stiffness tensor
$\overline{\rho}_s$, without subjecting the sample to magnetic field, is
applied to La$_{1.875}$Sr$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$ (LSCO). The method is based on the
London equation $\bf{J}=-\overline{\rho}_s \bf{A}$, where $\bf{J}$ is the
current density and $\bf{A}$ is the vector potential. Using rotor free $\bf{A}$
and measuring $\bf{J}$ via the magnetic moment of superconducting rings, we
extract $\overline{\rho}_s$ at $T\rightarrow T_c$. The technique, named
Stiffnessometer, is sensitive to very small stiffness, which translates to
penetration depth on the order of a few millimeters. We apply this method to
two different LSCO rings: one with the current running only in the CuO$_2$
planes, and another where the current must cross planes. We find different
transition temperatures for the two rings, namely, there is a temperature range
with two dimensional stiffness. The Stiffnessometer results are accompanied by
Low Energy $\mu$SR measurements on the same sample to determine the stiffness
anisotropy at $T < T_c$.
