You Have Questions about CrossFit – Get Them Answered Now!
Chances are, you’ve heard of CrossFit.
And if you’ve heard of CrossFit, it was probably from an all-too-excited friend telling you about “this workout called CrossFit that you just have to try!!”
Or maybe you stumbled onto the recent CrossFit Games on CBS and began to wonder about this whole CrossFit thing.
Or maybe you’ve never heard of CrossFit at all, and you just happened to be looking for things to do in the local area, and you came across this blog.
No matter what landed you here, in this post we are going to do our best to explain what CrossFit is, what it isn’t – and, of course, why you should be doing it.
What Is CrossFit?
Book after book after book has been written about this very topic, but when you boil it right down to its very core…
CrossFit is a community of people, united around a common goal – strengthening relationships and becoming the best version of themselves.
The official definition is a good deal longer than the above sub-10 word sentence, but for those unfamiliar with the term, this definition does it justice.
Granted, CrossFit enthusiasts will say, “But there’s so much more!”
And we would totally agree, because there is.
We could talk about the 10 fitness domains and how CrossFit’s emphasis on each of those helps better prepare you for whatever life throws your way.
We could go on for days about how we’ve never come across another workout regimen that is so much fun that we just love to talk about it!
We could even dive into the technical aspects of CrossFit and talk about how highly-trained coaches who give you personal attention throughout every workout ensure you complete the workout safely and quickly.
Instead though, we’re going to take a different direction with this, and we are going to answer questions thousands of people are already asking. Questions like:
“Wait, so working out is a legitimate sport??”
“I still don’t get it. What’s the draw? Why are people so excited about CrossFit?”
“I watched the CrossFit Games, and I know there’s absolutely no way I could do any of those exercises. Am I in shape enough to even try CrossFit?”
“I have a friend who is big into CrossFit, and he won’t shut up about it. What do I do?”
“Wait, so working out is a legitimate sport??”
In short, yes.
From the very beginning, CrossFit founder Greg Glassman attached a definition to fitness, and that definition has carried CrossFit through to where the sport is today.
In creating a definite standard of what fitness is, that fitness is now able to be objectively measured.
The most elite “CrossFitters” test their fitness mettle in the The CrossFit Games, but we want to be clear here – The CrossFit Games are not what CrossFit is. The Games are simply an example of what CrossFitters who dedicate their lives to the sport can achieve.
Most CrossFitters though? They’re just normal people – parents, students, 9-5’ers, entrepreneurs – regular people who want more than just a good workout.
We are those normal, everyday people, and we want to be able to measure our progress, not only against others our age, but against our own performance. It’s not uncommon to hear someone at our box (“Box” is the term CrossFit uses for “gym”.) say something to the effect of, “Cool, I did this same workout a few months ago. I wonder how much stronger, faster, and more flexible I’ve become since then!”
CrossFit is unique in that the program itself adds a competitive aspect to each workout.
So while you get to compete against your peers, the real competition is in your own head.
“I still don’t get it. What’s the draw? Why are people so excited about CrossFit?”
We like answering this question. 😊
But honestly, it’s a hard question to answer, because while those of us who do CrossFit fully understand why it’s so exciting, it’s hard to communicate that same excitement if you’ve never tried it.
It’s like trying to explain 4th of July fireworks to someone who has never seen them. “It’s great! It’s loud and bright, and there are these HUGE explosions! Sometimes, you can feel it in your chest it’s so loud!”
See? It sounds scary. But if you’ve ever attended a fireworks show, you know that it’s actually beautifully entertaining art-in-motion, an event that you will probably keep coming back for year after year.
But to answer your question more directly…
CrossFit connects people.
It sounds so simple, but it really is as simple as that.
CrossFit, by its very nature, connects people. It unites CrossFitters through a common bond of continually pursuing the best version of themselves in a welcoming, non-judgmental, constantly varied environment.
“I watched the CrossFit Games, and I know there’s absolutely no way I could do any of those exercises. Am I in shape enough to even try CrossFit?”
TL; DR – Yes.
One of the aspects of CrossFit we love is that every single workout can be scaled to your fitness ability.
Maybe you’re a runner who has never touched a barbell. No problem. We can scale the workout for you so you can still complete the entire workout, but you don’t have to be intimidated by equipment you’ve never used before.
Or perhaps you’re a weightlifter who has lifted heavy weights since junior high, but you’re not a good runner. When “Run 400 meters as fast as possible” comes up in a workout, it’s just that. Run 400 meters. There is no “Run 400 meters in less than 1 minute,” unless that is your personal goal. See, you’re comparing yourself to yourself and getting stronger and faster in the process.
Or, as is often the case, you may be someone who has lived a primarily sedentary lifestyle, and you don’t even know if you can do a single pushup. We have great news for you! Every single workout can be scaled down to your fitness ability as well!
That voice in your head that says, “Oh, I could never do that,” is a voice you should ignore. Know why?
Because that voice was in our head when we first started too. And day in, day out, the CrossFit community proves that voice to be a liar.
You. Can. Do. This.
“I have a friend who is big into CrossFit, and he won’t shut up about it. What do I do?”
We only have one suggestion here…
If you can’t beat ‘em….join ‘em!
No, seriously.
Join us at our next open community WOD (workout of the day) on August 26th, and find out more of what this CrossFit thing is all about!
Got questions? Let’s hear ‘em! Reach out to us here!