Why CrossFit?

I think that this is important. There seems be a very big misunderstanding from the outside of a CrossFit Gym of what’s actually going on inside the walls each day. In my 6 years coaching, I’ve heard more people say “I could never do that stuff” then I can count, yet just as many people have said to me “I never thought I would be able to do this!” Why won’t the nay sayers at least come try? Is it laziness? Fear? or a misunderstanding. I want to get the right message across, and tackle some of the questions and comments that I hear most often.

Is CrossFit for everyone?

No. But also yes. No, CrossFit isn’t for everyone because not everyone enjoys high intensity (Everyone knows you need cardio, but not everyone likes it). CrossFit isn’t for everyone because not everyone enjoys group classes and others cheering them on. Not everyone enjoys being coached, pushed, or corrected. And that’s fine! There are thousands of ways to be active and healthy, and CrossFit is just one of them. Some only enjoy Pilates or BootCamps or Yoga or Running or Weight Lifting, and those are all great, CrossFit incorporates many of those things! But if you’re like me, you don’t just want one thing. It’s also not always for those who are highly self-motivated, they don’t need a coach or support from other athletes. If thats you, I envy you. Most of us need encouragement and motivation from those around us, and CrossFit provides that.

CrossFit IS for everyone in that everyone is capable of doing it no matter your fitness level or limitations. That’s the beauty of it. We can take a workout that is programmed for the general population and in a group of 10-15 athletes we can modify that workout to best suit you. And in nearly every class we have multiple athletes who are modifying the workout in some way, shape, or form. We all work hard together towards the same goal of getting fitter. Period.

Is CrossFit the best for me?

It depends. Are you training to run a marathon? CrossFit will help, but no it’s not the best form of training for that. Are you wanting to be an olympic lifter? CrossFit is a good start! But no CrossFit isn’t the best. Same goes for baseball, volleyball, track, and other specialized sports. It’s not going to make anyone the best at anything. BUT CrossFit IS the best at creating the best, most well-rounded athlete. Most CrossFit athletes are good enough at running to compete with runners, but they won’t win. They are good enough at olympic lifting or power lifting to compete with other lifters, but they aren’t good enough to win there either. Same with swimming or climbing or numerous other fitness tests. But CrossFit Athletes are better at lifting than runners are, and they’re better at running than swimmers are, and better at swimming than lifters are, you get the point. Create a tests that challenges all specialties of fitness (The CrossFit Games) and the CrossFitter will win. It’s not about the competition, but it proves that to be prepared for anything CrossFit is the best.

How is CrossFit different from other group fitness classes?

High Intensity training has been around for a long time. CrossFit didn’t create it, but they did formulate it where the workouts were quantifiable and trackable. Naturally, through competitive nature and camaraderie CrossFit has grown to be enormous. But, especially in the early CrossFit days, there were some things that could have been done better in terms of athlete experience in the gym. Thus, companies like Orange Theory and F45 were created after CrossFit that focus more on the experience. In reality though, they are the same concept as CrossFit, just the Country Club version. I don’t say that to knock Orange Theory or f45. I admire their business model and they are obviously very successful. But in reality, they are just doing a less intimidating version of CrossFit. Their methodology is the same. Now, CrossFit Gyms have caught on that their athletes want the experience as well, and are making improvements in the areas of aesthetics and proper scaling of workouts. So done correctly, CrossFit is again the most well-rounded program, and all other high intensity training gyms are simply trying to make a different version of it.

Other Group Classes such a Pilates, Bootcamps, or TRX are great! In some cases they are all that you need, and if you enjoy the workouts and are happy with the results then keep doing them! But sometimes they can be incomplete and leave athletes wanting a little something extra. That is where I believe CrossFit out does them in being more well rounded over all.

Doesn’t CrossFit Get People Hurt?

It can, but probably not. Our coaches are good. They keep an eye on every athlete and are great at instructing so that the risk for injury is very minimal. And the reward here far out weights the slight risk. You don’t slow down because you get old, you get old because you slow down (and by “old” I mean stiff joints, weak muscles, and over weight). Not moving, not using each muscle you have, and not using your joints is far more of a risk. Heart disease is real, bone degeneration is real, obesity is real, and CrossFit is a great helper in preventing all of those!

I want to be clear that I am in full support of all types of activity and fitness. Not everyone needs to do CrossFit for various reasons. But CrossFit, when done and coached correctly, is the best way to get or stay in shape as a whole when considering muscular strength, joint mobility, bone health, cardiovascular health, emotional health and mental health. And the relationships you build in the gym are just a bonus.