CrossFit is advertised, in four words, as “the sport of fitness.”
With constantly varied, high-intensity functional movements, CrossFit is a training philosophy that coaches people of all shapes and sizes to improve their physical well-being and cardiovascular fitness in a hardcore yet accepting and encouraging environment.
CrossFit is a training program that builds strength and conditioning through extremely varied and challenging workouts. Each day the workout will test a different part of your functional strength or conditioning, not specializing in one particular thing, but rather with the goal of building a body that’s capable of practically anything and everything.
CrossFit is extremely different from a commercial gym…and not just because you won’t find any elipticals, weight machines, or Zumba classes.
Who is CrossFit for?
CrossFit “is designed for universal scalability making it the perfect application for any committed individual regardless of experience.”
We scale load and intensity; we don’t change programs.”
As you get stronger and more experienced you’ll work your way towards eventually doing the workouts as prescribed.
People looking for support and community – This is the appeal to CrossFit…. every CrossFit gym has a really tight knit community feel to it. You’re not just a membership payment to them…you’re a person that needs help. When Globo Fitness gyms start popping up (don’t think it won’t happen!), I’ll be drawing a lot of inspiration from CF as to how members are so supportive and inclusive of each other.
Remember, you can come and try us out for FREE to see if you like us! If you have a few in your area, try out each of them once before making your decision. Go to each of them, and make note of the other members there – are they supportive of each other? Did they introduce themselves and welcome you? Were the coaches nice and hands-on with their advice during the workout?
Pros and Cons of CrossFit
PROS:
- GREAT community aspect. Unlike a commercial gym, you actually get to know the people at your CrossFit box. There’s always that feeling of team work and camaraderie and a wonderful place to make friends.
- Constant coaching and support – in a commercial gym you have no clue if you’re doing an exercise right or not. While it’s not 1:1 training, you have a coach with you during every workout to help out.
- If you don’t show up, not only do people notice, but they call you and ask where you’ve been. The only time that happens in a commercial gym is when you miss a session with your trainer.
- Leveling up – Because you get to keep track of how much you’re lifting, and you know how many reps and sets you’re doing…you get to see constant improvement. You also get to advance at your own pace, slowly working your way up towards doing the workouts as prescribed.
- Humbling yet encouraging – yeah, you might end your workout lying on your back, but you have a sense of accomplishment when you finish a workout faster than last time.
- Competition – it’s amazing how much further you’ll push yourself when surrounded by other people cheering you on and competing with them.
- It introduces SO MANY people to weight lifting, especially women who would have never ever attempted to get off the treadmill and strength train. It’s like a gateway workout – you learn what you love and can specialize further from there.
- It’s a good outlet for former athletes who like to compete. After playing competitive sports through high school, all of a sudden there’s nothing left to compete in…CrossFit gives people that outlet
- You get to find out what you’re made of. CrossFit can be miserable, but it can also teach you how to push through mental barriers, build mental toughness and more.
- It builds hot bodies. While every woman says they want that “toned” look and try to get it with hours of cardio, those bodies are being built every day in CrossFit gyms. Seriously, take a look at any serious CrossFit female and tell me she doesn’t have a rockin’ bod!
- It builds good muscular endurance and all around fitness – your body is prepared for pretty much any athletic situation after a few months of CrossFit.
Final advice: If you’re interested, give it a shot.
CrossFit Geelong, 4 Lambert Avenue, Newtown VIC 3220. Ph: 5222 5525 or email us on: reception@crossfitgeelong.com.au
