I found this article posted on another site. Great info for people thinking about Crossfit!
By now you have seen them on TV, you've shopped next to them at the
grocery store, and you may even be living with one. These people love
WOD's, eat Paleo, and workout in a box. These individuals range from
soccer moms to students to professional athletes. Who are these people?
Well, I'm talking about CrossFitter's.
CrossFit is defined as "constantly varied, functional movements at
high intensity." It is used by police academies, military special
operations units, and elite athletes worldwide. It involves running,
rowing, weightlifting, gymnastics, and specializes in not specializing.
CrossFit wants to prepare you for anything and everything. That may mean
lifting your child, picking up groceries, or running from a barking
dog. While high-level officials and athletes use this workout to
condition themselves, CrossFit is a sport that anyone can do because
every workout has universal scalability to ones level and abilities.
That means during one class, the new Mom can be working out next to the
top-tier athlete. Load (how much weight) and intensity (reps) are
changed, but the programs are not.
With the sounds of weights slamming and music blasting through the
speakers, it's easy to be intimidated from the outside, but once you
join a CrossFit, you will find some of the nicest, most genuine people
you have ever met. It's easy to mistake these people as zealots or
cultish, but CrossFit is not just a sport, it's a community. Much like
the sports we played in childhood, this newfound sport geared mostly
towards adults creates the same camaraderie we looked forward to in our
after-school days. As adults, most are limited to socializing during
work hours or happy hour. Social gatherings are limited to eating and
drinking. While I am definitely still a fan of the former, I have become
a very big fan of CrossFit. CrossFit gives adults a way to socialize in
a positive environment where they learn new things together and bond in
the mutual suffering of workouts...and enjoy it!
There are things to know and crucial steps to take when going from
the couch to CrossFit. CrossFit gyms are called boxes. Everyday there is
a programmed "WOD," or workout of the day. When you join a box, you
will most likely and should be taken through an "on-ramp" program, which
is an educational course that lasts around 6 weeks and prepares you for
general CrossFit classes. Coaches will teach you how to perform every
exercise correctly, how to mobilize yourself, and how to prepare your
body for what lies ahead. On-ramp is the foundation for CrossFit.
Remember, CrossFit is a very intense program and it is not advised that
you go from being sedentary to completing CrossFit workouts at 100
percent intensity.
But before you start drinking the CrossFit Kool-aid, there a few things you need to know.
1. To Box or Not to Box: Figure out whether you would like to
CrossFit on your own or in a box. Many people follow the Crossfit.com
website, which programs WOD's for individuals to complete on their own.
If you are very self-motivated, have athletic experience, and have
access to equipment, this is a good place to start. If you are motivated
by people and/or are new to this type of training, I would recommend
joining a local CrossFit gym so that you have the eyes and ears of
trained professionals.
2.
Define your goals: Figure out what your personal goals are. Why do
you want to join CrossFit? Did you just move to a new city and want to
make friends? Are you looking to lose weight? Are you a former athlete
looking to start training again? Figure out your personal goals before
embarking on your journey.
3.
Get started: Any type of conditioning you can do before starting
your CrossFit journey is good. I personally was an Olympic lifter and
track athlete so I did those types of workouts because that's what I was
familiar with. My fiancé played soccer and did P90X prior to doing
CrossFit. If you like to dance, dance. If you like to walk, walk. Just
get moving! All of these movements are assisting in building a
foundation for the awesome athletic endeavor you are about to embark on.
4.
Do your research! CrossFit is gaining mass popularity and because
of that, boxes are popping up everywhere. While this is great for the
fitness community and the CrossFit brand, I advise you to do your
research when picking a box. Check out a few websites in your area and
compare reputations, prices, and credibility.
5.
Try before you buy: When shopping for a CrossFit box, I recommend
that you try one before you buy. CrossFit can be a hefty investment so
try asking for a free class. Another option is to drop-in and watch a
class so that you can see how that particular box is managed and how the
coaches communicate. CrossFit gyms are individually owned and managed,
so they are all different. Traveling around the world to different
boxes, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Make sure you are
happy with your box and the community you are about to join.
Joining the CrossFit community is not just a journey to a better
body, but you will find yourself on the path to a clearer mindset,
greater motivation, and hundreds of thousands of new friends around the
world that share your same passion.
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