CROSSFIT
CrossFit is a functional training program focused around gymnastic movements, weightlifting and aerobic exercise performed at high intensity (relative to the individual) across broad time domains. The aim is to create a very well-rounded athlete who is flexible, strong and aerobically fit, who will excel at the everyday tasks that exists in his or her life.
CrossFit is a lifestyle characterized by safe, effective exercise and sound nutrition. CrossFit can be used to accomplish any goal, from improved health to weight loss to better performance. The program works for everyone—people who are just starting out and people who have trained for years. It is a perfect way to establish the fitness necessary for the everyman/woman to go about their daily life (playing with their kids, carrying shopping, moving house, playing sports, etc). It is also widely adopted in special forces and emergency services, as it provides those personnel the high level of physical fitness needed to carry out their day to day jobs. This is because all the movements in CrossFit are functional and relate to the everyday, natural body movements we all go through.
In our modern life, we do very little that resembles what our body is actually made to do. Most of us drive to work, sit at a desk all day, drive home, watch TV and then go to sleep. We don’t say this to make you depressed! Just to realize that this is very far from the running, jumping, climbing, pulling, pushing that we are designed to do. This also explains why there is an epidemic of back pain, joint pain, metabolic and hormonal diseases in our society.
CrossFit looks to restore the natural balance by focusing on restoring full range of motion and re-establishing the correct motor patterns for natural movement (core to extremity). Therefore, with proper coaching, athletes see that their weight drops, posture improves, pain subsides, strength increases and general well being improves.
If that isn’t enough to get you in to Battle CossFit, then couple that with a community that is welcoming, motivating, encouraging and supportive with well educated, genuine coaches that care about you as an individual, then we don’t know what will!
We understand that people could have a stigma about CrossFit from seeing all the social media attached to it showing extremely muscled, international athletes competing at high levels of competition. However, this is only the top 1% of the CrossFit community, you wouldn’t not cycle around the park because you were worried that you would end up having to do what the Tour de France athletes do!
CrossFit workouts are always scaled to athletes as individuals, taking into account any injuries, their personal capacity and any other circumstances. Therefore what you will actually be doing is a semi-personal training session with good friends in a friendly and supportive atmosphere where all you have to do to get fit is walk in the front door.
So before you cast any judgement on CrossFit, throw any misconceptions into the wind and give it a try! Step into the arena!