Since the turn of the Millennium, CrossFit has breathed life into a stagnant fitness industry that was characterised by rows upon rows of seated resistance machines and treadmills in chain gyms around the world. It has challenged the longstanding belief that bodybuilding style training, or plodding along on the treadmill is relevant, appropriate for everyone, or even useful at all. It has educated millions of people around the world about the importance of developing quality of movement and multiple components of fitness before aesthetics. Above all else, CrossFit has reinvigorated the training of many, many people and given them a reason to be excited about going to the gym again.
OUT with the mundane, monotonous routines (performed in isolation whilst wearing ear phones) that lead to boredom and attrition.
IN with a variety of movements and skills that make ‘real fitness’ goal oriented, achievable and fun.
There will always be detractors and those that are stuck in their ways, I myself was one of these initially, but ignorance and narrow mindedness has never revolutionised anything.
When it comes to explaining what CrossFit is to someone new, however, it can be a little challenging to sum it up succinctly without confusing people, or chewing their ears off for 10 minutes. Anyone who has been on the level 1 trainer course and received their t-shirt (below) will testify that although the patented CrossFit descriptives ‘Constantly varied, high intensity, functional movements’ get to the point, they don’t necessarily capture the imagination, or leave people with a clear picture of what is involved.
Probably the first thing to say is that CrossFit training is based upon THREE disciplines; Gymnastics, Weightlifting and Metabolic Conditioning. CrossFit focuses on many components of fitness (rather than specifically on one), including; Strength, Stamina, Cardiovascular Endurance, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Co-ordination, Agility, Balance. Although constantly varied, CrossFit workouts are not random, the coaches programme the sessions months ahead of time, rotating and combining movements from the three disciplines in order to achieve a particular objective in different phases of training throughout the year. The good thing is, our members don’t have to worry about any of that, they just need to turn up and do what the coach says! Of course, other than the training, the thing that keeps our members coming back is the human element to CrossFit. A small membership base of like minded people who have formed close friendships whilst having a good time and working towards their goals.
The best way to gain a better understanding is to simply try it out and see for yourself. You can do this with the friendly coaches at CrossFit Leyland this weekend! We are hosting a taster session on Saturday at 9am, during which you will have an opportunity to meet the coaches, take a look around the facility, gain a better insight into what is involved in a typical class and try out a short CrossFit WOD (workout of the day).
When asked to sum up ‘What is CrossFit?’ in three words or less, this is what some of our members and coaches had to say…
Make your own mind up about CrossFit! Get in touch to reserve your place on our free taster class this saturday at 9am. Contact Marie on 01772 453493, or marie@crossfitleyland.co.uk
You won’t regret it!
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