You’re at a party. There are a few people here that you haven’t seen in a while and although most have stayed exactly the same, you notice your friend Betsy who is looking, well, amazing! She has toned legs, arms and a damn hot booty. She looks fit, healthy and vibrant. You head over to ask what she has been doing as it is a noticeable difference.
‘Betsy, you look AhMahZing!’ you proclaim ‘What have you been doing? What’s your secret?’
‘CrossFit!’ She exclaims, her face lighting up at your compliment. ‘I’ve been training 5 times a week and I absolutely love it! I’m in the best shape of my life and I have made a ton of friends!’
‘But what exactly is CrossFit?’ You ask confused.
Maybe I better field that question. My name’s Elle, I am the head coach and owner of a women’s’ CrossFit called CrossFit Tone in Sydney Australia. CrossFit has changed my life and so many of the people around me that I’m going to advocate for it.
If you’ve never heard anything about CrossFit, sit back, relax and enjoy! J
What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is a training system designed to get you in the best shape of your life – no joke! The founder Greg Glassman defined fitness through a very long document, which basically said:
To be ‘Fit’ you need be excellent at all the components of fitness which are strength, cardiovascular endurance, power, stamina, flexibility, agility, coordination, accuracy, balance and speed.
Depending on how competent you are in these areas will determine your level of fitness. If for example you are very efficient at running, but have no strength or flexibility, you have a hole in your fitness you should work on.
So how does this idea translate? You may have a marathon runner say Bob. Bob is very fit yes – in cardio endurance, and stamina. But how does he stack up against a weightlifter say Jessica? Bob may not even be able to lift the bar over his head. Jessica on the other hand has speed, power and strength, but would probably battle to run 100m let alone 42km. The point of CrossFit though is not to be sports specific. Bob and Jessica are athletes who have worked on the fitness elements preferable to their sports.
Fitness for the general public and CrossFit Athletes however should take a different approach. CrossFit is to build your overall fitness in every area, leaving no stone unturned. So a CrossFitter should be able to lift heavy weights and be able to run a marathon. Maybe not as well as Bob or Jessica in their respective sports but still well.
Generally CrossFitters’ workout in what we call a ‘box’ or in plain English a gym. Several classes will be held a day for an hour coached by a certified CrossFit coach. You will generally receive attention at each class about your technique and catering the workout to suit your fitness level.
‘Betsy, you look AhMahZing!’ you proclaim ‘What have you been doing? What’s your secret?’
‘CrossFit!’ She exclaims, her face lighting up at your compliment. ‘I’ve been training 5 times a week and I absolutely love it! I’m in the best shape of my life and I have made a ton of friends!’
‘But what exactly is CrossFit?’ You ask confused.
Maybe I better field that question. My name’s Elle, I am the head coach and owner of a women’s’ CrossFit called CrossFit Tone in Sydney Australia. CrossFit has changed my life and so many of the people around me that I’m going to advocate for it.
If you’ve never heard anything about CrossFit, sit back, relax and enjoy! J
What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is a training system designed to get you in the best shape of your life – no joke! The founder Greg Glassman defined fitness through a very long document, which basically said:
To be ‘Fit’ you need be excellent at all the components of fitness which are strength, cardiovascular endurance, power, stamina, flexibility, agility, coordination, accuracy, balance and speed.
Depending on how competent you are in these areas will determine your level of fitness. If for example you are very efficient at running, but have no strength or flexibility, you have a hole in your fitness you should work on.
So how does this idea translate? You may have a marathon runner say Bob. Bob is very fit yes – in cardio endurance, and stamina. But how does he stack up against a weightlifter say Jessica? Bob may not even be able to lift the bar over his head. Jessica on the other hand has speed, power and strength, but would probably battle to run 100m let alone 42km. The point of CrossFit though is not to be sports specific. Bob and Jessica are athletes who have worked on the fitness elements preferable to their sports.
Fitness for the general public and CrossFit Athletes however should take a different approach. CrossFit is to build your overall fitness in every area, leaving no stone unturned. So a CrossFitter should be able to lift heavy weights and be able to run a marathon. Maybe not as well as Bob or Jessica in their respective sports but still well.
Generally CrossFitters’ workout in what we call a ‘box’ or in plain English a gym. Several classes will be held a day for an hour coached by a certified CrossFit coach. You will generally receive attention at each class about your technique and catering the workout to suit your fitness level.
Finally all workouts are:
1) Measurable: Whether its see how fast you can go, or complete the most amount of repetition in a set time, we can measure how your fitness is going in CrossFit.
2) Scalable: CrossFit coaches are able to scale or cater the workout to your fitness level by manipulating the reps and movements. When searching for a CrossFit gym good coaches that understand your limitations when you are starting are invaluable. They should be able to change any workout to suit anyone for example even a 60 year old with no exercise background should be able to do movements at the most basic level and a coach should be able to realise this. Otherwise you are just asking for injury.
3) Performed to movement standards: every movement in CrossFit has a movement standard that is a movement must be performed within the criteria for the repetition to be valid. This creates an equal playing field for all athletes.
So you are always able to see progressions in your workout for your fitness level. This should motivate you to keep continually improving rather than getting bored and going to the gym and just spending 40 minutes on the treadmill.
So what does that mean for me?
How good do you really feel? Do you feel healthy? Fit? Vibrant? Or do you have stomach pains, bloating or feel lethargic? Are you tired even when waking up? Out of breathe from one set of stairs?
You shouldn’t be.
The body is made to function optimally if you move it and fuel it well.
So many people these days just accept sickness as the norm because it is all around us. CrossFit aims to move people from being sick and unhealthy to learning how to move their body properly, eat well and become healthy and overall move back to a state of wellness. CrossFit focuses on helping the everyday person reach a high state of health and fitness, in a very short time frame.
CrossFit advocates for good nutrition for you to fuel your body for the exercises you are performing. Real foods, no sugar or processed foods and lots of vegetables are a great way to give you body the vitamins and mineral its needs! CrossFit is not a fad diet and doesn't have a set timeframe for healthy eating. You are continually creating a better lifestyle for yourself, which reflects in you wellbeing.
To me CrossFit is more than just a training system. It is a way of life, which encourages cleaner eating, getting outdoors and enjoying life with like-minded people, usually the people you meet at your CrossFit box (or gym).
Finally CrossFit is so much more than just an exercise system designed to get you super fit.
CrossFit is super intense and the workouts are hard. Having to go through that experience is something that all CrossFitters feel and bond over. This then helps you push harder as your peers are right there feeling the exact pain you are cheering you on!
In CrossFit the person coming last is often cheered on more than the first. We respect everyone has the level of fitness they are at, and that if you are working hard to improve yourself you deserve that encouragement and praise. This is very empowering and motivating and pushes people even further!
1) Measurable: Whether its see how fast you can go, or complete the most amount of repetition in a set time, we can measure how your fitness is going in CrossFit.
2) Scalable: CrossFit coaches are able to scale or cater the workout to your fitness level by manipulating the reps and movements. When searching for a CrossFit gym good coaches that understand your limitations when you are starting are invaluable. They should be able to change any workout to suit anyone for example even a 60 year old with no exercise background should be able to do movements at the most basic level and a coach should be able to realise this. Otherwise you are just asking for injury.
3) Performed to movement standards: every movement in CrossFit has a movement standard that is a movement must be performed within the criteria for the repetition to be valid. This creates an equal playing field for all athletes.
So you are always able to see progressions in your workout for your fitness level. This should motivate you to keep continually improving rather than getting bored and going to the gym and just spending 40 minutes on the treadmill.
So what does that mean for me?
How good do you really feel? Do you feel healthy? Fit? Vibrant? Or do you have stomach pains, bloating or feel lethargic? Are you tired even when waking up? Out of breathe from one set of stairs?
You shouldn’t be.
The body is made to function optimally if you move it and fuel it well.
So many people these days just accept sickness as the norm because it is all around us. CrossFit aims to move people from being sick and unhealthy to learning how to move their body properly, eat well and become healthy and overall move back to a state of wellness. CrossFit focuses on helping the everyday person reach a high state of health and fitness, in a very short time frame.
CrossFit advocates for good nutrition for you to fuel your body for the exercises you are performing. Real foods, no sugar or processed foods and lots of vegetables are a great way to give you body the vitamins and mineral its needs! CrossFit is not a fad diet and doesn't have a set timeframe for healthy eating. You are continually creating a better lifestyle for yourself, which reflects in you wellbeing.
To me CrossFit is more than just a training system. It is a way of life, which encourages cleaner eating, getting outdoors and enjoying life with like-minded people, usually the people you meet at your CrossFit box (or gym).
Finally CrossFit is so much more than just an exercise system designed to get you super fit.
CrossFit is super intense and the workouts are hard. Having to go through that experience is something that all CrossFitters feel and bond over. This then helps you push harder as your peers are right there feeling the exact pain you are cheering you on!
In CrossFit the person coming last is often cheered on more than the first. We respect everyone has the level of fitness they are at, and that if you are working hard to improve yourself you deserve that encouragement and praise. This is very empowering and motivating and pushes people even further!
So is CrossFit for you?
Well Betsy does look incredible, so if you could look like her that’d be great! But beside looks there do seem to be a lot of health reasons to do CrossFit. They advocate for healthy eating, good technique and movement, continually progression and there is a real community at CrossFit gyms.
I could sit here all day and tell you about the benefits of CrossFit, we could discuss all the finer points, however the best way to find out if CrossFit is for you is to get up and go try a class!
Well Betsy does look incredible, so if you could look like her that’d be great! But beside looks there do seem to be a lot of health reasons to do CrossFit. They advocate for healthy eating, good technique and movement, continually progression and there is a real community at CrossFit gyms.
I could sit here all day and tell you about the benefits of CrossFit, we could discuss all the finer points, however the best way to find out if CrossFit is for you is to get up and go try a class!