CrossFit Is For Everyone

     By its very definition CrossFit is meant to be broad general and inclusive. However, there is a very good chance that if you have seen or heard of CrossFit it then you are intimidated by it. Reebok commercials and YouTube videos feature ultra fit 20-somethings sprinting, throwing weight around and jumping. Visit your local affiliate and you are likely to find muscled, shirtless members writhing around on the ground after a grueling workout. No wonder you think the local globo gym is more appealing.

     Regardless of your background – whether you are an experienced weightlifter, runner, gymnast, or yoga enthusiast – CrossFit can be, and is for everyone. Make no mistake about it, even if you only spend one or two days per week training in a CrossFit box you can certainly stand to improve your skills and conditioning and this will make you even more proficient in your chosen fitness regimen.

     If you come into CrossFit from a weight training background you will immediately have a valuable set of skills to draw upon. Almost all CrossFit workouts draw on a strength element. Knowing how to bench press, squat, dead lift and power clean will allow you to pick up other CrossFit skills much faster. The conditioning elements are where you will be challenged. Moving heavy weights at a high heart rate may initially be disconcerting, but be patient and look to get more comfortable over time.

     Runners also have an advantage when starting a CrossFit routine. Many workouts have a running component between 400 and 5,000 meters. Being able to run faster and with good form when tired is a huge advantage. As an endurance athlete you will also have the mental toughness to persevere through the long brutal workouts. Lack of experience with weight training will likely be the limiting factor here. A potentially weaker core and lack of motor skills will mean you have to spend more time learning to perform weight lifting skills safely and efficiently.

     Gymnasts usually possess an awareness of body movement that makes their learning curve much shorter. Having already developed tremendous flexibility, endurance and stamina gymnasts are often lacking in strength training. However, gymnasts have an almost innate awareness of ideal body positions for maximal force production. This is essential for heavy lifting and power movements and will allow an individual to get stronger faster than the typical athlete.

     CrossFit is about strength expressed through efficient movement. Efficient movement in turn hinges on flexibility and mobility, two skills yoga enthusiasts are masters at. Where a yogi might stumble is with the speed element. Most CrossFit workouts are done for time which is the antithesis of a slow moving yoga workout.

     In the end there is something for everyone. A weight lifter will achieve a more balanced and developed athleticism. A runner will improve mechanics and become a faster runner. A gymnast will get stronger and improve their existing skill set. A yogi will enjoy the symmetry of mental focus and philosophical bliss associated both with meditation as well as high intensity workouts.