CrossFit.
The name alone is incredibly polarizing and you are likely in the room with someone who is already telling you how terrible the sport is for your body. After all, someone always knows somebody who has been hurt while trying CrossFit, right?
But what about the rest of us? I’ve received quite a few emails with simple, beginner questions about the sport, and I would like to address a few of the most common concerns. Here are my CrossFit tips for beginners!
Working out with Julie Foucher last November. Please notice she is wearing my FAVORITE Reebok PWR leggings!
You Can Go From Couch to CrossFit
I have heard this one so frequently that even I am beginning to wonder if it’s true! In fact, I saw an article recently that advocated people “getting into shape” before beginning CrossFit. What is that?!
Post-workout at Big Horn. Nap time!
Yes, CrossFit is intense and the WODs (workouts of the day) are rough. However, everything is scalable! In fact, I would guess that 50% of the people at the gym are scaling their workouts in some capacity. If you’re coming to a CrossFit gym with a minimal fitness background, just speak with your coach ahead of time. Any coach worth his salt will determine where you are physically and will adjust your WOD accordingly. Pull ups too tough? Do ring rows. Running wrecks your knees? Use the rower. Five rounds may literally rip your heart out? Maybe your coach will scale it to three rounds.
My point is this: if you’re interested in the sport, go try it instead of being scared of it. It may just be the ticket that finally gets you off the coach and moving!
It’s Not All Or Nothing
Guys, I’m climbing ropes these days. Boo ya!
For many CrossFitters, the WODs are their only form of exercise, and that’s fine. However, if you love other activities like running or cycling or hiking, you can do both. So many of the CrossFit stereotypes make it sound like CrossFit is a big ol’ cult where the members drank the KoolAid and forgot any other activity in life. I guess I can’t speak for anywhere else, but I know that Big Horn isn’t that way- at all. We have members who are certified yoga instructors, ultra marathoners, mountaineers and endurance cyclists. In short, you can definitely incorporate it into your existing routine!
Try It Before You Buy It
Awhile ago, I read a terrible blog post by a woman in New York. She was duped into trying a new gym that claimed to be a CrossFit box but in reality, was not certified and was only using the CrossFit label to gain members through the associated popularity.
Typically, this would just be an issue for CrossFit HQ {due to trademark infringement}, but if you read her post, you will see that not only did the trainers demean her, but they also forced members to compete absolutely psychotic workouts….while labeling it CrossFit.
Most CrossFit gyms will let you try a day or a week for free so that you can get a feel for the box, the coaches, and the programming. After all, it’s critical for your personality to mesh with those at the gym! If your potential box seems averse or uncomfortable with that idea, they may not be the best place for you. Working out at a CrossFit gym costs a pretty penny, so you should probably be happy and comfortable with your decision.
A Failed Box Jump Will Always Hurt
There is no easy way around this one, regardless of whether it is at your house, 24 Hour Fitness, or your CrossFit box. Smacking your shins into that box is going to hurt!
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Have you ever been nervous to try a new sport? What was it and why?