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Feeling Fit: Out of the Box – The Exciting World of CrossFit
By Michelle Vessel
Do you have a friend or officemate who’s been ditching your lunch dates and happy hours to spend time at a mysterious place called a “box”? Does she come back drenched in sweat, sometimes limping and speaking in a strange, acronym laden lingo? Is she looking more fit, more buff, younger and more alive than she has in years? If so, your pal may be caught up in the CrossFit craze that’s sweeping the globe and drawing in millions of fitness minded people.
What Is CrossFit?
Founded by former competitive gymnast Greg Glassman, CrossFit is a back-to-basics approach to exercise focused on improving overall functional fitness. Housed in rudimentary gyms that resemble garages or storage facilities, CrossFit participants are put through their paces in short but intense drills that last about fifteen or twenty minutes. CrossFit first caught on among first responders, law enforcement and various other hardcore types, including deployed military troops who enjoyed being able to perform the simple routines even in more desolate locations.
With the advent of the Internet, exercisers around the world began exploring CrossFit.com to check the Workout of the Day (WOD) and then started hanging around to gloat about their scores and times on the website’s forums. This expansion across the information superhighway has helped CrossFit grow from humble roots and bare bones appeal into a thriving big business. Glassman’s company oversees a worldwide network of more than 4,500 affiliated gyms and a certification program that turns out hundreds of newly minted CrossFit instructors every week.
WODs and AMRAP
CrossFit WODs offer a full body workout that combines explosive aerobics moves called plyometrics, pull ups, sit ups, squats, Olympic style weightlifting moves and more. Each day, a whiteboard on the “box” wall provides two or three new exercises that are to be performed in sequence as a round. Participants then complete “as many rounds as possible” (AMRAP) in an allotted time, with many CrossFitters doing three days of exercise followed by a day of rest. Although some WODs utilize minimal equipment, relying on the exerciser’s body weight for resistance, others require implements such as rowing machines, weights or medicine balls.
There’s no denying that an intensive workout can have a significant impact on your fitness level, but many CrossFit devotees point to the mental, social and spiritual benefits of pushing yourself beyond your limits in the company of intensely supportive people. These starry eyed disciples often use words like “life changing” and “transformative” to describe the CrossFit experience.
Caveats and Considerations
While the benefits of CrossFit may be high, there are still many factors to consider before joining the new craze. Some traditional fitness experts and other critics have expressed reservations about the safety and effectiveness of CrossFit, especially for beginners or those prone to injury. Some admit there’s a macho “no pain, no gain” ethos in the CrossFit community that can push others too far beyond their limits. Other CrossFitters speak of burning out quickly after the honeymoon period, and even the most devoted participants have been known to grumble about the steep membership fees. As with any fitness regimen, consult with your doctor beforehand.
If you already have a fair to moderate base of fitness and you’re ready to take your effort level from humdrum to herculean, consider signing up for a beginner’s class in CrossFit fundamentals at your friendly neighborhood box. You might make some new friends, lose a few pounds and even learn a little bit about yourself and your true capabilities in the process.
