Honestly, I think I'd run out of space before I could get halfway through fully describing how wonderful, welcoming, and life-changing the community at CrossFit Hermitage is, so I'll just hit a few highlights.
Before Crossfit, I would never have considered myself an "athletic" person. I'd been fortunate enough to lead a reasonably healthy lifestyle for most of my life, yet I'd never felt strong, fast, or particularly fit. I never played team sports as a child; let's be honest, I didn't even like to get sweaty. My idea of a workout was carrying a backpack full of textbooks from class to class.
So exercise? Fitness? Working out? The gym? On my list of "things I'd like to do," these were right up there with "sit in traffic on 440" and "try to lower my cable bill by phone."
But once you roll into your third decade of life one thing leads to another. You can't deny your love of tacos, your pants (even the stretchy ones) no longer fit quite the way they should, and maybe you just want to keep up with life. So you try a fitness program -- maybe one of the at-home ones with the funny trainer. But you get bored or you skip days or you aren't even sure you're doing the moves correctly (hint: you aren't.) Then you decide to just watch what you eat a little more carefully. But in a world where there are tacos, how can you expect that to work?
It took me three weeks to sign up for CrossFit 101. Pushing that button to join the 101 class felt almost exactly like jumping off a bridge into icy waters below (haven't we all been there?) I fully expected to end my first class collapsed in a pool of sweat (and maybe even vomit) with a coach barking insults about my mom.
I've now been a member for three years. THREE. YEARS.
In that time, here's what's happened:
- I've become part of one of the most welcoming and supportive communities around. When I say these people are family, I mean it fully and sincerely. The coaches and members care about you inside and outside the gym. Last one to finish your workout? You're going to have the entire class cheering you on to keep going. Hit a new personal record or fitness goal? Prepare your hand for high-fives. Need to borrow a table saw? I'm not even kidding, the CFH community is right there.
- I've received specialized, focused training on specific personal goals -- as part of my regular membership. In addition to the regular workout programming, the coaches at CFH are happy to provide additional individual support for your personal goals -- this may include nutritional goals, overcoming mobility or other limitations, training for a race or sporting event, or even helping you do your first ever unassisted pull-up.
- I've learned *proper* form for a variety of athletic movements -- some I'd done before and some I'd never tried. In the process, I have received attentive assistance and instruction directly from certified coaches in order to prevent injury. You don't get that with those at-home programs. You don't even get that with most group fitness classes. Every single movement in every single workout can truly be modified to meet the needs of every member, whether 9 or 90. There hasn't been a single workout that I "couldn't do."
- When I started CrossFit, I could barely lift the empty barbell over my head. I can now deadlift nearly twice my weight, squat more than my body weight, and lift 85% of my body weight over my head. Not only does this feel great as a milestone, but if you need to carry some mulch through Home Depot it's a great skill to have!
- I cut over five minutes off my 5K time. In addition to the standard CrossFit classes, CFH offers a variety of specialized training classes. Don't want to lift barbells? There's a class for you. Want to work on running? There's a class for that, too. Hate running, but want to hate it less? Yep, CFH can help you, too.
- I've signed up for, completed, and ENJOYED community athletic events.
- I've experienced varied programming that keeps me from getting bored, but includes just enough repetition and retesting to let me track and document progress. The best of both worlds!
- I've learned a tremendous amount about myself and my capabilities. As a result, I've become more confident -- not just in my athletic abilities, but in work and daily life, too. I'm also more patient and less easily frustrated by trivial matters.
So if you're reading this and still thinking "But I've seen CrossFit -- it looks hard." Well, yes. It IS hard. But that's also what's so wonderful about it. CrossFit -- and specifically the coaches and community at CrossFit Hermitage -- WILL enable you to do those things you never thought possible, both inside and outside of the gym. You will feel (and BE) strong, you will feel fast, you will feel fit, and, perhaps for the first time in your life, you will even feel like an athlete. read more