Its for everyone. Really.

Stolen Post from http://crossfitready.com

but it echoes our gym fairly well

One of the primary goals I had in mind when I thought of opening my own CrossFit affiliate was to change the perception that only athletic people in reasonably good shape can do it.  After all, CrossFit touts that it’s scale-able and modifiable so anyone can do it, right?  Well unfortunately, that is not the perception and, in a lot of cases, not how most affiliates operate.

 

OK, so maybe most affiliates will, and do, scale and modify for people.  The problem is they (and CrossFit in general) come across very hard-core and elite and have a tendency to intimidate the average person.  This is unfortunate because CrossFit really is for the average person, after all, the world is filled with them right?  That’s what makes them the average.  And aren’t we here to help people?  Then why are we scaring away the ones that need help the most?

CrossFit is growing in numbers and in popularity at an explosive rate.  There is more and more TV exposure and it’s gotten to the point where nearly anyone you talk to has heard of it.  When I started 6 years ago no one had.  The problem is in how the exposure is perceived.  This has a lot to do with the exposure itself:

The CrossFit Games-  ESPN has been airing the games live on the internet and also playing the taped version of them on TV throughout the year.  I love this.  Most people I talk to love it too.  These competitors are the most awesome examples of the combination of strength, speed, agility and stamina that you may ever see.  Lifting weight and moving through workouts that seem impossible.

Unfortunately, the “average person” thinks they are going to have to perform like that at a CrossFit gym in order to fit in.  Not true.  Even though we may tell them it’s not that intense, they’re thinking “even if it’s half that hard, it will probably kill me”.

Word of Mouth-  This is the best way to get someone to try anything new.  The problem is that when we first start CrossFitting we usually sound like brainwashed maniacs and our friends just wish we would talk about anything else but CrossFit.  Don’t give up on them.

The Biggest Loser-  Recently, some of the top CrossFit athelete/celebrities appeared on the Biggest Loser, prime time on NBC, as guests.  They did wod demos and then helped coach the overweight contestants through some very modified versions of what we do.  They were using the same equipment we use; Rogue Pull-up structure and bumper-plates, boxes, etc.

It turns out that Bob Harper, the main trainer on the show, is now a CrossFit junkie.  Driving his friends crazy trying to convert them to our ways http://myathleticlife.com/2012/01/crossfit-biggest-loser-biggest-winner-2012/ I’m sure he’s having much success too.  Word is he plans to use Crossfit on the show a lot in the coming episodes.

Then, last years winner of the show,  John Rhode, started CrossFitting and is now getting his Level 1 certification and is planning on opening his own affiliate.  http://journal.crossfit.com/2012/03/johnrhodeinterview.tpl

There’s also another great story about Courtney Rainville.  She was a contestant on the show and went to CrossFit, at 270lbs,after being cut in week 5.  http://journal.crossfit.com/2012/07/courtneyrainville.tpl  She’s now one of her Boxes top lady athletes and quite often has the top time of the day.

What does this mean?  It means anyone can do this and benefit from it greatly.  We just need to do a better job getting the word out.  CrossFit is booming.  It’s going mainstream.  Your friends (the ones that say they are too un-fit for this and the ones that think you are crazy) are going to try this eventually.  Maybe you need to be the one to give them the push.

We have a free class every Saturday Morning at 10am.  Nearly everyone that tries us likes us.  The trick is getting them to come and try it out.