At the very least it would give my friends a good giggle about our next champagne get together! You see, the idea of me in a gym is like oil and water, they just don’t mix. It seems that I am missing the two main criteria to be able to set foot in a gym, fitness and coordination. But I’m determined to see what all the fuss is about and before I can be dissuaded, I find the least threatening CrossFit gym in Sydney and book a consultation.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived for my appointment was the absence of those long lines of clunky cardio machines and menacing weight stations. I breathe a small sigh of relief, just the sight of those contraptions fills me with fear (flashback to an unfortunate incident involving me and a treadmill I still haven’t recovered from). Let’s just say some days I don’t have the machine skills necessary to operate a toaster let alone operate the dashboard of what looks to me like an airplane navigation system. So I was pleased to see laid out on a huge black meat in front of me some basic pieces of fitness equipment that didn’t look like they could cause me any injury. The instructor who was showing me around went on to explain that the concept of CrossFit is simple, the workouts are based on basic, functional movements that are performed at the highest possible intensity.
This varies with each individual and the key to its success is its adaptability to everyone from an elite athlete to an office worker who hasn’t seen the inside of a gym in years. The programs are carefully designed with variety in mind so people don’t get bored, and all exercises are scaled to accommodate the various fitness levels of the class.
So I started a basic bodyweight movement training with a trainer and was surprised to learn to brush up on some of the basics that I had been doing wrong all this time. This was dangerous because he risked injury and limited any chance of seeing successful results. I also found myself having fun, something I never thought I would say I had in a gym.
Some other people like me, who were curious to get their foot in the door that day and attend the same beginner class, would shout words of encouragement to each other and we all felt a common bond in the end. There is a common theme that I discovered in the world of CrossFit, and that is the real emphasis on building relationships within the group and forming your own community within. I felt a real sense of accomplishment as I walked away and felt like I wanted more. I understood why people were suddenly ditching traditional gyms where it felt so impersonal, in favor of being around people who encouraged you to do your best and celebrated your accomplishments when you reached your goals. Okay, I’ve seen enough, I get it. I want more and I am a CrossFit convert.
Sign me up now so I can get started!