It might look like the steepest learning curve you’ve seen and sound like a cult; however, Crossfit has gained so much popularity because it has value.
Your friend who got into Crossfit went through the Scientology style preaching and levelled off into the stray invite, then appeared on holiday with the body you’ve dreamed of. Magic?
No, it isn’t magic, but it is an exercise system that rewards dedication and determination. While we often see the crossfitters who have been working out for years, most sessions are filled with those of us that need a step change. The beginning of the journey can be intimidating, so here is a quick guide for getting started.
The first step
When I’m feeling very unfit, it can feel like a thousand-mile journey to get passably fit. However, that is ancient Chinese wisdom. A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Just deciding and committing to starting the journey is enough to start. Crossfit might be a fast journey, but it is still a journey.
Live it, love it
A large part of fitness is the lifestyle, and Crossfit emphasises this. You have to make the effort in your lifestyle to achieve the results you see online. You have to live the Crossfit mentality in your diet and day to day before you’ll love the exercise sessions.
Cross-functional fitness
It sounds like a marketing blurb for the uninitiated, but Crossfit is what it says it is. The easiest way to understand it is in reverse order. Fitness, yep, we got that. It might lead to exceptional fitness, but we all understand that fitness is the goal.
Functional is where the exercises may differ from your regular gym routine. Functional literally means movements that you may find helpful in life. Rather than isolating individual muscles as bodybuilders do, you want to build a functional body.
The cross part is not the result of the faces made during Crossfit. It is the idea of cross-function. For most people, this means building a body that has multiple functions or ‘cross functions’. This is why you will perform a variety of exercises, from flipping a tyre to sprinting.
However you begin, the fastest way to know if Crossfit suits you is to find a Crossfit centre near you and get started!
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