1. It is scalable. The goal is to have everyone able to complete the workout in similar ways. For example, if the goal is to finish 3 rounds of a circuit as fast as you can, ideally each person would finish within a certain time span. So, you scale things down in order to complete the workout. Even athletes who have been doing CrossFit for years scale down workouts. Because of everything being scalable, everyone is working hard and struggling but no one is lagging super far behind. Which leads me to my next point.
2. Surprisingly, it’s not intimidating. When I first walked in and saw people built like Superman I immediately was like “nope not for me”, but then I saw how kind and encouraging everyone was (and not in a patronizing or demeaning way). Everyone goes in and works hard, whether you’re brand new and can’t do a push-up or whether you’ve been doing it for years and can do 1000 push-ups. Everyone is challenged in their own way and has the same goal of being stronger and getting better.
3. It makes me want to have a better lifestyle. I’ve never been one to be obsessed with healthy eating or how much protein I’m getting in my diet, but after starting this I am much more aware. And not because I want to lose weight fast or do anything drastic, but it changes your mentality. After only a couple classes I realized how addicting CrossFit is. It makes me want to break personal records and get stronger and have better form. And you can only get those things with a good lifestyle. I don’t monitor every single thing I eat, but I am much more cognizant now than I was a month ago; because my body and my sore muscles can definitely tell if I’ve been eating poorly or not recovering properly.
4. It makes me want to be stronger, rather than focusing on my body’s appearance. There are so many different people with a variety of body types and there is no perfect body. Everyone has their strengths and goals and no matter what you look like, there is no judgement. There have been so many times in fitness classes where I felt like I didn’t fit in physically and/or I felt that I needed to look a certain way by the end of it, but with CrossFit, my goal is fitness and strength rather than needing to attain a certain look and that has been much more motivating and mentally beneficial.
Overall CrossFit has been a wonderful experience, both physically and mentally, and although I think it’s worth a try, it is important to realize that you don’t have to do exactly what someone else is doing. It’s important to find that thing that connects with you and makes you want to be your best self. I feel like I have found mine through CrossFit and it is truly an incredible feeling to find a space you feel motivated and supported every day.