I haven’t worked out in a really long time. Will CrossFit be too challenging for me?
One of the many great things about CrossFit is that every workout can be scaled or modified to suit any fitness level. What that means is that a new CrossFitter and a veteran CrossFitter can do the same workout, but the workout is adapted according to each athlete’s fitness level. We teach our athletes how to scale and modify workouts and our coaches always provide modifications in our regular group classes. You do not need to get in shape before starting. That’s what we’re here for.
Do I have to be in great shape to take CrossFit classes?
No. There is a common misconception that CrossFit is only for elite athletes. The truth is that it’s for everyone. Sure, we say we are “forging elite fitness” and we are. This means that you start the journey wherever you’re at today. And, if you stay on our path it’s likely that you will get in to the best physical and mental shape of your life.
The A-Town CrossFit community is comprised of working professionals, stay-at-home parents, people that had never stepped foot into a gym, people with physical ailments, competitive athletes and former athletes. Our program is the most efficient, most effective regimen for everyone. Allow us to get you into the best shape of your life.
Is CrossFit for me?
Absolutely, CrossFit is for anyone and everyone regardless of current fitness level. All workouts are universally scaleable and modifiable so everyone in the class gets to work out together at their own level.
What kind of movements will I be doing?
Biking, running, swimming, and rowing. The clean & jerk, snatch, squat, dead lift, push-press, bench-press, and power clean. Jumping, medicine ball throws and catches, pull-ups, dips, push-ups, handstands, presses to handstand, pirouettes, kips, cartwheels, muscle-ups, sit-ups, scales and holds.
What should I expect during a CrossFit training session?
The coach will brief the WOD (Workout of the Day), and ensure everyone is set up with exercise progressions that suit their current capabilities. When you arrive you should warm up and mobilize until the coach begins the session. The skills training component will thoroughly prepare your body for the workout to follow. We also allow time for a cool-down and stretch after each workout.
You will enjoy the combination of personal attention and social interaction that A-Town CrossFit classes allow.
What if I can’t perform a certain exercise?
Your A-Town Coach will instruct you how to perform a progression of the exercise as an alternative. This could be a modified version of the exercise prescribed or a foundational exercise that will develop the required strength and skill progressing you toward the prescribed exercise.
I want to strengthen my core. Will CrossFit help?
Yes! While you will not see us do crunches at A-Town CrossFit, we know that a weak trunk and poorly stabilized spine is the single most significant limiting factor in all human movement and sports. Our programming specifically addresses trunk or “core” strength.
What about cardio?
Surely because we never do any long distance running sessions, CrossFitters can’t have any endurance or stamina. Wrong. The widely touted measure of aerobic stamina and endurance is VO2 max, the amount of oxygen that your body can consume during sustained aerobic exercise – medium intensity stuff like distance running or biking. There is a common misconception that long bouts of aerobic exercise are the only way to build stamina and endurance, but this simply isn’t true.
In the same way muscles must be taken beyond their limits and torn to simulate growth, your ability to process oxygen must be pushed out of equilibrium in order to increase your capacity to process it. Running at a level below your aerobic threshold (i.e. less than 100% VO2 max) will do little if anything to increase this ability. To push it out of equilibrium and induce growth you have to workout at 200% or more of your aerobic ability. In metabolic terms, you need to work the high-intensity phoshagenic and glycolytic pathways in order to improve the medium-low intensity aerobic pathway.