To CrossFit or Not to CrossFit
OCT 12, 2021
To CrossFit or Not to CrossFit
Is it a model of fitness you should engage in or is it a trend you should pass up?
By House Fitness
Whether or not you’re in the fitness world, you’ve likely come across the term ‘CrossFitness.’ But what is it? Is it just the latest fad? Or is it a reputable method of training? Would it be right for you and your goals? Or is it tailored to specific athletes? With many varying opinions online and in-person it can be hard to separate fact from fiction or a personal experience from the universal experience of those who participate.
To help you decide if CrossFitness is right for you, we are breaking down its core components, outlining its pros and cons, and shedding some light on the offerings and choices available to you.
“CrossFit is composed of three definitive elements: constantly varied functional movements, executed at a high intensity.”
— CrossFit
What is CrossFit?
If you are training, you’re most likely already incorporating elements of CrossFit as it encompasses a broad spectrum of fitness practices. For example, HIIT, weight training, pilates, circuit training, etc. The three main fitness practices it is comprised of, however, are: calisthenics (bodyweight exercises), aerobic exercise, and Olympic weightlifting.
Every time you train, you complete a “WOD” (Workout of the Day), which is generally comprised of a warmup, a strength element, and a high-intensity element. Every day is a different WOD that you can obtain from the CrossFit website, your local “box” (a CrossFit gym), your personal trainer, or the program/class you’ve signed up for.
One important thing to note about CrossFitness is that you can do it anytime, anywhere. Though there are gyms and programs available all around the world, the philosophies, methods of practice, workouts, and other key resources and advice are all available online, for free. CrossFitness-style programs are also offered through other classes, personal trainers, and gyms such as House Fitness’s Athlete Maker Program. CrossFit is simply a style of working out.
Pros to CrossFit
CrossFit is generally class-based. With that, comes group motivation and guaranteed community. Whether you’ve signed up for a CrossFit-style program at your local gym or are training at a box with a certified trainer, you’ll receive additional support when going for a PR (personal record), motivation to persevere, friendly competition, and built-in accountability.
You don’t need any pre-qualifiers to join. Anyone of any age and experience can join.
It’s simply a lot of fun. Whether you’re training individually or with a group, you can create competition by tracking your time and PRs. This is an extremely healthy element to be exposed to. The more of a positive experience your workouts can become, the more that your consistency, motivation, and focus can improve.
CrossFit training exposes you to a lot of different movements and different styles of training. For example, some of these movements are: barbell movements (such as weight lifting), calisthenics (bodyweight movements), gymnastics-based movements, and traditional mono-structural cardio components. And a few of the styles of training are: strength training, functional fitness, endurance training, and mobility.
With a different workout (or WOD) every day, training stays fresh and exciting.
CrossFit as a brand has developed competitions from amateur-professional that you can compete in as a member. These competitions are accessible for folks of all ages and experience levels.
CrossFit is hard work — but through this hard work, you’ll be driving results faster. And not only is CrossFit hard work, but it generally requires you to train fairly frequently with a recommended suggestion of 3-4 times a week. It goes without saying that the more you train and the harder you train, the quicker you will see results.
The workouts are scalable depending on your fitness level. At CrossFit boxes, if you’ve never trained before (or haven’t trained in a long time), there is an on-ramping system that will get you to the fitness level you need to be at to take the general classes.
Cons to CrossFit
At a CrossFit box, classes are held at set times. In order to make these classes, you need to work your schedule around them in order to attend. You also have to book a slot in the class ahead of time. If a class fills up before you get the chance to book it, you could miss a class that you wanted to attend.
Though CrossFit’s philosophy emphasizes positivity and community, how the culture takes shape at each individual box can be a different story. A toxic environment can be created by the trainer themselves or those that attend. You may have to shop around to find a box you feel safe, empowered, and confident in
At CrossFit boxes, the programming is not regulated. Though all CrossFit trainers are certified, the CrossFit level 1 certification is possible to complete in one weekend. There are a variety of trainers at an array of certification levels and training experience.
The training is not individualized in a group setting. When you’re getting trained in a group, the training is not specific to you. For example, the movements and elements of volume, weight, recovery, etc. may not be the most ideal or healthy for you.
The training may not align with your goals. Training is not a one-size-fits-all. It’s important to take the right path in order to be able to reach the goals you have set out for yourself.
The pressure to keep up with the group could put you at risk of injury. It’s important to listen to your own body and not feel give in to any passive peer pressure that comes along with training in a group.
If you are predisposed to injury or are recovering from an acute injury, CrossFit may not be the safest option. If you fall into one of these categories, we recommend personalized, 1:1 programming.
“The magic is in the movement, the art is in the programming, the science is in the explanation, and the fun is in the community.”
— Greg Glassman (Founder of CrossFit)
So, Should I Try CrossFitness?
In conclusion, there’s generally no harm in giving CrossFitness a try. Ultimately, it comes down to a few key pieces.
You should try CrossFit if:
You find motivation in training alongside others (or have never trained with others, but would like to try)
You want fresh, unique workouts every time you train
You want to improve your overall fitness
You should not try CrossFit if:
You are seeking highly individualized, 1:1 training
You do not like groups
You are coming off of some serious injuries or have a condition that makes you more susceptible to injuries
Ultimately, most people can benefit from the ‘constantly varied functional movements' that make up CrossFitness.
At House, we believe that CrossFitness is great for driving results fast, accessible for individuals at any age or fitness level — but, is not an ideal option for everyone. The more tailored a program is to your individual needs and goals, the safer the training will be, the quicker you will reach your goals, and the easier it will be to maintain your results. Our recommendation is that if you can give it a go, you should.
If you are looking to give CrossFit-style training a try, take a look at our Athlete Maker Program or connect with one of our coaches.
Trainer Nic Koo trains Olympic weight-lifting that is available for suitable clientele and Trainer Josh has a CrossFit-style endurance programming available through House.
Written By House Fitness