CrossFit is a fitness program focused on strength and conditioning. It involves several activities, such as weightlifting, sprinting, rowing, gymnastics, medicine ball training, and plyometrics. Initially, the program was designed for specialty athletes and professionals, including martial artists, police officers, and members of special military forces. However, CrossFit has expanded to include people of all ages and backgrounds. CrossFit aims to help participants achieve the highest degree of physical fitness possible.
CrossFit was founded by Greg Classman and his former wife, Lauren, in the 1980s, but the idea for the program was conceived even earlier. Glassman, a high school gymnast at the time, took a job as a physical trainer at the YMCA in Pasadena, California. He worked with athletes and emergency responders and realized that many of his clients lacked skills that could be useful in their work. As a result, he created and put together a series of workouts that became the foundation of CrossFit. These exercises combine traditional body-building workouts, such as raises and curls, with high-intensity aerobic exercises like sprinting.
Glassman opened his first CrossFit gym in his garage in Santa Cruz, California, in 1995, and was hired by the Santa Cruz Police Department to train members using his new approach to physical fitness. In 2005, Glassman had amassed 18 affiliated gyms training members using CrossFit. It only took 6 more years to expand to more than 2,000 affiliated fitness facilities. In 2017, more than 13,000 gyms offered CrossFit programs to their members.
Today, CrossFit is one of the most successful training and conditioning programs in the world. In 2020, the United States Army conducted a study among 14 military athletes who participated in a CrossFit program for 8 straight weeks. At the end of the program, the study revealed that all participants experienced significant improvement in their ability to do various exercises and made gains in every measure of fitness. More importantly, participants who started as the weakest among the group gained the most improvement in terms of strength and agility.
People who want to do CrossFit exercises can visit any affiliated facility, where a trained and licensed instructor supervises the training. CrossFit workouts can also be done in the privacy of one’s home, with some guidance (depending on the trainee’s skill level). Some individuals already have a strong background in the type of exercises included in a typical Workout of the Day (WOD), a set of exercises CrossFit recommends each day. Others may need to start with simpler exercises regularly to prepare for the WOD.
Some forms of exercise come with associated risks. While CrossFit can improve physical strength, balance, and flexibility, burn calories, and manage weight, it is important to note that the program is not for everyone. CrossFit practitioners should be aware of the risks associated with the program to implement measures and avoid further harm. Some of the risks include bruises, concussions from falls, and sprained wrists and ankles.
People new to CrossFit should work with trained fitness professionals to plan their workouts even when doing them in their homes. Beginners should avoid moving through the exercises too quickly. Instead, they should start at a slower pace and gradually increase weight when their fitness levels improve.
CrossFit was founded by Greg Classman and his former wife, Lauren, in the 1980s, but the idea for the program was conceived even earlier. Glassman, a high school gymnast at the time, took a job as a physical trainer at the YMCA in Pasadena, California. He worked with athletes and emergency responders and realized that many of his clients lacked skills that could be useful in their work. As a result, he created and put together a series of workouts that became the foundation of CrossFit. These exercises combine traditional body-building workouts, such as raises and curls, with high-intensity aerobic exercises like sprinting.
Glassman opened his first CrossFit gym in his garage in Santa Cruz, California, in 1995, and was hired by the Santa Cruz Police Department to train members using his new approach to physical fitness. In 2005, Glassman had amassed 18 affiliated gyms training members using CrossFit. It only took 6 more years to expand to more than 2,000 affiliated fitness facilities. In 2017, more than 13,000 gyms offered CrossFit programs to their members.
Today, CrossFit is one of the most successful training and conditioning programs in the world. In 2020, the United States Army conducted a study among 14 military athletes who participated in a CrossFit program for 8 straight weeks. At the end of the program, the study revealed that all participants experienced significant improvement in their ability to do various exercises and made gains in every measure of fitness. More importantly, participants who started as the weakest among the group gained the most improvement in terms of strength and agility.
People who want to do CrossFit exercises can visit any affiliated facility, where a trained and licensed instructor supervises the training. CrossFit workouts can also be done in the privacy of one’s home, with some guidance (depending on the trainee’s skill level). Some individuals already have a strong background in the type of exercises included in a typical Workout of the Day (WOD), a set of exercises CrossFit recommends each day. Others may need to start with simpler exercises regularly to prepare for the WOD.
Some forms of exercise come with associated risks. While CrossFit can improve physical strength, balance, and flexibility, burn calories, and manage weight, it is important to note that the program is not for everyone. CrossFit practitioners should be aware of the risks associated with the program to implement measures and avoid further harm. Some of the risks include bruises, concussions from falls, and sprained wrists and ankles.
People new to CrossFit should work with trained fitness professionals to plan their workouts even when doing them in their homes. Beginners should avoid moving through the exercises too quickly. Instead, they should start at a slower pace and gradually increase weight when their fitness levels improve.
