Enter Motus CrossFit, (Sag Harbor) aka Ben & Leni’s garage gym, aka my first time in a “box.” I have to admit that I was a bit scared (ok, terrified) to try this overwhelmingly hot fitness technique. I’ve heard rumors about CrossFit’s intensity and while I love a good challenge and a tough workout, I’m just not all that intense…or am I?
I was instantly on board with their “no jerk” policy – CrossFit is not so much for the show offs, you know those people who just go to the gym to use the mirrors (do they not have mirrors at home? I wonder…) It’s for anyone and everyone looking to build strength and work on themselves, physically and mentally.
Anyway, thanks to Leni’s warm and welcoming nature, I not only survived, I found my inner CrossFitter and figured out what all the fuss is about! So what exactly is CrossFit? CrossFit is a broad and inclusive (variations for anyone at any fitness level) calisthenics (fosters strength and flexibility) workout, constantly varied, with functional movement (real life applications.)
In other words, CrossFit is based upon common sense, real life. As Leni explains, “we come to the gym to do whatever we do in life better.” Love that! Lucky for me, that’s simply challenging myself on a regular basis, trying new workouts, pushing my body to do things I wouldn’t do on my own, and then sharing my experiences with you people. For Leni, or other moms, it may be picking up kids. For frequent flyers, the act of placing a heavy suitcase in the overhead cabin, is the same movement, activating the same muscles, as the overhead press. CrossFit started as a means to train professionals such as police officers, fire fighters, military personnel, martial arts enthusiasts, etc.
After warming up, stretching, and a killer ab-blasting interval, we got our WOD on – workout of the day – an intense circuit to exhaust muscles and endurance. The challenges were definitely tough, but the short intervals made it possible to really go all out. Our circuit consisted of five stations: pull-ups, ball slams, sit-ups, push-ups, and rowing. Don’t ya know I discovered I can kind-of do a pull-up? Who woulda thought!
If you know anything about CrossFit, you know that the benchmark workouts (to test strength and progress) are named after women; Annie, Barbara, Chelsey. I had to know why and I bet you’re curious too! The founder of CrossFit, Coach Glassman, explains: “I thought that anything that left you flat on your back, looking up at the sky asking ‘what just happened to me?’ deserved a females name.” That is just too good for words.
Our workout, I’ll call her “Isabella” (just kidding, I totally made that up) was a full body workout indeed. Leni gave us each a variation to suit our individual needs, abilities, and strengths. After two circuit rounds, my muscles were on fire…for days! From body builder to beginner, CrossFit is scalable and will strengthen the muscles we rely on to do it whatever it is we do, as best we can. Nothin’ wrong with that!
One Healthy Breakdown: Glad I crossed over into the world of CrossFit, you’ll be too!
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