What is CrossFit?


CrossFit Tewkesbury is not for everyone, but it’s for anyone.

“Our understanding is that the needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree, not kind. One needs functional competence to stay out of the nursing home. The other one wants functional dominance to win medals.”

Greg Glassman, CrossFit Founder

All fitness levels welcome.

CrossFit is “Constantly Varied, High Intensity, Functional Movement”. Sounds great but what does it mean to me and you?

Routine is the enemy when it comes to fitness. We want to keep our fitness journey fun, interesting and effective. By constantly varying our workouts this not only keeps us mentally stimulated but also keeps producing results week after week, month after month and year after year as we are always keeping our bodies guessing. Within CrossFit we use functional movements as they serve a purpose in real life. The aim is to improve our quality of life through fitness so we prefer to train movement patterns that are going to have a positive effect on this. But what does functional mean…something functional would be a deadlift for example as when you need to lift something heavy off the floor you need the strength and knowledge of how to lift it safely. When storing away items on an overhead shelf, if you use the correct functional movement pattern it is not only easier but safer for you. CrossFit defines fitness with ability in 10 General Physical Skills (Strength, Power, Speed, Agility,Cardiovascular/Respiratory Endurance, Stamina, Flexibility, Balance, Co-Ordination and Accuracy. This gives us a broad, general, inclusive fitness.

High intensity is what produces results. Spending 30 mins cruising in an “optimal fat burning zone” doesn’t cut it for us here at CrossFit Tewkesbury. For maximal results we believe high intensity is the way forward. Do not let this put you off though. High intensity is relative and every persons level of intensity is different. If a 1 min 400m sprint time for the 23 year old rugby player is high intensity, it doesn’t mean that the 2 min 400m sprint time for the full time mum is half the intensity, it’s just relative to them. They have both worked at 90% of their maximum and will both reap the rewards of that.

CrossFit is backed by science. Even now with the introduction of sports watches we are seeing evidence everyday of people getting fitter, stronger and burning more fat using CrossFit methodology and it is now evidenced immediately on their wrist. This briefly covers the training but CrossFit is so much more than that. Its a lifestyle: its caring for yourself, your family and friends. It’s putting performance over aesthetics, it’s about quality nutrition and being the best you can be inside and outside of the gym.

CrossFit is also about the community. It is a see it to believe it experience but being involved in CrossFit and the greater CrossFit community truly is special. People all over the world will support and encourage you, connect with you and motivate you. People in your class will be experiencing the same feelings as you in a workout and you will push each other to the best of your ability. It’s more than just working out.

Simply click the button below to join us and change your life.
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