On my first day, I looked at the white board to reference the warm up exercises before starting my workout and saw the phrase - “Gyms without chalk are called Health Spas”

This quote neatly conveys the attitude difference between a conventional gym, such as Gold’s or LA Fitness, and a Crossfit gym.  Where gyms have many machines to help you isolate muscle groups, Crossfit gyms have nearly none.  Though typical gym mantra is often “Chest and Tri’s”, you will never hear that at a Crossfit establishment.

Crossfit, more a methodology than a gym, was created in the 1980’s by gymnast, Greg Glassman.  The idea of Crossfit is to create a well balanced athlete, as apposed to the muscle-bound he-man types that many gyms promote. 

So, back to my first day.  Dan, the trainer assigned to me, showed me the warm up.  400 meters on a rowing machine, and two rounds of exercises, each consisting of 10 overhead squats without weight, 10 pushups or dips, 10 pull-ups, 10 sit-ups, and 10 hip extensions.

After I completed the warm-up, I felt like I had already completed a full workout.  The “workout of the day” was listed on the whiteboard, but that didn’t matter much.  I am a newbie and will be receiving special treatment.  After thinking about it for a few minutes, Dan said, “Karen”.

Puzzled, he referenced the tall whiteboard that was gridded, each partition included a women’s name with an adjacent workout.  Finding Karen, I saw the definition: 150 Wall-balls with a 20lb ball.  Of course, Dan had to show me what a wall ball was, since I had not heard of the exercise.

A Wall-ball, is an exercise where you perform a deep squat while holding a 20lb ball, and follow that movement by throwing the ball high against the wall during the upward movement, then catch it and repeat.  This exercise really sucks. 

Before beginning, Dan glanced me a one over and decided that I should only do half the workout – 75 Wall-balls.  At first, I was a little miffed that he didn’t think I could handle the entire workout.  As I struggled through the workout, taking numerous breaks, I realized that Dan’s assessment was pretty accurate.  After completing the workout, I downed a couple of bottles of water and retired to my vehicle, where I spent nearly 30 minutes resting before deciding I was alright to drive.

The next day, Barbara.  Barbara, 5 rounds, each round for time and consisting of 20 pull-ups, 30 pushups, 40 sit-ups, and 50 weightless squats, proved to be a bitch.  Funny thing is – everyone was doing the same workout.  Unlike conventional gyms, where everyone is doing their own thing, everyone here was subscribing to the same pain.  Everyone was sucking wind and dripping sweat.  Everyone was hurting.  Everyone was also cheering each other on – even cheering me!  Day two exposed me to the culture of Crossfit.

Now having completed five visits, I am starting to adjust to the intensity of the workouts and to the atmosphere that is Crossfit.  I have met more members of this gym in five days, than my previous gym in an entire year.  Crossfit is a community, a culture, as well as a sport.

And there you have it.

Joe.