CrossFit is designed to test the ‘10 elements of fitness’. Can YOU handle it?
What is crossfit?
Founded by strength and conditioning expert Greg Glassman in 2000, CrossFit pulls in Olympic movements and functional exercises in one high-intensity program. Daily workouts are known as WODs (workout of the day). Some last five minutes, while others last up to 30 minutes.
Classes and amateur and professional CrossFit competitions involve racing against a clock.
The gritty deets:
Unlike many workouts, which target one – or at best a couple – of fitness elements (say agility and speed), CrossFit WODs are designed to test the ‘10 elements of fitness’: cardio and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy.
For instance, the first WOD may be a simple three-round affair of 50 pull-ups, 50 push-ups, and 100 body weight squats, against time (easy, huh?). There can be up to 50 men and women at a time – led by a sergeant-style trainer. But don’t let the ‘raaaa’ factor scare you off; while hardcore anchors the marketing shots, Shaw says CrossFit can be scaled to suit everyone from the wannabe-fit to athletes and weight loss aspirants. The only abiding rule? You gotta be ready to go hard – even when it hurts.
“CrossFit is for anybody half motivated wanting to make a change in their body,” Shaw says. “We are a no bull**t, no mirrors regime – it’s exercise without the vanity for women to achieve fitness, weight loss and a slim, athletic body.”
