If you’ve signed up at a big gym, gotten busy, and quietly stopped going, you’re in good company. As Head Coach of CrossFit ELM and a 20-year fitness professional, I’ve heard how these memberships start and how they end. This article looks at how CrossFit feels different, and whether it might be a better fit for you.
Why so many parents quit a regular gym membership
Memberships at big-box gyms can feel overwhelming, lonely, and pointless. People tell me they didn’t know what to do when they got there. There was no personal connection. Everyone seemed judgey. And no one even noticed when they stopped coming.
What I hear over and over is that they all wanted to keep going. They just needed more from the gym.
What people mean when they say CrossFit has community
One sentence from a recent review sums up how we try to do things differently: “From day one, every coach and member has treated me with warmth and respect. It’s an incredibly supportive and friendly community where everyone encourages you and cheers you on.”
Doing fitness alone is hard. Doing it with other people who share your struggles and goals makes it easier. Doing it in a community that wants to see you reach your goals while they chase theirs makes it awesome. We set out to build gyms that feel like the show “Cheers.” We get to know your name, your family, your life, and the things that make you tick. Those things make getting through a workout with your gym mates that much easier.
Coached classes vs. training alone: what changes day to day
One of the hardest things about a big-box gym is knowing what to do when you get there. Even personal training at these gyms can feel cookie cutter and not really aimed at developing your fitness.
CrossFit gyms are different. Yes, everyone in class does the same workout, but the difference is in the approach to progress. We scale and adjust the workout to where you are right now, so you can make meaningful progress and still get a great workout.
How accountability works when someone notices you’re missing
The best part about a CrossFit gym is the built-in accountability. If we don’t see you for a few days, you’ll likely get a text from one of the coaches, just to check in and see how things are going.
That’s all well and good, but the real power is your gym mates. When a coach texts you, that’s one thing. When your gym mates text to ask where you’ve been, it hits harder. These are the people you’ve built bonds with while pushing through tough workouts, and they know how you’re probably feeling. Your coach offers official accountability, but the people sweating next to you day in and day out are what build real consistency. You know someone is waiting to see you at today’s workout.
CrossFit for busy parents: fitness level, schedules, and kids
Getting started is a big part of the problem at a big-box gym. Most probably do a weigh-in, a body scan for body composition, and maybe a guided tour through the machines to start the circuit. Not bad. At our gym, it goes a bit deeper.
We start people new to CrossFit 1-on-1 with a coach, to build confidence and get past the feeling that you have to be fit to start. That’s the secret: you DON’T have to be fit to start CrossFit. Our coaches teach you the basics and how to scale what you can’t do yet. Over those 3 sessions you’ll learn you’re capable of far more than you thought. You’ll also start to feel the difference of working out around people who believe in you, because they were once where you are now: the beginning.
When a regular gym might still be the better fit
There are cases where a traditional gym may suit you better. CrossFit gyms run primarily on classes, and those class times may not fit your schedule. Or maybe you don’t feel comfortable in a group session and feel more at home with solo time. In those cases and a handful of others, a big-box gym may be the better choice.
A CrossFit gym that really just wants you to build fitness and get healthy will tell you that. It may also offer another option. We have virtual training with one of our coaches, and the people who use it love it. They get our coaches’ expertise on a schedule that fits them better.
How to try a class and see if it feels right
If you’re still unsure whether this CrossFit thing is right for you but you’re curious enough to give it a try, message us. Maybe a quick call or a face-to-face meeting at the gym is the best first step. Maybe you want to try a class and see how it goes. Maybe a few 1-on-1 sessions with a coach is what you need to decide.
All you have to do is click the chat bot on the website, or send us a text or call.
