Photo courtesy of Seaward CrossFit

Women, wine and a work out: An introduction to CrossFit

So ladies, you’ve heard all the bad things people say about CrossFit.

Like how easy it is to hurt yourself or how expensive it is to join a gym.

Just like almost everything you see in Facebook feeds these days, most of these qualms are unfounded, says Vanessa Bennington, co-owner of Seaward CrossFit and an advanced  registered nurse practitioner in Sarasota.

If you really want to learn something about CrossFit, why not do it while sipping some wine, meeting new people and actually getting a new work out in for free?

Seaward CrossFit will host a women’s only work out, suitable for beginners through experienced CrossFitters, for free on Friday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. There’s no pressure to look good while you’re doing it and Seaward’s staff of experienced coaches will be there to guide you.

Afterward you can sip some post work out wine and ask questions. The gym will giving away some cool stuff, too, like:

  •   A free month of CrossFit at Seaward ($240 value)
  •  A free bottle of wine from Broc Smith at Liquor Locker
  • An application kit with a half sheet of Jamberry wraps from Leah Roux ($20 value)
  • A free month of nutrition coaching from Seaward CrossFit‘s in-house nutrition coach ($75 value)

 

Photo courtesy of Seaward Crossfit

Photo courtesy of Seaward CrossFit

 

Still unsure?Vanessa Bennington sets the record straight about some of the most common misconceptions about CrossFit:

 

I need to be in shape to do CrossFit!

Not true! Sure, if you watch ESPN or follow any of the social media pieces on CrossFit then it would appear as if the only people participating are jacked, tattooed, lean guys and gals that have an aversion to wearing shirts and/or shorts that cover more than half a butt cheek. And yes, the upper-level CrossFit athletes are in incredible shape but your average CrossFit gym member are very NORMAL people. In fact, we’ve had several people who have never worked out regularly jump right into CrossFit. With the correct movement substitutions, coaching, and attention almost anyone can do CrossFit and flourish.

 

Photo courtesy of Seaward Crossfit

Photo courtesy of Seaward CrossFit

 

I’ll get hurt!

In every major marathon that happens there are injuries and accidents. There are even fatalities. CrossFit has gotten a reputation for being dangerous. And yes, there is certainly some amount of risk of injury when participating in CrossFit, as there is with almost any sport. If you find a CrossFit gym with good coaches who program appropriately, actually coach, give instruction, feedback and corrections, then your chance of becoming unnecessarily injured are far less. In fact, most CrossFit gyms implement a great deal of mobility, stretching, and education regarding healthy joint and tissue maintenance into their programs. Several health care providers in Sarasota have even said that when properly implemented, CrossFit is like “physical therapy on steroids”. So, the lesson is, find a good gym, with good programming, robust coaching and proper emphasis on form, technique and mobility and soft tissue health and you will be more likely to get fit without injury.

 

Photo courtesy of Seaward Crossfit

Photo courtesy of Seaward CrossFit

 

 

All CrossFit gyms are the same.

No way, Jose! CrossFit gyms are not franchises. They are affiliates, individually owned and operated and therefore vary quite a deal from gym to gym. Don’t judge one CrossFit gym based on your or someone else’s experience at another. If you’re interested try out a few until you find one that feels like the right fit.

 

Photo courtesy of Seaward Crossfit

Photo courtesy of Seaward CrossFit

 

I’ll get too muscular!

Only if you want to. Really. CrossFit is a sport that incorporates many other physical activities including weightlifting and gymnastics. I’m not sure if you’ve seen any Olympic weightlifters or gymnasts but they ARE muscular. The same can be said of high-level CrossFitters. However, you will NOT get “big” doing CrossFit unless you mean to. You have to train and eat in a way that supports muscular growth. What you will probably find is that your body composition will become more favorable (more muscle and less fat) but without getting “bulky”. What I can’t guarantee is that you won’t want to gain muscle after you’ve been doing CrossFit for a while. It’s fun to get stronger and to set personal records (PRs). You may find that what you once thought of as “bulky” becomes your version of healthy and attractive.

 

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Photo courtesy of Seaward CrossFit

 

 

It’s too expensive!

Sure, CrossFit does cost more than your typical gym. However, it’s not fair to compare the cost of a membership at a CrossFit gym to the cost of membership at a typical “globo gym”. At the traditional gym, you’re simply paying for access to facility and equipment. At a CrossFit gym, you’re paying for workout programming and small group coaching/personal training. If you make that comparison, it generally works out to getting workout program design and above average personal training for around $6-$8 per hour. Most globo gym personal training packages tend to float around $80-$90 per hour.

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