Since starting back in 2000 in Santa Cruz, California, CrossFit has rapidly expanded to become a global phenomenon. There are currently over 15,000 CrossFit affiliate gyms worldwide — including 588 gyms in Australia.
After being around for over 2 decades, most people have at least heard of CrossFit, even if they’ve never taken a class.
Are you interested in giving it a go and seeing what all the fuss is about? If so, this guide is for you. It will clear up a lot of your CrossFit confusion and show you some of the greatest benefits it has to offer.
What Is CrossFit?
CrossFit is a unique approach to fitness that emphasises strength building and aerobic conditioning. Workouts vary day to day to help you get stronger, increase your endurance, and become a well-rounded athlete. And because they’re always changing, it’s also more fun!
The founders of CrossFit stress that it is more than just a workout program. It’s a lifestyle that combines effective functional workouts with proper nutrition to help participants achieve their goals and feel their best.
Top 10 CrossFit Benefits
There are plenty of reasons to add CrossFit to your fitness regimen… here are 10!
1. Join a Community
Don’t like the idea of working out alone? CrossFit is an excellent choice. When you join a CrossFit gym, you automatically become part of a family. You’ll get to know people of all ages and from all walks of life, and you’ll get to break a sweat and get stronger while you do it.
At CrossFit, you don’t have to know anyone in the class. You will be accepted right away because you are working toward the same goal as everyone else: Becoming the best version of yourself.
You may also find yourself attending classes a lot more frequently when there’s a group supporting you (vs dragging yourself out of the house on your own).
2. Shed Fat
If fat loss is one of your fitness goals, CrossFit can help you achieve it. Many CrossFit cardio workouts are designed with the principles of HIIT (short for high-intensity interval training) in mind.
HIIT workouts feature short bursts of high-intensity cardio followed by rest periods to bring your heart rate down. These kinds of workouts allow you to burn lots of calories during the training session — as well as after it’s finished.
3. Increase Muscle Mass
For those who want to build muscle, CrossFit is also an effective workout option.
If you’ve ever seen someone doing CrossFit, it’s likely they’ve got some impressive muscles to go along with it! CrossFit incorporates strength training to help you build muscle mass and make gains.
Combined with the HIIT style exercises (above), you can get the best of both worlds so you can lose fat and build muscle at the same time.
4. Learn Proper Form
If you need help learning how to do common weight lifting exercises — squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, etc. — safely and correctly, working out at a CrossFit gym will help. It can be risky trying to do these on your own without a coach, which is why joining a class is ideal.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a barbell before. Experienced CrossFit coaches will teach you the basics and give you the tools you need to become a skilled lifter in no time.
5. Boost Endurance
Do you struggle to run even short distances without getting tired? Does the idea of riding a bike for any length of time make you break a sweat?
Regularly participating in CrossFit workouts means you’ll get lots of opportunities to engage in cardiovascular workouts. This, in turn, increases your endurance and boosts your heart health.
6. Strengthen and Support Joints
It’s a myth that lifting weights is bad for your joints. In fact, the opposite is true.
Regular strength training — which is a staple of CrossFit workouts — has been shown to improve joint health and minimise pain in the knees, shoulders, elbows, lower back, etc. The best CrossFit coaches also include thorough warm-ups to make sure participants are prepared to take on their workouts.
As long as you warm up properly, lift with the right form, and select weights that are appropriate for your current fitness level, you will likely notice joint pain reductions and improved joint mobility.
7. Become More Confident
Participating in CrossFit workouts is a great way to boost your confidence. When you lift weights or do tough cardio workouts regularly, you’ll be amazed at how strong and empowered you start to feel.
Not only does this confidence help you feel great in the gym, but it also translates to other parts of your life. You might find that you feel more capable at work or school, for example.
8. Save Time
Whether you’re interested in gaining muscle, burning fat, or boosting endurance, you don’t have to spend hours in the gym to see results.
CrossFit workouts are designed to be efficient and effective. Most classes are done in less than an hour, so it’s easy to fit CrossFit into your routine, no matter how packed your schedule is.
9. Avoid Boredom
One of the unique things about CrossFit is the fact that there is so much variety in the workouts. If you’re the type of person who gets bored easily, CrossFit might be the perfect workout option for you.
CrossFit workouts constantly vary, and no two days look the same. This keeps you on your toes and ensures that you’re always engaged with the workout.
10. Scale Workouts to Your Level
Anyone can do CrossFit, from a seasoned athlete who wants to maintain muscle to a new parent who hasn’t exercised in years.
The best CrossFit gyms feature an on-ramp program that introduces you to the basics and helps you gain confidence in a safe, supportive environment.
Keep in mind, too, that CrossFit workouts can easily be scaled to meet your specific needs and fitness level. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, you can get a great workout in and make progress toward your goals.
Ready to Join a CrossFit Gym?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a total gym junkie or brand new to the fitness world. CrossFit workouts can be scaled for every level.
If you’re a Melbourne resident who’s eager to experience the benefits of CrossFit, come see us at CrossFit Noble Park.
Get in touch today to learn more about our classes and our instructors.
