When Niraamayae Fitness Studio in Maharajgunj started installing monkey bars on their terrace back in June they posted a few photos of it on their Facebook page and captioned it, “Time to push your limits”. It was a status update of the new CrossFit facilities that was being added to their gym.
They thought incorporating a few elements of the exercise regime would help spice up the routines of their regular gym goers. For them, as well as their clients, it was certainly a very exciting prospect.
CrossFit gained popularity among the masses when the cast of Sparta were said to have sworn by it. Videos of their training sessions managed to leave everybody in awe. Since then, whether it is Hollywood heroes like Channing Tatum and Jason Statham or actresses like Jessica Biel and Cameron Diaz, we have learned that many stars turn to this intense workout to stay in amazing shape.
So what is CrossFit all about? Rosy Pun from Niraamayae Fitness Studio helps us get acquainted with the exercise regime.
It’s a fitness that isn’t specialized. It’s broad and general.
CrossFit is basically a fitness system that was designed to help people develop an increased work capacity. It hasn’t been designed to merely work on specific body parts but instead it focuses on helping you develop strength and stamina.
Essential tests
It consists of constantly varied, high-intensity functional movements, and it focuses on improving people’s overall physical wellbeing as well as cardiovascular fitness. So, we could call it a principal strength and conditioning program.
Intensity is essential.
When a program isn’t specializing in one particular thing but actually focusing each session on testing different part of your functional strength or conditioning, expect it to be intense. It’s not just action stars but many police and army academies, champion martial artists, and numerous other professional athletes worldwide incorporate it in their trainings.
However, Pun suggests that you don’t immediately jump into this type of training regime if you are new to exercise and workouts.“I’d recommend CrossFit regimes to those who are regular gym goers and who are conditioned,” says Pun, “It’s less overwhelming that way.”
No hard and fast rule as to what you have to do.
At Niraamayae Fitness Studio, Pun shares that CrossFit is used to help spice up their client’s workout regime. It apparently helps balance out their exercise routines and the class format apparently depends on the instructor. There isn’t a specific plan that they have to stick to.
The instructor is said to make their session plan as per the capacity of the individual client and his/her objectives. As we mentioned, CrossFit prides itself on not specializing. There are tires, ropes, barbells, hammers, pull up stations, monkey bars at Niraamayae Fitness Studio and each client can craft different routines as well as set runs with the help of their instructor.
So you might have a day at the pull up station, following it up with pushups and then come in the next session to find yourself having to battle ropes and sprint.
The goal
For example, if you are looking to jack up your muscles and become a body builder, CrossFit alone might not be the biggest help. You might be better off choosing other forms of exercise that caters to this specific need.
However, if you have different goals i.e. if you would like to be fitter, stronger, more athletic, and more mobile, then CrossFit can certainly help. According to Pun, there are some at their gym who prefer to do CrossFit training more than once a week. But at Niraamayae Fitness Studio, she says, they leave it up to the clients to make this decision. Depending on your capacity, once in two weeks is also fine. According to Pun, a proper recovery period is also essential.
Still the appeal of CrossFit lies in the fact that it has been known to challenge the world’s fittest people. Any committed individual looking to dare themselves to do more than they think they can shall find it to be very rewarding.
No such thing as a male or female workout.
In CrossFit, both men and women are told they can do anything. Pun also shares that, at their gym, CrossFit is popular among both their male as well as female clienteles. Everybody does the same exercises. While the weights might differ, the movements that are taught are the same.
Is it safe?
Yes, you will be exhausted and you will be sore but you won’t constantly be at risk. The biggest misconception people tend to have about CrossFit is that one gets ton of injuries. This isn’t true. While the chances for injury in a sport where you’re sometimes lifting lots of weight as fast as you can, can’t be denied, you will also be taught the right techniques.
All physical activity comes with some risk. But if you follow directions and practice movement patterns then you should be fine. Make sure you find yourself experienced trainers and most importantly listen to your body. Don’t only focus on the reps. Scale down when necessary.
