I finally got a chance to try a CrossFit workout! One of the mom’s at my kids school, Tonya, is a CrossFit trainer. She welcomed me and another mom, Lisa, to come in for a trial CrossFit workout. Tonya was nice enough to let my bring my 2 year old since I couldn’t find a sitter. Lucky for me he slept in the jogging stroller for most of the workout. :)
I had no idea what to expect for the workout. When I walked in to the building the front desk area and seating area was warm and welcoming, but then when you entered the workout room it told a different story. It’s a huge warehouse with the front part filled with rowing machines, weight benches, pull up station. More than half of the warehouse had turf to similate open field for soccer or football players to train. They even had a huge tire, like the kind on a construction machine, they use it as part of their workouts to flip the tire over! Off to the one side they had a bunch of rings hanging to do functional exercises, similar to TRX suspension training system. Off to the right side of the warehouse along the wall, they had kettle-bells, plates that you put on straight or crooked bar for power lifts and stuff; along with some weighted vests, medicine balls, and sandbags! Ohh, I got very excited when I saw the sandbags! I so want one!!!! Ever since I was introduced to BodyRock TV about a year ago, I’ve been telling my husband I need to save my money to buy one. Overall I have to say it was a humbling experience! 
Before I share with you my workout, here is a video that demonstrates what CrossFit is all about. Sorry I don’t have a picture of me working out (not that you wanted to see a pic of me) since I forgot my camera. Though I do have one of those cheap cell phones that takes pictures but didn’t bother using it to take a photo of my experience. For some reason it won’t let me download photo’s or email them to myself or anyone. One day I’ll be up to date with technology and get a smart phone! Here is a YouTube video on what CrossFit training is all about.
So the workout went something like this:
Foam Roll: The workout started off with using a foam roller to focus on the neural and fascial system of the body. What is fascia? Fascia is connective tissue that wraps around or surrounds group of muscles, blood vessels and nerves; think of it like a cellophane wrap. You roll your body part, such as your quadricep muscle or IT band, on the foam roll to penetrate and break up any knots in your muscle. I like to think of foam rolling as a self massage, hence the name, “self myofascial release” or SMR for short. Once you have found a knot or tender spot, you hold it for about 30 seconds as you apply your body weight on the foam roll. Mind you it’s painful, very painful but it’s a feel good kind of pain. It reminds of when a massage therapist digs deep into your muscles.
Warm Up: After SMR stretches, we did some dynamic stretches for about five minutes to warm up our bodies. Light jog to the end of the studio and back, karaokes, side hops, etc.
Strength/Skill: Then Tonya had us work on our form for overhead squats and front squats using our own body weight. Then she walked us through the “workout of the day” or “WOD” is what they call it.
WOD (work out of the day): we were timed on this part, she said our goal was to complete the in less than 10 minutes. It went like this:
- 500 meter rows on the rowing machine.
- 40 squats
- 30 sit ups
- 20 push up (we did them on an incline on a big huge tire)
- 10 pull ups (we had some help with the use of a huge rubber-band that literally was almost as tall as me)
I finished the “welcome to the jungle” workout in 5 minutes and 23 seconds, not bad for a first timer! This was definitely a full body workout, last night I was so exhausted and went to bed just before 9pm. Thank goodness I own a foam roller, I did some foam rolling, drank a big glass of water lemon and went to bed.
What did I think of it? This style of working is not for everyone, I have been told that you either love it or hate it. Well I loved it! I love HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts and challenging myself to the next level of fitness. I also like timed workouts where I can measure my progress over a period of time. Actually Cross Fit kind of seemed like a mix of Body-Rock and Power Lifting. I’d like to sign up for a few months of Cross Fit training but I’ll have to figure out a way to fit it into my budget and into my schedule.
What about you have you ever tried Crossfit? If so, tell me about your experience.
