If you’re new to CrossFit in Los Angeles, you may be wondering how you can make the most of your workouts at our gym, or in your home gym. We were new to this type of exercise at one point too, so we understand that it takes time and effort to overcome these challenges.

After years of experience, we’ve acquired some tips that will help you through your tough, but exciting, CrossFit sessions in our Los Angeles and Santa Monica locations. At A4, you’ll receive plenty of support and guidance as you begin and grow with your new exercise regime.

We recommend the following 5 CrossFit tips for newbies:

1. Compete Against Yourself, Not Others

When engaging in your WOD (workout of the day), remember that you’re only trying to improve on your own past results, not anyone else’s. It can be tempting to compare your fitness level, skills, and results to others. But this only leads to frustration. You’re in a unique place in terms of flexibility and strength. Start out your WOD by recognizing your own struggles and then try to improve upon them.

2. Realize You’ll Need to Scale

When some people start a new fitness routine, they think they have to reach the pinnacle of the sport in minutes, or in days. You don’t need to impress anyone from the get-go. On the contrary, you’re going to want to build a solid foundation based on the fitness level you’re currently at. The goal is to work with the strength and flexibility you have now, and then scale as your fitness and technique improve.

3. Your Diet Matters

What you eat matters more than what you lift. Nutrition is everything in fitness, so you’re going to have to get on the straight and narrow path when it comes to eating right. Your diet affects how much energy you have, your recovery after your CrossFit workouts, and how easily you stay illness free. Eat quality foods like whole grains, green vegetables, whole fruits, healthy fats, and protein rich foods like beans.

4. Ask for Help When You Need It

As you go through your CrossFit workouts at A4, remember that you’re the one spending the money and time. You have every right to ask for clarification if you don’t understand a workout. You can ask over and over again for help grasping a concept or technique. The CrossFit trainers at A4 are here to help you achieve your best results, which means you have to be perfectly clear on how to do that.

5. There Is Life Beyond CrossFit

As much as we love CrossFit, we want out clients to remember that there is more to life than exercise and working out. In combination with your desire to be physically fit, you need to focus on building strength in other ways. It’s a good idea to find some adventurous activities that thrill and pump you up outside of the gym as well.

For more tips and tricks, pop into our studios for CrossFit in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and the Westside.

Many kids want to take up boxing. And many parents think that boxing will instill confidence and direction in their child. Yet, some opponents to kids’ boxing programs argue that children’s health is endangered by the activity. At A4, we’ve put together a program for kids’ boxing in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Culver City that focuses on character building and looks after the safety of young people. We think that kids benefit from boxing, and we’re excited to tell you why.

A4’s Kids’ Boxing Program

A4’s Kids’ Boxing classes in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Culver City teach kids the discipline, confidence, and focus that’s needed to deal with many of today’s issues. Our programs help children become stronger, mentally, physically, and athletically. And, they’re fun!

Our kids’ boxing programs build on the same skills as many traditional martial arts programs. They teach children to challenge themselves, to work with others, and to enjoy their successes.

What to Look for in a Kids’ Boxing Program

If you or your child is interested in a kids’ boxing program, there are certain things you should look for. You’ll want to make sure that classes are taught by instructors who are adept in boxing. With years of experience comes the ability to make sure kids are using proper form and approaching the sport from the correct mindset.

It’s also a good idea to see if the kids’ boxing program you’re checking out offers the opportunity to transition into youth and adult classes. Many of the children that we teach find great mental and physical strength when taking our kids’ boxing programs. They often love the sport so much that it keeps them away from the wrong path, and offers hope when they need it. If your child really takes to boxing, it’s wonderful if they can have a studio to grow with.

Health Precautions

One of the reasons people give for advising against kids’ boxing programs is that a child can get hurt. A4 takes many precautions to make sure that our students are equipped mentally to approach challenging lessons. And, we make sure they’re physically protected with appropriate gear. Children who come to class suited up with proper dress and equipment—and respect the advice of teachers who demonstrate the ideal mindsets—don’t usually have to deal with injuries.

Self-Defense

Children who participate in kids’ boxing programs in our LA, Santa Monica, and Culver City studios learn how to punch, kick, jab, cross, and upper cut. But, they are taught these skills with the premise that they only use them for sport with willing participants or to defend themselves against an attacker. The kids we teach embrace the idea of boxing as self-defense. We set each child up to understand what behavior is appropriate in different situations.

If you’re thinking about bringing your child to a studio for kids’ boxing in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, or Culver City, give us a call or come and visit us. We are happy to talk to you more about boxing for kids and what you can expect from our programs. 

If you’re looking for someone to help you get fit and stay healthy in LA, consider turning to a personal trainer. There are many individuals and fitness studios that offer personal training in Los Angeles, so you’re bound to find a trainer and program that suits your personality and schedule.

Wondering where to start searching for people and places that offer personal training in West LA, Santa Monica, and other locations in Los Angeles? Try the following resources:

Online Searches

A quick search online for “personal training in Los Angeles” or “personal trainers in Los Angeles” will give you pages and pages of folks, and businesses, offering personal training services in the City of Angels. When you find a trainer or fitness studio that’s close to you, make sure you take the time to check out the website and see if it features any referrals for the business.

If you choose to book a personal trainer that you find online, you should always meet in a public place for the first few sessions. Request a workout on a beach, in a park, or in a gym.

Yelp

Yelp can be a great resource for finding personal training services in Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. Along with finding personal trainers who live or work in your neighborhood, you’ll be able to view ratings from others who have used these trainers and can vouch (or not) for their professionalism.

Coupon Sites

Coupon sites like Groupon or Living Social often have deals for personal training in Los Angeles. We’ve seen some amazing discounts on private training sessions for a half hour, hour, or longer. Some of the prices for personal training sessions have been slashed by as much as 50%. When you book a personal training session off of these coupon sites, be sure to read the fine print because sometimes you won’t be able to cancel or get a refund after booking.

Gyms

Los Angeles has an abundance of big and small gyms that offer personal training sessions as an auxiliary service. Check with some of the gyms that are close to where you live or work. Ask them if they have trainers who will work with you at the gym or come to your home, if that’s more convenient for you.

Referrals

If you can find a personal trainer by referral, you’re lucky and should jump on the opportunity. If you already visit a fitness studio or gym, ask a member that you chat with occasionally (or even one you don’t know but admire) if she can recommend a good personal trainer. Sometimes, the best bodies in the gym put in time with a personal trainer outside of studio hours.

These are just a few of the ways you can find great personal training services in Los Angeles. LA is a city overflowing with fitness fanatics and people who like to look fabulous. Chances are good that if you simply ask someone with a rockin’ body who his personal trainer is, you’ll get a hookup for yourself.

If you’re looking for someone to help you get fit and stay healthy in LA, consider

turning to a personal trainer. There are many individuals and fitness studios that

offer personal training in Los Angeles, so you’re bound to find a trainer and

program that suits your personality and schedule.

Wondering where to start searching for people and places that offer personal

training in West LA, Santa Monica, and other locations in Los Angeles? Try the

following resources:

Online Searches

A quick search online for “personal training in Los Angeles” or “personal trainers

in Los Angeles” will give you pages and pages of folks, and businesses, offering

personal training services in the City of Angels. When you find a trainer or fitness

studio that’s close to you, make sure you take the time to check out the website

and see if it features any referrals for the business.

If you choose to book a personal trainer that you find online, you should always

meet in a public place for the first few sessions. Request a workout on a beach,

in a park, or in a gym.

Yelp

Yelp can be a great resource for finding personal training services in Los Angeles

and the surrounding communities. Along with finding personal trainers who live or

work in your neighborhood, you’ll be able to view ratings from others who have

used these trainers and can vouch (or not) for their professionalism.

Coupon Sites

Coupon sites like Groupon or Living Social often have deals for personal training

in Los Angeles. We’ve seen some amazing discounts on private training

sessions for a half hour, hour, or longer. Some of the prices for personal training

sessions have been slashed by as much as 50%. When you book a personal

training session off of these coupon sites, be sure to read the fine print because

sometimes you won’t be able to cancel or get a refund after booking.

Gyms

Los Angeles has an abundance of big and small gyms that offer personal training

sessions as an auxiliary service. Check with some of the gyms that are close to

where you live or work. Ask them if they have trainers who will work with you at

the gym or come to your home, if that’s more convenient for you.

Referrals

If you can find a personal trainer by referral, you’re lucky and should jump on the

opportunity. If you already visit a fitness studio or gym, ask a member that you

chat with occasionally (or even one you don’t know but admire) if she can

recommend a good personal trainer. Sometimes, the best bodies in the gym put

in time with a personal trainer outside of studio hours.

These are just a few of the ways you can find great personal training services in

Los Angeles. LA is a city overflowing with fitness fanatics and people who like to

look fabulous. Chances are good that if you simply ask someone with a rockin’

body who his personal trainer is, you’ll get a hookup for yourself.

Looking for ways to stay healthy in Los Angeles? There are plenty of options for incorporating health and nutrition into Los Angeles lifestyles. The “City of Angels” is filled with healthy restaurants, great places to work out, and outdoor opportunities for exercising and getting a daily dose of vitamin D.



Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can achieve your goals for health and nutrition in Los Angeles’ top neighborhoods:

Healthy Food

A key factor in staying healthy in any city is eating nutritious food. Los Angeles has its share of fast food and fatty food restaurants, but it also boasts some amazing organic and plant-based eateries that can contribute to a healthy life.

A few of the chain restaurants in LA that serve healthy food include Native Foods (locations in Santa Monica and Westwood), Café Gratitude (in Venice and the Downtown Arts District), M Café (Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Hollywood), and Gracias Madre (West Hollywood and soon-to-be in Downtown).

Other options for good-for-you fare in Los Angeles are Real Food Daily in Santa Monica, Sun Café in Studio City, Crossroads Kitchen in Hollywood, and Sage Bistro in Culver City.

If you live in Los Angeles, or are visiting, you can always find healthy eats at markets like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Co-Opportunity in Santa Monica. Shop for healthy ingredients at farmers’ markets and you can prepare your own tasty, nourishing food at home (with the help of some amazing cookbooks that focus on plant-powered meals).

Exercise

Staying healthy in Los Angeles is easy when you get outside and move your body in some of the city’s gorgeous locales. It’s not uncommon to see people jogging down San Vicente in Brentwood, hiking Runyon Canyon, climbing the West Channel Road Stairs in Rustic Canyon, or rollerblading on the beach in Santa Monica.

You can also swing on the rings on Venice Beach, walk up the trail from Fern Dell in Griffith Park to the Observatory, paddleboard in Marina del Rey, or enjoy many other activities in Los Angeles that will keep your body energized and at the peak of health.

Spending time in the sunshine is vital to being healthy, but you can also stay indoors and work on wellness. Los Angeles has many outstanding crossfit, yoga, MMA, boxing, and Pilates studios at which you can take classes. There are also a host of great gyms to join if you prefer working out on exercise machines.

Health and nutrition in Los Angeles can be found no matter where you live or what kind of lifestyle you lead. Staying healthy in a big city like LA comes down to making the effort to seek out, and take advantage of, all the offerings that are available.