Is Crossfit in Los Angeles for You? Five Fun Tips to Decide!

You’ve probably heard of Crossfit—the fitness craze that’s been taking over the U.S. for the past few years. If you’ve heard descriptions of Crossfit, you know the workouts are intense and that you’re going to change not only how you exercise, but also how you look. Crossfit in Los Angeles isn’t for everyone. Those who have suffered previous injuries may need to find another fitness regimen. But most people looking to get in shape will find CrossFit highly beneficial. Here’s a few tips to decide whether it may be right for you:

It’s Made Up of Several Workout Elements

Crossfit gives you a full-body workout that covers, at a minimum, weight lifting, gymnastic movements, cardio work and core training. Who uses Crossfit? Professional athletes, military special operations units, police academies, martial artists and tactical operations teams. All of these organizations require their members be able to react quickly in uncertain, often high-intensity situations. If this type of training appeals to you, you’d be a good Crossfit candidate.

It’s Intense

Delving further into the idea of “intensity,” high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, is one of the main characteristics of Crossfit training. Think about groups of people lifting those huge tractor tires and flipping them over. That could be one Crossfit exercise meant to help you develop core strength and explosion power. Do you believe that a high-intensity exercise in a shorter time period is for you? Give it a shot!

If You Can Do This...

If you’re joining a Crossfit gym in Santa Monica, you’ll hear the coach refer to the “WOD.” This is the “workout of the day,” which can consist of the following:

º One 20-minute AMRAP (which means “As many rounds as possible”). In this AMRAP:

º Two Burpees

º 100 meter run

º Two pull-ups

º Two 185 pound deadlifts

Look back at the acronym: AMRAP. When you finish those deadlifts, you aren’t done for the day. You have to go back and do this routine as many times as you can–in 20 minutes!

It’s a Culture

It’s not only the high-intensity exercise that attracts Crossfit followers. Many Crossfitters engage in a particularly athletic lifestyle, including a balanced diet and a balanced sleep regimen. Also, Crossfit members enjoy exercising along with others who are doing a similar workout, to help them stay motivated and engaged. They respond well to the support and verbal encouragement they get from their coaches and teammates.

Beware the Risks

We’ve talked about the high points that might attract you to trying a Crossfit workout. If you have suffered an injury in the past, such as a back injury, you must communicate this to your trainer, so he can help decide if Crossfit will be a good activity for you and exactly how you might alter the workout.

Fortunately, nearly all Crossfit gyms will offer a training course that teaches you the foundational movements you need to learn proper movement. This course, called “Elements” or “On Ramp,” lasts up to one month. Now that you’ve read this, it’s up to you to decide if Crossfit could be for you.