Get Ripped, Do It All
“CrossFit.” Most of us have heard the word, and it often comes as a response to “What in the world did you do to get in such good shape?” CrossFit has become the magic word for a lot of people, seeking to lose weight and get those ripped good looks. CrossFitters often prefer strong to skinny, an attitude that’s healthy for all of us to adopt.
So what is CrossFit?
First of all, it’s a trademark. Let’s get that out of the way right now, before anyone’s lawyers turn up. Secondly, it’s a workout plan that strives to be unplanned. CrossFit’s goal is constantly varied movement, incorporating moves and workouts from gymnastics, weight lifting, aerobics and military-style basic training. A CrossFit workout might include deadlifting, rope climbing and burpees, as well as a run. In the 30 minutes you spend at CrossFit, you will spend all the energy you have in an intense, fierce burn.
WOD?
The “WOD” is a common CrossFit term referring to the Workout of the Day. Workouts of the Day are always varied, but feature a warm up, a period of time spent developing a skill, some high-intensity moves and then stretching. Many CrossFit gyms will score the WODs, encouraging Crossfitters to compete against each other to reach maximum intensity.
Yearly, the best of the best compete against each other in the CrossFit Games. The games don’t have specific events like the Olympics, rather, they evoke the spirit of CrossFit by surprising contestants with their events hours before competition. The events of the CrossFit Games are designed to test fitness — with the idea that a truly fit person will be ready for whatever physical challenge is thrown at them.
Where?
CrossFit is a brand name, but licenses its name and trainers to gyms all over the country. Fittingly, CrossFit’s culture has a massive online presence. Gyms tend to post their WODs, encouraging users to keep up on days they don’t get to the gym. CrossFitters online also post their diets and preferred workout equipment, turning the favor of CrossFitters into a huge moneymaker for unaffiliated product lines that become CrossFit favorites.
D.C. residents have had CrossFit-dedicated facilities since the opening of CrossFit DC in 2005. Located in Northwest, CrossFit DC encourages its patrons to “lift heavy, run fast, jump high and row hard.” Drop into their studio for an hour-long intro class to learn the basics!
Primal Fitness in D.C. is a great place if what you want is raw. This gym throws its energy into providing high quality equipment and amazing training through parkour, vault boxes and balance training, and offers classes in addition to its CrossFit program. Additionally, Primal Fitness is right alongside three Metro stations, making your transition from your daily life to your CrossFit life easy!
District Crossfit, located in Northwest, provides 10,000 square feet of all the lifting, jumping, running and climbing you can handle. The trainers at District CrossFit are perfect for the aspiring athlete who feels a little intimidated by all the raw power going around in CrossFit gyms. For a $30 fee, trainers will walk you through an instruction to see if CrossFit is right for you.
Health editor, Tini Howard is a writer, aerialist and foodie from the East Coast.