Tanya SammisCrossFit. The word alone can be polarizing and intimidating for some, but a welcome challenge and invitation for others. Prior to actually partaking in this fitness movement, I was on the, “not for me,” side of the spectrum – until I actually tried it, experienced a great coach, and changed my life and my health like I never imagined it would.
Three and a half years later, I haven’t looked back. I always considered myself to be some realm of fit – and then I realized I don’t know what I don’t know. CrossFit teaches movement, functional fitness, and the nutritional lifestyle that comes with it (or at least should if you want to live a well-rounded life).
One of the things people love most about CrossFit (present company included) is the community aspect. At first, the idea of someone cheering you on, hollering your name, and pushing you to get through the challenge of the workout may sound a little silly, but when you experience it, there is truly nothing like having a squad, family, troop – whatever you want to call it – around you to help you become better every single day. CrossFit is community.
So, yes, I drink the CrossFit Kool-Aid, and I’m passionate believer, but shouldn’t you be about the things that make a difference in your life? I love it so much so that when given the chance, I jumped into the opportunity of opening a gym, CrossFit Virilis, along with my other half in late 2014. Fast forward almost two years, and here we are – a few weeks ago, by the grace of God and the luck of the draw, Jobie and I won a drawing (#ThankYouAirrosti) to attend and spectate The CrossFit Games – it’s the ultimate, the Fittest in the World.
We didn’t know quite what to expect, because we’d only seen it on TV. The experience was everything we could have imagined and more. I keep describing it like I was in an alternate universe. A week of watching (yes, we worked out a few times too, but in the hotel, not the CrossFit Games stage) individuals and teams push themselves, challenge themselves, move with strength and agility, because they’re dedicated to their beings and to a craft that allows them to move, feel, and live better. I loved every minute of it. Biggest reason was probably because everyone just seemed so content – content to be challenged, content to be moving, content to be cheering, content to be living a life that made them better. It inspired me to continue to challenge myself, keep moving, keep cheering, and keep living and increasingly positive life.
Fitness, as defined by Greg Glassman, is this: increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains. In essence – constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity. Is fitness for everybody? Yes. Can CrossFit be? Certainly. It’s not the strongman’s capacity – it’s YOUR capacity, YOUR intensity, YOUR range of motion, YOUR goals. From experience and observance, the thing that stood out to me the most at the Games is the thing that stands out to me the most when I watch people practice fitness – being content. Content to be challenged, content to be greater, content to keep living the best life they can.
That’s what fitness is about. No matter what kind of fitness you do – it’s creating your being to be challenged and increasingly better. So what can you do to find your fittest self? Start. Keep Going. Reach your place of contentment, then aim for an even higher one. Just keep moving.
Here’s to your fitness.