CFRH is one of the best CrossFit boxes I've ever been to. Let me tell you why.
==Coaches==
For any box, the coaches are the beating heart of the whole operation; if they're not good, there's no point in going. You'd be surprised at how many CrossFit coaches at other boxes either don't do a warm up or stretch, or just phone it in if they do. Some have bad attitudes or just have no personality at all. And I've even dropped in on classes at other places where the coach was on their phone through the whole WOD. With a workout model like CrossFit, where a workout is necessarily in a class format with a coach, that just doesn't cut it.
Fortunately, the coaches at CFRH are among the best I've seen anywhere.
They are very attentive and genuinely care about your progress, technique, and safety. I've taken classes with just about all of the coaches here, and everyone one of them pretty much knows every student by name (and makes drop-ins feel welcome), brings great attitude and energy, and actively encourages camaraderie among the class with ice breakers at the start of class. During the workouts, they keep tabs on everyone, make adjustments to technique, and encourage everyone to do their best. They are all qualified and amazingly experienced.
==Classes==
Each class follows the general CrossFit format: start with some kind of short cardio warm up, then move into a good dose of stretching. After that you might focus on a particular skill or technique, or just a period of weightlifting. After that comes the WOD. Sometimes after there is an optional final stretch or movement. There is a general method to the programming, where for certain periods of the year you target certain muscle groups, or, such as in the period leading up to the CrossFit Open, the WODs get more intense.
If you've never done CrossFit before and are understandably intimidated by it, or feel like you won't be able to keep up, my pitch is that every workout and skill is scaled to ability and strength. If you can't do bar muscle ups, that's fine! The coaches can have you do kipping pull ups, jumping pull ups, or banded pull ups, or negatives, or ring rows instead--whatever you can do that still helps you improve. For this reason, CrossFit democratizes the intensity: literally everyone is burnt out by the end, both newbies and pros alike.
==Community==
Everyone knows that the community aspect of CrossFit is one of the main draws, but in my experience it is not a given that a true community will blossom at every CrossFit.
But CFRH actually makes the gym a vibrant and welcoming community. There's a Facebook group that people actually communicate on, there are celebrations and outings in Philly, and there are weekly videos with updates and programming. And, again, the ice breakers at the beginning of class help everyone to at least introduce themselves and share critical details like what kind of dessert we'd eat if we could only have one for the rest of our lives. (Answer: warm apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.)
Another great thing about the community here is that, unlike at traditional gyms where it's not uncommon to see people take mirror selfies, the focus at CFRH is more on improving our movements, strength, and nutritional habits than on who looks best without a shirt on. Sure, we're all there to look better, but when literally everyone is struggling to get the last reps in with 5 seconds left or to do a movement with flawless execution, it, in my opinion, is a more pleasant environment than one where it's all about who already looks fit and who doesn't. In that way, the gym encourages all stages of improvement from any starting point.
==Equipment and Space==
The equipment here is all pretty new, and there's new stuff being added all the time.
Now, the only real complaint that I have about CFRH is that I wish the space were bigger. Typically the number of class participants is capped at 12, and even though 12 people do fit in the space, it can feel cramped if we're doing a complicated WOD that has lots of different equipment.
==Conclusion==
If you're a CrossFit veteran or a novice, try this place out! You're unlikely to find a better place nearby. read more
