Let me start my saying that the only shape I'm in is round(ish) - if that qualifies as a shape. I'm aiming to change that. I've enjoyed perusing far too many beer and food establishments, and while I'm not huge I'd get a "runners high" going up a flight of stairs or hoping on my bicycle and going around the block.
So, does this make me qualified to know what a five star gym is? Not necessarily. But I do know what five-star people are, and the owner Bryan and crew at CrossFit Nittany hit that mark.
I've tried going to a standard gym before, but the lack of structure and non-interaction with a coach made it really easy to just piss around and not be serious. Not with CrossFit. The "workout-of the-day" (WOD) is written when you walk in. You know what you're doing, and you're held accountable for it.
Does that mean Bryan is sitting there with a whip if you can't handle it? Absolutely not. He and his staff evaluate where you are in your fitness, and will modify the program to incorporate its core elements without overburdening you. You'll work hard, but it won't kill you. That would be bad for business. Bryan's been at this for a long time, and it shows. He even has a lot of certificates on his wall from legit sounding places saying he knows what he's doing.
If you've never been in a CrossFit facility before, be prepared for the following:
-- no machines
-- no tanning beds
-- no BS (if you need that translated, you're too young to CrossFit)
Tomorrow will be my fifth or sixth class. My first two group classes were not with the beginners group due to scheduling, but no one looked down on me for not knowing what exactly was happening. I ask a lot of stupid questions - sometimes twice - and everyone's been incredibly patient as I've tried to get my bearings. It's this synergy that makes this facility as good as it is.
Lastly, I've been "preaching" about the accommodating nature of this place as a newb. But make no mistake there are many **very** serious athletes here. If you're coming in with a wealth of CrossFit experience you shouldn't feel out of place unless you stumble into the newb class. And even then, all us newbs would simply gawk slack-jawed while you either rope climb one fingered or rip off 100 lateral burpees without breaking a sweat. read more