Fitness for women – the phrase itself is of ambiguous definition. Fitness arguably entails no fixed criteria or rules to assess how fit a female is exactly. Into the bargain comes a perplexing 2016 era of fitness for the females who face the process of trial and error, grasping what works for their bodies! From circuit training to cardio regimes and a 100 deadlifts in the gym, the present-day woman no longer views the general yardstick to being fit as solely void of an irregularly high percentage of body fat.
Amongst one’s fitness choices today comes CrossFit – presenting itself as a broad program designed to build muscular endurance and all-rounded fitness. CrossFit has been the strength and conditioning program for hundreds of elite and professional athletes worldwide; from military special operations units and even champion martial artists! With varied WODs (Workout Of The Day) and high-intensity functional movements, CrossFit trains people regardless of age, shape or size to improve cardiovascular fitness. From variations of gymnastics and handstand push-ups to combative training and throwing medicine balls, a CrossFitter does almost everything comprising part and parcel of specific workouts, all combined into one general workout. Yet lifting and conditioning to look as powerfully built as Ms Olympia isn’t too commended in societal norms either. “Our culture has traditionally viewed strength as a masculine trait and promoted a small, frail body as feminine,” say the authors of a study on women and weight-training in the journal The Physician and Sports Medicine. “Consequently, girls have been discouraged from participating in gross-motor-skill activities and strength development.”
Contrary to hearsay, CrossFit does not turn a woman into a lady brick! Undoubtedly, lifting builds muscle. But muscle burns fat, making it the fastest way to get lean! Even majority of experts suggest weight-training at least twice a week to reap a range of benefits. And yes, men and women included! Urban Remedy lends every woman 10 reasons why CrossFit is worth a try – and how not every CrossFitter transforms into a lady Arnold by lifting.
- Time To Learn Proper Form (And Proper Cardio)
Fear getting hurt with the gym’s selection of barbells? And if you’ve always been a hand weights girl who’s avoided strength training altogether, CrossFit is a great point to begin. Majority of CrossFit requires new athletes to understand a basic course with equipment usage and proper lifting form. And with the cross-training ways of CrossFit, you will start questioning the levels of effectiveness on machines you spent hours with. Say goodbye to the numerous hours spent on stationary bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines!
- Super Efficiency; Super Woman
It is as if CrossFit was invented for the present-day woman. Spared only one hour daily to work out? Then CrossFit would be your best bet. With CrossFit, it’s easy to squeeze in a workout as short as 7 minutes long, providing you more efficiency than the 45 minutes one would spend on the elliptical! It’s a time-waster. Majority of WODs (workout of the day) combine cardio and weight training. One will be surprised at how fast the heart rate can accelerate within a 10-minute combination of push-ups, burpees, and air squats.
- Say Goodbye To Boring Routines
You’ll hardly find yourself dreading the gym or having the interval to daydream on the treadmill with CrossFit. Made up of constantly varied, high-intensity movements, the course of one workout of the day requires a CrossFitter to run, row, swing kettlebells and even work on gymnastic moves such as handstands! With coaches who use the timer throughout the class to keep you in constant motion, boring gym routines will never be heard of again.
- Lift And Still Look Like A Girl
If you avoid weight-lifting for fear of looking like a man – here’s a fact. To look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, one needs more of a super strict diet and dedication than the iron one pumps. Cardio burns calories while you do it; strength training, on the other hand, keeps the calories burning even while you are at rest. The end result is a toned body – and only the lady version of Arnold’s if you choose to build it so. With CrossFit, women can expect to see a increase in lean muscle tissue and a reduction in body fat. CrossFit also comes with a constantly varied nature; ensuring that every part of your body will get worked out, with specific focus on glutes and thighs. Combined with countless squats, your metabolism will get a boost with muscle mass, and still look good! Just look at Annie Thorrisdotir, a professional CrossFit athlete; also the only woman to have won the CrossFit Games twice in 2011 and 2012! Talk about inspiration!
- Forget The Scale; Focus On Strength
Forget the use of the weighing scale. Unless it’s about how much you are lifting, you will rarely hear talk about pounds in your CrossFit gym. Majority of CrossFitters keep track of their PRs (personal records) for their lifts and workouts through a mobile app or notebook, making it easier to see significant improvements in strength and stamina over time. In other words, CrossFit women focus on performance and not societal standards or aesthetics – strength, agility and effectiveness is more important than having a slim figure.
- Modifiable To Your CrossFit Abilities; Everyone Can Do It!
In a typical CrossFit box (also known as gym), every CrossFitter gets a physically strenuous but achievable workout, regardless of age, amount of experience or level of ability. This is reasonably because scaling weight applicably is encouraged, and almost every CrossFit movement can be modified to preference. Fret not – you are free to modify that pull-up with an exercise band or opt for a lighter kettlebell than the recommended weight, without judgments or awkward glances.
- It’s A Supportive, Real Community
Naysayers and critics may call CrossFit a cult, but a CrossFitter will tell you it’s a community. The best coaches create a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Advanced athletes share training advice with beginners and cheer them on while finishing a workout. Along training journey of CrossFit, forming friendships and being a part of a real community who understands the same pains and gains you do is a bonus to that toned, strong body.
- Get Rid Of Your Fears; Feel Stronger
Haunted by memories of your school’s rope climbs, traumatising you well into your 30s? With CrossFit, everyone gets an opportunity to be challenged and confront fears and tears. CrossFit is not just physical, it’s mental. A CrossFitter needs mind and body strength to complete certain workouts. But in the end, knowing what you got through in the gym translates into your ability to conquer anything outside of it as well! Supportive coaches will guide a beginner towards challenging movements like rope climbs, pull-ups, and handstands with strength-building exercises in stages. In no time – you will feel stronger and gain confidence.
- Your Very Own Personal Trainer
CrossFit coaches make the effort to get to know every athlete to guide them towards goal-setting. In every class; one will be given specific guidance on proper form and technique. Undoubtedly, CrossFit may be a sizeable financial investment as compared to working out alone; but it’s much more affordable than sessions with a personal trainer. And you still attain the same benefits!
- Master Every Daily Chore – Without A Man’s Help!
CrossFit makes you strong, and strength leads to independence. A few months into CrossFit will refine your mastery of daily chores, without a man’s help. Activities like lugging groceries or moving cabinets at home or in the office will be painless. CrossFit focuses on one’s functional movements; sprinting short distances, carrying awkward items or lifting heavy things from the ground. Thus CrossFit training is, in varied ways, training one for everyday life.
CrossFit For Women In Singapore
If you’re a beginner, CrossFit can be done in gyms, under the supervision of certified gym trainers, or at home by following CrossFit videos that are available online. We recommend that you engage in CrossFit under professional supervision. In a CrossFit box, there’s always that feeling of team work and camaraderie from completing a CrossFit workout together. In Singapore, you can experiment with CrossFit in gyms like CrossFit Unit, Reebok Crossfit Enduro, CrossFit Fire City, CrossFit Singapore or CrossFit Hub. Whether you juggle family life or make the most out of your career without a workout regimen, the CrossFit program is great for any woman. Most CrossFit classes in Singapore offer trial classes with prices that vary from each trial class or trial month. Head down physically to experience a CrossFit gym for yourself. Be challenged, be determined and be motivated enough to complete a CrossFit workout to the best of your abilities – this will translate into confidence as a whole!
By picking up CrossFit, one will learn the benefits of high-intensity functional fitness not only to the shape of the body but the overall health as well. Throw out assumptions of how CrossFit could be intense for the average Jane, or how it could overtly build muscle mass and cause physical harm. With CrossFit; strong is the new sexy.