You’ve heard of CrossFit.
Maybe you’ve seen fit people lifting big weights on Instagram. Maybe one of your co-workers goes to CrossFit after work every day. Maybe you even have friends who won’t stop talking about it.
But before you go down the Google rabbit hole, consider these four things 4 when searching for “CrossFit gyms near me.”
I’ve had the pleasure to see, train and work in CrossFit gyms all over the world and I can tell you one thing for sure. They are all different!
Number 1: Consider more than just price and location in your decision.
When choosing a gym, price and location are often the deciding factors of course. In my opinion, a great CrossFit gym with an awesome community is worth the extra 10 or 15 minutes on the road. CrossFit can be a social activity and every gym has a different culture, and you should find a gym whose coaches and clients you connect well with. Depending on a new client’s goals I tell many prospects to try all the CrossFit gyms in the area before deciding which one is the best for them.
Yes, CrossFit can be expensive.
But Guess what?
It can also be cheap.
But you get what you pay for. So you need to ask yourself what are you looking for? Do you just want access to equipment and not much in the way of service or coaching? If that’s the case, then maybe the lower-priced option is great for you. If you are new to CrossFit, however, I don’t recommend this route. The movements can be complex and you’ll need a lot of quality coaching.
At Solv, we pride ourselves on client service. We provide our clients with one-on-one personal training services a the beginning of their journey, which has a higher price point, YES. But this enables us to get to know each of clients on a personal level, help educate them on their individual needs as well as prescribe accurate and achievable fitness/nutrition plans that work for their individual and unique situation. If you want a higher-value service that provides faster results than group classes, you should consider a CrossFit gym that also provides one-on-one personal training and nutrition coaching as their core services.
Number 2: Ask, “Do the CrossFit boxes near me understand my goals?”
The most successful CrossFit gyms should understand the wants, needs and desires of their clients.
The best gyms in the business understand that we are in the results business. The worst gyms in the business think we are in the “get-bodies-in-the-door” business. I’m not saying if your gym has over 150 clients they can’t give you a great service, I’m simply saying that at 150 clients or more it’s much more difficult to understand and serve everyone’s particular needs.
At Solv the path to results begins with a goal-setting session when you first walk in. We call ours a No Sweat Intro. Good gyms will ask you what your goals are. Do you want to lose weight? Gain strength? Get toned? Feel better in your skin?
Now, here’s the secret—the great gyms will ask you WHY.
Understanding the “why” is very powerful in setting any goal. Is it about more than just losing weight? Does your family have a history of chronic disease? Do you want to get stronger so you can play with your grandchildren? Do you want to be able to use your fitness outside of the gym in activities like golf, swimming, kayaking or hiking?
If no one sits down with you and talks to you about your goals and your “why,” then they don’t truly understand you or want to. And like Dale Carnegie said, “the deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”
You deserve to find a gym that appreciates you!
Number 3: Ask, “Do the CrossFit gyms near me offer nutrition coaching?”
Yes! You read that correctly! The best CrossFit gyms in your area should offer nutrition coaching. Not 30 day challenges or here is your macro prescription, follow this BUT actual coaching.
Despite the fact that what we read on the internet is usually correct (hint—that was a joke!),
CrossFit is not about heavy barbells and kipping pull-ups. It’s about improving your health & fitness.
Greg Glassman, the founder of CrossFit, defined fitness in 100 words: “Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: deadlift, clean, squat, presses, clean-and-jerk and snatch.
“Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics; Pull-ups, dips, rope climbs, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstands, pirouettes, flips, splits and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc. hard and fast. Five or six days per week, mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.”
That was a lot to throw at you. Just note that the first 26 words are all about nutrition.
In any health and fitness routine, nutrition is responsible for 80% of the results. We see it in our clients all the time. Those who do nutrition coaching see 3.5 times the results of those who just exercise. If you are not eating real whole foods, you are not doing CrossFit … period.
People quit gyms when they don’t see results. If you want the fastest route to results, you need good nutrition and exercise. So why not find a gym where you can get both?
Number 4: Ask yourself whether you’re searching for a “CrossFit gym near me” or a “CrossFit personal trainer near me.”
If you’re new to CrossFit, I highly advise that you start in a one-on-one personal-training environment. Fitness can be intimidating. You will feel like you don’t know what you’re doing.
Don’t get lost in a sea of terminology and equipment you don’t understand.
A CrossFit gym in your area that offers personal training is the best place to start. You may even find that you enjoy the one-on-one environment more than group training.
CrossFit is a training methodology. Group training and personal training are the means with which it is delivered.
At Solv, we offer both services. We find personal training is best for the following:
- Clients dealing with a pre-existing injury.
- Clients new to CrossFit.
- Older clients that might get neglected if put in a group class with 20- and 30-somethings.
- Clients who want to make sure they’re performing the movements correctly.
- Clients who don’t like a group setting.
At Solv, we find group is best for the following ;
- Clients who are confident in working out with others
- Clients who are able to leave their ego at the door and focus on themselves
- Clients who have general fitness goals and not specifics
- Clients who played sports in their youth
- Clients who are social regardless of whether they are more introverted or extroverted
So don’t just toss out some search terms and sign up with the first gym you find on Google Maps. Your health is worth your due diligence.
Inspiration provided by Rob Connors at SignumCrossFit.com.
https://www.signumcrossfit.com/crossfitgymnearmebetter/
