You do crossfit? That's so dangerous!

When I tell people I've recently started doing crossfit I typically get 1 of 3 responses-

That's so cool, I'm not hardcore enough for that!
That looks hard, no thanks.
You shouldn't do crossfit, it's so dangerous you will hurt your back.

I understand the responses, my initial thought when I learned my friends did crossfit was that I'm not hardcore enough but I changed my tune soon after! I have so much community support I know people are just looking out for me hopefully this post will relieve some of the safety concerns!

I was so nervous before my first crossfit class (bring a buddy workout with like 40 people), I wasn't sure what to expect or if I would be able to keep up with the class. Even though I have been working out for 6 months I'm out of shape, overweight, and slower than a turtle. I am ok with it because everyday I get a little bit stronger, eventually I will reach my goals but I'm at the in-between stage right now. During that class everything had to be scaled you couldn't tell I was the slowest but my score was the lowest and I didn't even care. I finish the workout and I loved every minute of it even when I had to do a scaled version of the WOD I wasn't embarrassed I was putting my best foot forward to get through it.

I started taking a fundamentals class the next week, I was amazed at how focused they were on proper form and not doing too much too fast. This class was the perfect introduction to crossfit, I learned proper technique for most lifts plus other important crossfit skills and I got to know some of the trainers better. Last week I started taking regular classes, there are no leveled classes so I was in with everyone else which obviously had me a little freaked out- I asked one of the co-owners if there were any classes that had more advanced students, I didn't want to hold the class back. Not only did he reassure me that I could fit into any class, he took it a step farther and told me that he didn't want trainers that couldn't make everyone feel welcome and confident in the workout.

I assumed that when I started real classes I would have to catch up and ask the coaches to explain the moves to me but for the most part I don't. It's not that I've suddenly gained all of the crossfit knowledge I will ever need but the trainers at my box are so focused on proper form and safety that we spend time during the warm-up breaking down all of the motions for whatever lift we are doing. The trainers ask about injuries, sore muscles, and overall health all the time I feel safer doing crossfit than when I tried to do piyo lol that was a hot mess! I hate that to some people crossfit has such a bad rap, it's not a dangerous sport at all- if you push yourself too fast or too hard in any sport there will be injuries not just crossfit. For every person you see on social media posting pictures of extreme lifts what you don't see is the thousands of hours that athlete has dedicated to getting better.

The support from the other students is so important, I'm the last one to finish my WOD if it's timed and the people that get done quickest cheer on those of us still going. I had a ton of assumptions going in- that it was crazy (and it kind of is but not in an unsafe way), that the competitive atmosphere would pit us against each other, and that I wouldn't be able to keep up. You know what they say happens when you assume ;) obviously I loved it and still do!

Maybe this view gave you a different perspective of crossfit or maybe you will dismiss my opinions because I haven't been doing it long enough to know better. Either way I hope you give crossfit a chance, take a trial class at your local box or if you are in houston try U Can Crossfit (this post is not endorsed or sponsored by UCan I just think they are fabulous!) I don't think you will regret it, the camaraderie among the other students is fantastic! But if you hate it feel free to let me know maybe we can find something else you might like! Pole dancing classes maybe?