What Makes CrossFit Great for Anyone and Everyone?

Even though CrossFit has been around for quite some time now, people are often unsure if CrossFit is the best type of workout for them. CrossFit co-founder Greg Glassman answered that question simply: “CrossFit is not for everyone, but it is for anyone.”

Here are 5 top reasons CrossFit truly is for anyone, no matter their age, ability level, stage of life, or physical differences.

1. CrossFit workouts are infinitely scalable.

During any given CrossFit class, you’ll find a wide variety of modifications being made to the day’s workout. CrossFit workouts are designed to be adapted easily to the needs of any individual athlete—any movement can be done as is, scaled down, or intensified. When scaling, CrossFit coaches and athletes look at three possible changes: duration, skill, and load. For example, let’s look at Fight Gone Bad, a popular CrossFit WOD.

• 3 Rounds For Total Reps in 17 minutes:

• 1 minute Wall Ball Shots (20/14 lb)

• 1 minute Sumo Deadlift High-Pulls (75/55 lb)

• 1 minute Box Jumps (20 in)

• 1 minute Push Press (75/55 lb)

• 1 minute Row (calories)

• 1 minute Rest

There are infinite ways to scale this workout. The amount of time per movement can be shortened, the weight of the wall ball or barbell can be decreased (or increased, for more advanced athletes), the height of the box can be lowered or increased, box jumps can be changed to box step ups, or the rower can be substituted for a different machine. 

CrossFit meets you where you’re at, and coaches are trained to help athletes find the correct scaling option to ensure each person still gets a high-intensity, beneficial workout without overexertion or injury. 

2. Workouts are designed with functionality in mind.

Anything you do in a CrossFit gym can translate to movements done in your everyday life. This is more obvious for some movements than others—squats help with sitting and standing, overhead presses help with moving things to and from shelves, and lunges help with getting up from or down to the floor.

However, even the “stranger” movements help with everyday tasks. Take handstand walks—sure, almost none of us will ever need to walk somewhere on our hands (and if you do, I want to know what you do for a living!), but we do need the balance and mobility gained from practicing uniquely challenging moves like this.

3. Adjustments can be made for any age or abilities. 

CrossFit coaches are trained to cater to people from all stages of life, from helping kids and adolescents develop motor skills and coordination to guiding older adults looking to retain and enhance mobility as they age. Workouts can also be easily modified for pregnant and postpartum athletes to focus more intently on core engagement and safe movements due to the changes brought on by pregnancy and birth. 

Additionally, CrossFit prides itself on being scalable for adaptive athletes. This can include modifications to equipment, movement standards, and more to accommodate athletes with physical or neurological impairments—whatever helps an athlete be able to participate fully and get their high-intensity, beneficial workout in.

4. CrossFit WODs provide a balanced workout that can be completed in an hour or less.

CrossFit workouts combine elements of weightlifting, gymnastics, and cardio into workouts that are generally designed to take anywhere from under 10 minutes to 30 minutes to complete. Many of us already feel stretched thin with our time, so finding a fitness routine that fits into our busy lives and provides a wide variety of movements makes a major difference.

Of course, there are unique workouts that will take longer than the standard hour-long CrossFit class, such as the two Hero WODs Murph and Chad. However, these are designed with a different goal in mind—to come together as a community in honor of fallen servicemen, in the case of these two WODs—than the workouts you’ll see during a standard week in CrossFit.

5. Attending CrossFit classes regularly takes the guesswork out of maintaining a fitness routine. 

Oftentimes, what prevents us from maintaining a fitness routine is the sheer overwhelm of deciding what to do each time we walk into the gym. CrossFit eliminates this hurdle entirely, since workouts are pre-programmed by your gym and designed to ensure athletes get a well-rounded mix of movements each week.

So, whether you’re a busy mom of two with no energy to plan your workouts, a business owner trying to get back into fitness, an athlete with a limb difference who needs modified movements, CrossFit has something for you. All that said, you’ll only truly know if CrossFit is for you by walking into a gym and taking a class. If you’re interested in checking out a class at Rooted CrossFit, check out our schedule or drop us a line!