What Makes CrossFit Perfect for Moms?
Life is busy. The kids are even busier. Work life creeps into home life—and what’s vacation? Weeks fly by and the idea of finding time to work out is smothered by countless chores and hours of overtime.
Among all the balls moms skillfully keep in the air, the one that we often drop—and sometimes don’t even try to juggle to begin with—is our own fitness, health, and self-care.
This is often attributed to not enough time in the day—an entirely valid experience. Shuttling to and from extracurricular activities, making sure everyone is eating well, studying, practicing, reading enough, exhibiting good hygiene, and being a decent human…add to this demanding careers, and it’s clear that most of us are working with very limited time.
In CrossFit, you are constantly challenged and taxed. You are asked to do things you think you may not be able to do, but you do them to the best of your ability—and gain even more confidence for it. It’s important to find ways to feel our own strength within the experience of motherhood, and CrossFit provides a great way to do this.
People who have a consistent exercise routine regularly report higher energy levels, less incidence of depression, improved mood, fewer issues with weight control, and better health outcomes in general (whether measured by routine blood work or propensity for illness). And it’s even easier to keep consistent with group classes like those you find at a CrossFit box.
Specific to pregnancy, regular exercise reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia while also improving cardiovascular health. Continuing to practice functional movements and maintain a good range of motion via moves like squats, lunges, and presses can support a mother’s health during pregnancy and beyond.
Motherhood can also be a socially isolating time: according to the National Institutes of Health, women’s relationships and social networks undergo changes in the postpartum period, and women can become lonely and isolated. A variety of findings indicate that around one in six women experience depression during pregnancy, and around one in five do so in the first three months after giving birth. While it can feel impossible to find time to either socialize or workout, especially in the early years of motherhood, CrossFit can achieve both goals.
CrossFit focuses intently on community-building, especially before, during, and after classes at the box. It’s a great opportunity for adults to build much-needed social networks at any stage of life, including motherhood. Additionally, some gyms allow parents to bring children to the facility during workouts, so long as children are safely contained and not a danger to themselves or to other members. While moms do benefit from caregiving breaks and time to pursue their own passions, this option can be a game-changer for moms who may not have abundant childcare options but who want to commit to a fitness routine.
Children often do what we do, not what we say; our participation in CrossFit helps our kids to value their health, self-care, and the pursuit and achievement of goals. How we manage our own health helps to set the template for our children.
As women navigate the beautiful yet challenging journey of motherhood, CrossFit is a powerful tool in our toolkit, empowering us to be the healthiest and happiest versions of ourselves.
Are you a mom interested in CrossFit to help rebuild strength, boost confidence, and enhance overall well-being? Rooted CrossFit would love to welcome you into our community and help you reach your goals.