I'm just going to go on ahead and say it... CrossFit doesn't have to hurt.
Let that sink in for a moment. When is the last time you felt really great after a workout? If you're brand new to working out, here after a post-injury hiatus, or you've been doing CrossFit for years on end, you might not even remember the last time you left the gym with a spring in your step.
It doesn't have to be that way. But first, I've got good news and bad news.
The bad (for some folks):
You're going to have to let go of your ego.
I promise you've experienced ego before, even if you don't realize it. Ego is that little voice saying things like...
- This workout isn't worth a damn unless you do it exactly how it's written on the whiteboard.
- You have to catch Suzanne on this round or else you won't top the Wodify Whiteboard. Ignore that shooting pain!
- Sure, your back hurt a couple days ago, but feels fine today, so let's crush a bunch of heavy deadlifts!
However your ego shows up, it can quickly get you into trouble. The worst part? Your ego might push you to make poor decisions that aren't even in line with your goals in the first place. (Example: "My #1 goal is to drop body fat, but I got sloppy on a heavy clean, and now I'm hurt and cannot make it to the gym consistently.")
I'll be first to admit as a younger athlete, I attempted many heavy lifts I had not yet earned; crushed myself with volume I wasn't ready to sustain; and ignored injury-related pain, telling myself the seductive lie that I had superior mental toughness. Many years later, I've learned, re-learned, and re-re-learned that I was really just robbing solid performance from my future, healthy self.
The Good news: You've got this!
Whether or not you've fallen victim to your inner Ego Monster, easing workout pain is in your control!
This is one case where knowledge truly is power. No one is expecting you to go get an MD and do your own MRI's, but knowing your body is the first step towards having honest conversations with yourself and your coaches along your fitness journey. When you know how to stay out of pain, you're going to have the tools to make much better decisions come class time.
As your coaches, we want to set you up to win. That's why we're hosting an upcoming workshop: WOD Mods to Get Out of Pain Sunday, Jan. 13 from 11:30 am–1:00 pm.
In it, we'll complete:
- A personalized upper- and lower-body Active Life Rx Range of Motion Assessment*
- An educational segment to teach you actionable steps to apply to your workouts NOW. (Bring a notebook!)
- A WOD! We're going to apply this knowledge right away, and get a workout in the process!
This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn how to stay in the gym while getting out of pain. Spots are going fast and we hope to see you there!
*The Range of Motion Assessment is also the prerequisite to future workshops where we'll delve into strength ratios and take this thing to the next level.
The boring-but-necessary fine print: This workshop is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical conditions. We're not doctors and we'll never pretend to be. If you have questions about whether or not this workshop is appropriate for you, please email Lindsay: lindsay@crossfit9.com.
claim your spot
This workshop is capped and we're nearing our capacity. Please reserve your spot.
Sunday, Jan. 13. 11:30 am–1:00 pm