A higher-intensity workout

To that end, each day of a CrossFit program features a new “workout of the day” (WOD), which can focus on strength, endurance or both. WODs can consist of a 15-minute routine, Fallis says, in which participants push themselves to reach their maximum ability or simply learn a new way of doing an exercise, such as a squat, that has to be perfected over a number of sets. WODs are posted online the day before so that class participants know what to expect when they arrive at the gym.

Classes are limited in size and last about an hour, which gives students time to warm up, learn the moves from the coach, work as intensely as possible in short bursts – “You will sweat,” Fallis says – and cool down.

Fitness buffs who are tired of the juice bar/spa/gym approach to fitness – in which what you wear is almost as important as what you do – will appreciate CrossFit gyms’ bare-bones approach. The gyms are called “boxes” or “dungeons” to underline their stripped-down attitude: there are no mirrors (nor, in some cases, change rooms). People wear what they want, and the equipment is low-tech: kettle bells, tires, free weights and monkey bars.

“It can be a great solution for a lot of people,” says Libby Norris, founder of Inspired Energy, a corporate wellness company in Mississauga, Ont., “because it’s a quick workout and it’s fun.”

The fun factor is what makes CrossFit so addictive, according to Fallis. “Once you come in, you become addicted,” she says. “It’s all you talk about for a month.”

Members visit the gym anywhere from two to five times a week and, in each class, those who finish the WOD tend to stick around to cheer on the remaining participants. “It’s a cult and a community,” Fallis says.

Although there is a competitive element for those seeking one (the “CrossFit Games” is a gruelling test of fitness), most participants are in it for the pleasure of seeing their own fitness improve.

One of the biggest misconceptions of CrossFit, according to Fallis, is that it is appropriate only for those who are fit already. Videos on YouTube show classes of buff types falling on the ground in exhaustion, she says. Yet, people from all fitness levels benefit from CrossFit. New students start at the fundamental level, learning basic positions and proper body movement. Only when they graduate from this stage, which usually takes one or two months, she adds, are they ready to take the CrossFit classes.

The growing popularity of CrossFit means more CrossFit gyms are popping up. But not all are run by experienced coaches. An unqualified coach can pose a safety hazard, Norris says. Bad knees or a weak back could be exacerbated by poor advice from an inexperienced coach.

Fallis suggests that you ask for a gym’s credentials and observe a class before making a decision to join. A good coach should have at least Level 2 CrossFit certification and have a few years’ experience. A CrossFit gym should provide an assessment for all new students, in which a coach works with you one-on-one to determine your strengths and weaknesses, which are then used to modify moves and routines to suit you.

Fees are paid monthly and vary depending on the facility and the coach’s experience. Newmarket Central’s monthly fees, for example, range from $140 to $200.

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