Day 1 WOD:
Tabata air squats, holding the squat in the 10sec rest = trying to look casual walking to my car with rubber legs
Day 2 WOD:
Wallball/kettlebell/rowing triplet = completely hooked but holding onto my 'escape clause'
Day 3 WOD:
2K row = remember saying aloud "this will be so much easier when I don't have to reach over my belly!"
Obvie loved it.
Got used to icing my knee after every WOD until I realized I was no longer doing that. My knees got better because my rubber legs got stronger through movement.
The thought of NOT moving around as a CrossFitter anymore became a foreign, almost scary thought.
Rowing became noticeably smoother as my belly decreased in size.
As a coach at CrossFit Beacon, I have been able to help other people through the early stages of their own CrossFit lifestyle. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to watch athletes of all abilities light up when they begin mastering a movement that leads them to a PR (personal record) of any variety: faster or stronger or a new skill.
Now, while I love working with all age groups and abilities, I really love working with 'my' Masters (45yrs+). Almost 6mths old now, the Masters Class began with three sisters, one of whom I kept popping in on at her job and asking not "if" but "when" she wanted to give it a try. She and her sisters started together in January and while one stopped due to various life circumstances, the other two have become the steadfast anchors to the Masters Class.
We now have two Masters Classes (am and pm) that each meet three days/week. Along with fellow Beacon coach, Tyson, we work with Masters who show up each class to be able to master movement more comfortably each day.
They have various levels of joint issues to work around, but they still show up because they know we will be able to modify and scale the workouts to accommodate their needs while still challenging their muscles to get stronger. They're getting fitter, losing weight, gaining strength, having fun!
They share their PRs not just by the increases in weights they can lift, or how much faster their 500m row is, but by how much better they move outside of the gym....by how much better they move in life!
After only a couple months in, one of the Masters shared, "I picked up my 55# dog for the first time last night."
One of the Masters athletes did not like the thought of getting down on the ground for sit ups when she first started as she was worried she couldn't get up because of some wrist issues. Now she is up and down all the time because she has mastered how to modify her movements around her wrist issues.
Some other "aha" moments of proof they are mastering movement are:
"For the first time in years, I was able to not only put my own snow tires in the back of my car after they got changed out, but I just tossed them in!"
"I walked up the stairs normally this weekend. I haven't done that in a long time. I always had to stop both feet on one stair."
"I'm able to garden again."
THIS is mastering movement for the pure and simple reason of enjoying a more functionally fulfilling life.
It's great to see athletes PR on lifting and sprints and skills, but the ability to simply move, which most of us take for granted, is pure functionality brought to you by the practice of 'whole body' movement.
It's absolutely inspiring to see what these Masters athletes do. They may bitch and moan about the WODs like we all do...in fun :) ...it's what CrossFitters do...but they show up, do the work, and are therefore able to notice these awesome changes in their daily lives.
As a side benefit, the Masters athletes are really inspiring to Beacon as a whole. I know they don't even realize this!
The Beacon community of athletes often comment on how they love seeing the Masters athletes come in each week. They show this appreciation by being truly wonderful with them. They are encouraging and supportive, with one member, Scott, even holding up his iPhone for music for them during WODs before we had the speakers in the lower gym.
What these Masters athletes do weekly, despite whatever physical issues they may have, is awesome. They do it for themselves but others benefit from just seeing them work at mastering their own ability to move better!
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