CrossFit has really taken the fitness world by storm in recent years. Regardless of whether or not you are a fitness guru, you've probably heard about this particular exercise discipline at one time or another. Heck, maybe you've been "CrossFitting" yourself for several years now and you should be writing this article for me! Either way I'm going to briefly discuss CrossFit and how you can get involved.

What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is a strength and conditioning fitness regimen. It combines elements of weight lifting, running and gymnastics. The focus of CrossFit is to increase one's fitness across several domains which include strength, speed, power, flexibility, stamina, agility, balance, coordination and accuracy.

Why has it become so popular in recent years?
One of the main reasons is because of the fact that it's an exercise discipline aimed at total physical fitness. Most individuals specialize in one area. For example, bodybuilders concentrate solely on resistance training. Cross country runners focus their training on running and stamina. People are becoming more aware that in order to live a long and healthy life, you need to consider all areas of physical fitness. CrossFit has aimed to provide a solution to this. The fact that crossfit provides so much variety has also made it an attractive option for those looking for something new and exciting.

Sounds great, but is crossfit offered in London?
You bet! As a matter of fact, CrossFit London is located at 525 First St. It is about a five-minute walk from the front entrance of the college.

CrossFit sounds extremely advanced; will I even be capable of doing it?
Crossfit London's main focus is on small group training. Average group sizes are about eight to 10 people who share the same trainer and experience each session. The objective is for the groups to grow together and potentially strive for one to two years of progression. Some class groups will be more established than others and individuals will be placed accordingly. At times, the staff will even pair up a highly skilled individual with a beginner to engage in a scaled down version of the advanced routine. This provides newcomers with extra motivation and some insight of great things to come.

CrossFit sounds phenomenal! How do I get started and how much?
Upon signing up, you will enter a "pre-training" minimum of three sessions which will allow the staff to gauge which physical level you should be placed in. This prerequisite is for your own safety, and to ensure you are getting the best personalized CrossFit experience. You can also inquire about one on one training sessions if you are interested. CrossFit London strives to help you achieve total body fitness without giving you a financial burden. Take it from a guy like myself who has worked in the fitness industry for a decade — their pricing is extremely competitive with other fitness centres and you won't be getting the "standard program design" that many personal trainers have been accustomed to give to clients.

Is there anything else I should know about CrossFit?
Trying to describe the numerous benefits of CrossFit in a short article will not do it justice. I suggest taking the short walk over to CrossFit London and talking to Dave and his friendly staff regarding any questions you may have. They may even show you a glimpse of a CrossFit session in action!