Gym owners, contestants talk about the unique qualities of CrossFit
Christine Pocratsky
Amy and Jason Tungate talk with the Get Fit contestants at CrossFit U-Town.
Jason Tungate
With the weekly meetings coming to an end, CrossFit U-Town gym owners Jason and Amy Tungate, and some contestants reflected on what makes CrossFit so different from traditional gyms.
Doug Crouse said the support system is really the biggest difference between the two.
“Rather than just going to a gym where you walk in and decide what cardio you’re going to do or pick up a few weights and do something with them, here they tell you wnat you need to do, and then they make sure you’re doing it right,” he said.
Crouse added that the diversity of the exercises as well as the fact that there are always modifications, makes CrossFit something that isn’t so mentally exhausting.
“I feel comfortable knowing that I might not be able to do 20 regular pull-ups, but I can do 20 modified pull-ups, which then makes me stronger to try to do more and more regular pull-ups,” he said.
Kathy Reed said the Get Fit experience has changed her perspective on what gym life should be.
“I was working out at (a traditional gym) for three years, just kind of doing my own thing, because there was no kind of support system, but here they take all of your statistics and goals into consideration to make up a nutrition plan for you besides just putting together workouts every time you make it here,” she said.
“They start you off slow and teach you the basic moves and strength training, and everyone’s always motivating you – it’s a community,” Reed added.
Jason Tungate said part of the CrossFit advantage is that there is always a coach at the gym to keep everyone on track with their workouts and to make sure they are doing them right.
The other part is that each person who decides to participate in CrossFit has to go through three fundamental classes before they can participate in the group classes.
“This gives them a basis to start from to keep safe, and after that they start working on efficiency and movements,” he said.
Amy Tungate said that the CrossFit program is really a draw for women, which makes up about two-thirds of the members at CrossFit U-Town.
“I think it’s because CrossFit gives them a feeling of empowerment and accomplishment,” she said. “There’s a great support system of females here and I think that’s what really attracts them.
“It’s amazing to see a mom accomplish her first pull-up,” Amy Tungate added. “That sense of empowerment that they have, they take it back to their families and it allows them to be a better mom.”
Both added that during the workouts, even when a person comes in last, that person is still doing way more than the person who is at home sitting on the couch.
Classes at CrossFit U-town are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Tuesday evenings at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30, Thursday evenings at 5:30 and 7:15 and open gym with a bootcamp class at 7:30 p.m. and an 8:30 a.m. class Saturday, followed by a fuel meeting at 9:45 and open gym after that. The same workout is done for all time slots each day.
For someone who might want to try CrossFit for the first time, Jason Tungate suggests coming in at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning for a free work out that anyone can do.
After that the Tungates will answer any questions and then schedule the fundamental classes if the person decides to get started.
Both recommended that participants try to make it to classes at least three times a week for the CrossFit method to really work.
Contestant Alexandra Griffith said she loves the CrossFit community and how it has changed her life.
“You walk in here and your workout is on the board – they do all of the work for you as far as trying to figure out what you should do that day,” she said. “Your hour-long workout is an honest-to-God hour. There’s no walking around in between exercises.”