About Us

CrossFit

Why it has the power to change your life…

My younger brother introduced me to CrossFit two years ago while we were still both members at a local gym. I had watched him work out a few times thinking what the heck was he doing. He was leap-frogging, swinging kettle bells, squatting and doing something dreadful called a ‘burpee’. I could never see myself doing any of those things and believing I’d get a decent work out of it. I had grown comfortably accustomed to my step and cycling classes, although I had to admit they weren’t really doing it for me lately. My body still looked the same even though I was working out at least three times a week for many, many years. And for all that time and effort I still struggled through ‘boy’ push ups and didn’t for the life of me have the strength to do a single chin up. Believe me, I had provided my fellow gym members plenty of entertainment while watching me attempt to do so. Admittedly I was bored and my fitness routine had become just that – routine. So when my brother opened his own CrossFit affiliate gym our entire family stood behind him to support his new business venture and myself and two other siblings joined up as members not quite sure what we were getting ourselves into. I kept my old gym membership that first summer as a safety net I suppose, just in case I decided this CrossFit stuff really wasn’t for me. But the decision to stick with it and give it an honest chance changed my life in ways that I could not have even imagined on a physical fitness level but emotionally too. My local gym membership was cancelled within one month of starting CrossFit and I haven’t looked back since.

Before I go any further, let me say that it’s difficult to define exactly what CrossFit is and I do believe I would be doing it an injustice by attempting to do so. I would recommend a visit to CrossFit.com for anyone wanting to learn more. Their website if full of information regarding how CrossFit came to be, what their ideology is and if you’re really curious take a peek at some of their posted videos and work outs. Although they can be a tad intimidating, especially for those of us that have never done this sort of thing, they can also serve to motivate and inspire. CrossFit can loosely be defined as a ‘core strength and conditioning program’ that doesn’t specialize in any one area of fitness but rather attempts to optimize an individual’s physical competence in ten specific areas of fitness. I know, I know, that sounds a bit like mumbo jumbo. Trust me, while attempting to recruit friends to my brother’s gym I had a really tough time explaining what it is that we were doing and why I felt so strongly about it. All I could tell anyone was just TRY it…you will either love it or hate it but either way it will make an impact on you…that I was sure of. It’s when you love to hate it that you realize you’re officially hooked. I had spent twenty odd years doing aerobic classes, and like many others, it meant stepping out of my own comfort zone and trying something completely foreign. Even though change is often needed and very much a part of our daily lives it’s not always easy for people to accept and actually go through with.

I have to say the first few weeks were entertaining; I would have killed to have been a fly on the wall. The movements were new and definitely took some getting used to. I could clearly see and feel where my strengths and weaknesses lie and the near 40 year old bod was always sore. (By the way, that feeling never goes away) Eventually however, there was progress. The movements became more natural and familiar and I began to challenge myself more and more. I looked for ways to intensify the work out like adding on more weight or trying to finish faster. I would attempt double under skips instead of single skips or run that mile without stopping for a break. These were the most gruelling and physically challenging work outs I had ever done but call me crazy, I was loving it!! At the beginning of each work out, I would get butterflies and it reminded me of being a school kid before the start of our annual track and field meets. That little jolt of adrenaline. At times I’d be out of breath, sweat rolling into my eyes, looking at that kettle bell on the floor and questioning whether I could pick it up again. But I always picked it up as giving up wasn’t an option. I was pushing myself to some physical and mental limits that I didn’t even know I was capable of. And at the end of these torture sessions I’d like to call them, I would experience a sense of euphoria and accomplishment. I did it! It was this feeling that I wasn’t expecting when I started doing CrossFit and it meant a lot to me, I never wanted to lose it. On top of that I started seeing some real changes in my body composition, my physical ability and strength. Those ‘boy’ push ups were now common place in my work outs and I could do several chin ups not only one. The handstands are still my own personal albatross, but I’ll get there, eventually.
.
CrossFit has also introduced me to a whole new vocabulary. Just ask anyone to tell you about ‘Annie’, ‘GI Jane’ or ‘Linda’. The gym is referred to as the ‘box’, chin ups are ‘kips’ or ‘pull ups’ and on any given day we could do a power snatch, thruster or box jump. My once soft hands are now calloused from the various rips and tears caused by pull ups, my shins have cuts and scrapes from the weight bar and I’ve had bruises on my collarbone from front squats. Have I convinced you this is a good thing yet? But these are badges worn proudly by many a crossfitter and symbolize a lot of hard work, endurance and a dedication to continually self-improve.

For someone who is generally a little more reserved and shy, being involved in CrossFit opened up an opportunity to connect with people from within my own community in a way that I wasn’t doing before. Funny how an intense workout can help you bond with someone. You all know what you’re getting into (the good, bad and ugly) and there’s a sense of connection with everyone around you. There is a collective spirit and emotion that gets generated and you can just feel it in the air. That feeling is pretty powerful and can be used to motivate and get you through a very challenging work out. I had never quite felt that at the old gym that I was at. People were often physically present but mentally somewhere else. During a CrossFit workout you have to be present and in the moment. I must admit, my mind has never wandered off to my grocery list or what I was going to watch on television that night. Some of these work outs are only five minutes long, but they’re short, sharp and intense. Most times you’re just trying to keep your breath steady and focus on the next movement at hand.

I have been blessed to have made some new friends and created a very close knit relationship with others. I am always reminded of this when our ‘box’ hosts a charity event. This month, we had an event in memory of a police officer from the Peel Region Police Services that was killed last year while on duty. I have two siblings that are police officers in that region and this tragedy affected them deeply on a personal and professional level. Our work out for this event was dedicated in memory and honour of this police officer and donations were directed to a trust fund that had been set up for his four year old son last year. It was also in appreciation of those that are still with us that have committed to serve and protect our communities on a daily basis and to never take for granted our families, friends and connection to community. We raised over $600 this year and last year our donations were close to $1000. Our local box has also held charitable events for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Children’s Wish Christmas toy drives. These events always draw in a lot of members and are buzzing with good energy and positive spirit, not to mention some homemade baked treats care of our dear Mom and our resident amateur chefs. I feel honoured to be part of something, a little bigger than myself that involves giving back to the community and connecting with other people on a deep and meaningful level.

So you see why I can never go back to just a regular old gym. How could I turn my back on something that has had such a powerful impact on me, my family and friends? It would be like having the best steak of your life and then settling for pork and beans from here on end. (Not that there’s anything wrong with pork and beans) For me it was a personal transformation on not only how I viewed fitness but more importantly how I viewed myself and my abilities. Now that’s not to say that I may never pull out that aerobic thong leotard outfit for giggles at a Halloween or retro 80’s party and by some miracle it may even come back in fashion. But I will never allow myself to get that comfortable in my workouts again. I expect and want more and will continue to strive for those nervous butterflies in my stomach feeling because only then will I know that I’m truly alive.

Jimmi V.
March 2011

5 thoughts on “About Us”

Gwen

October 20, 2010 at 2:50 pm

Awesome guys! I love the photos. I’m quite sure Dave is just saying he loves Fran to provoke Sharon. Let the trash talk begin!!!!

- CrossFit Division
  
  October 20, 2010 at 3:01 pm
  
  lol!! Your right Gwen! lol
  
Bill

October 20, 2010 at 4:03 pm

Great site, looking forward to the opening

Love Bill

Dinah

October 24, 2010 at 12:09 am

Looking forward to all the blood, sweat and tears that will be shed, and lets be honest…maybe puke lol So happy for you Dave, awesome job….Sharon, I see I finally get ,my coach Sharon! so pumped, i am going to go do some burpees NOT!

Dimi

April 3, 2011 at 4:28 pm

CrossFit

Why it has the power to change your life…

My younger brother introduced me to CrossFit two years ago while we were still both members at a local gym. I had watched him work out a few times thinking what the heck was he doing. He was leap-frogging, swinging kettle bells, squatting and doing something dreadful called a ‘burpee’. I could never see myself doing any of those things and believing I’d get a decent work out of it. I had grown comfortably accustomed to my step and cycling classes, although I had to admit they weren’t really doing it for me lately. My body still looked the same even though I was working out at least three times a week for many, many years. And for all that time and effort I still struggled through ‘boy’ push ups and didn’t for the life of me have the strength to do a single chin up. Believe me, I had provided my fellow gym members plenty of entertainment while watching me attempt to do so. Admittedly I was bored and my fitness routine had become just that – routine. So when my brother opened his own CrossFit affiliate gym our entire family stood behind him to support his new business venture and myself and two other siblings joined up as members not quite sure what we were getting ourselves into. I kept my old gym membership that first summer as a safety net I suppose, just in case I decided this CrossFit stuff really wasn’t for me. But the decision to stick with it and give it an honest chance changed my life in ways that I could not have even imagined on a physical fitness level but emotionally too. My local gym membership was cancelled within one month of starting CrossFit and I haven’t looked back since.

Before I go any further, let me say that it’s difficult to define exactly what CrossFit is and I do believe I would be doing it an injustice by attempting to do so. I would recommend a visit to CrossFit.com for anyone wanting to learn more. Their website if full of information regarding how CrossFit came to be, what their ideology is and if you’re really curious take a peek at some of their posted videos and work outs. Although they can be a tad intimidating, especially for those of us that have never done this sort of thing, they can also serve to motivate and inspire. CrossFit can loosely be defined as a ‘core strength and conditioning program’ that doesn’t specialize in any one area of fitness but rather attempts to optimize an individual’s physical competence in ten specific areas of fitness. I know, I know, that sounds a bit like mumbo jumbo. Trust me, while attempting to recruit friends to my brother’s gym I had a really tough time explaining what it is that we were doing and why I felt so strongly about it. All I could tell anyone was just TRY it…you will either love it or hate it but either way it will make an impact on you…that I was sure of. It’s when you love to hate it that you realize you’re officially hooked. I had spent twenty odd years doing aerobic classes, and like many others, it meant stepping out of my own comfort zone and trying something completely foreign. Even though change is often needed and very much a part of our daily lives it’s not always easy for people to accept and actually go through with.

I have to say the first few weeks were entertaining; I would have killed to have been a fly on the wall. The movements were new and definitely took some getting used to. I could clearly see and feel where my strengths and weaknesses lie and the near 40 year old bod was always sore. (By the way, that feeling never goes away) Eventually however, there was progress. The movements became more natural and familiar and I began to challenge myself more and more. I looked for ways to intensify the work out like adding on more weight or trying to finish faster. I would attempt double under skips instead of single skips or run that mile without stopping for a break. These were the most gruelling and physically challenging work outs I had ever done but call me crazy, I was loving it!! At the beginning of each work out, I would get butterflies and it reminded me of being a school kid before the start of our annual track and field meets. That little jolt of adrenaline. At times I’d be out of breath, sweat rolling into my eyes, looking at that kettle bell on the floor and questioning whether I could pick it up again. But I always picked it up as giving up wasn’t an option. I was pushing myself to some physical and mental limits that I didn’t even know I was capable of. And at the end of these torture sessions I’d like to call them, I would experience a sense of euphoria and accomplishment. I did it! It was this feeling that I wasn’t expecting when I started doing CrossFit and it meant a lot to me, I never wanted to lose it. On top of that I started seeing some real changes in my body composition, my physical ability and strength. Those ‘boy’ push ups were now common place in my work outs and I could do several chin ups not only one. The handstands are still my own personal albatross, but I’ll get there, eventually.
.
CrossFit has also introduced me to a whole new vocabulary. Just ask anyone to tell you about ‘Annie’, ‘GI Jane’ or ‘Linda’. The gym is referred to as the ‘box’, chin ups are ‘kips’ or ‘pull ups’ and on any given day we could do a power snatch, thruster or box jump. My once soft hands are now calloused from the various rips and tears caused by pull ups, my shins have cuts and scrapes from the weight bar and I’ve had bruises on my collarbone from front squats. Have I convinced you this is a good thing yet? But these are badges worn proudly by many a crossfitter and symbolize a lot of hard work, endurance and a dedication to continually self-improve.

For someone who is generally a little more reserved and shy, being involved in CrossFit opened up an opportunity to connect with people from within my own community in a way that I wasn’t doing before. Funny how an intense workout can help you bond with someone. You all know what you’re getting into (the good, bad and ugly) and there’s a sense of connection with everyone around you. There is a collective spirit and emotion that gets generated and you can just feel it in the air. That feeling is pretty powerful and can be used to motivate and get you through a very challenging work out. I had never quite felt that at the old gym that I was at. People were often physically present but mentally somewhere else. During a CrossFit workout you have to be present and in the moment. I must admit, my mind has never wandered off to my grocery list or what I was going to watch on television that night. Some of these work outs are only five minutes long, but they’re short, sharp and intense. Most times you’re just trying to keep your breath steady and focus on the next movement at hand.

I have been blessed to have made some new friends and created a very close knit relationship with others. I am always reminded of this when our ‘box’ hosts a charity event. This month, we had an event in memory of a police officer from the Peel Region Police Services that was killed last year while on duty. I have two siblings that are police officers in that region and this tragedy affected them deeply on a personal and professional level. Our work out for this event was dedicated in memory and honour of this police officer and donations were directed to a trust fund that had been set up for his four year old son last year. It was also in appreciation of those that are still with us that have committed to serve and protect our communities on a daily basis and to never take for granted our families, friends and connection to community. We raised over $600 this year and last year our donations were close to $1000. Our local box has also held charitable events for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Children’s Wish Christmas toy drives. These events always draw in a lot of members and are buzzing with good energy and positive spirit, not to mention some homemade baked treats care of our dear Mom and our resident amateur chefs. I feel honoured to be part of something, a little bigger than myself that involves giving back to the community and connecting with other people on a deep and meaningful level.

So you see why I can never go back to just a regular old gym. How could I turn my back on something that has had such a powerful impact on me, my family and friends? It would be like having the best steak of your life and then settling for pork and beans from here on end. (Not that there’s anything wrong with pork and beans) For me it was a personal transformation on not only how I viewed fitness but more importantly how I viewed myself and my abilities. Now that’s not to say that I may never pull out that aerobic thong leotard outfit for giggles at a Halloween or retro 80’s party and by some miracle it may even come back in fashion. But I will never allow myself to get that comfortable in my workouts again. I expect and want more and will continue to strive for those nervous butterflies in my stomach feeling because only then will I know that I’m truly alive.

Jimmi V.
March 2011