CrossFit Level 1 Certification – Toronto
September 1, 2009
This past weekend I was in Toronto for the CrossFit Level 1 Certification seminar. For those unfamiliar with CrossFit, it is a “broad, general, and inclusive core strength and conditioning program based on constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity”. The goal of the program is the pursuit of general fitness. I won’t go into too much detail here, but let’s just say it’s what the “I just want to get in shape and be healthy” crowd should be doing rather than 3 sets of 10 on the weight machines + 30 min on the treadmill at your “target” heart rate.
The certification seminar was two full days of instruction, lectures, demonstrations, and workouts at the Moss Park Armoury downtown. The armoury is a great facility with plenty of space inside, although the pullup bar is a little higher and thicker than I prefer!
Group photos from crossfit.com
Since I first heard of CrossFit in late 2007, I’ve pretty much devoured and immersed myself in the program and all the great resources available on CrossFit.com, as well as everything I’ve learned from training at CrossFit Fredericton and CrossFit Ottawa. At this point I was very familiar with the material, methodology, and movements presented, so I was much more focused on individual coaching and presentation styles, basically how to make myself a better coach. Taking this approach, I was able to get a lot more out of this seminar than if I sat back and simply said, “I already know this stuff”. I was able to come back with a lot of skills that will help me as a coach, as well as some help on my piss poor rowing technique.
Jon Gilson, Again Faster, cleaned up my rowing
Overall, the presentations were professional, engaging, and with enough comic relief to ease those “Fran jitters”. I met a lot of great people over the weekend and it’s always great to hear success stories from those that are passionate about fitness. I met one guy who said he started at ~300lbs and he’s lost 75+ so far!
This guy obviously put in the hard work and dedication inside and outside the gym. THAT folks, IMHO, is doing CrossFit as Rx’d.
