Announcements
Adopt A Family
This year CFSB is adopting a family for each location through the Richstone Family Center. Please click here (Hermosa) and here (Torrance) to see what you can provide. You can bring your wrapped or unwrapped gift to your location and put it under the tree. We just ask if you wrap it to please label with which family member it is for and what it is.
A CrossFit Christmas: Box Hopping Basics
I wrote this post last year during Christmas break while I was in Hawaii. I thought I’d re-post it (with some edits) and get the information out there early this year, before everyone leaves for the holidays. If you plan on visiting gyms while away, this info will hopefully make the process a little smoother.
One of the cool things about being part of the CrossFit community is the opportunity to train at other affiliates around the world. And with the rapid growth of our community in recent years, chances are there is a CrossFit affiliate somewhere near your destination. On the island of Oahu alone, there 8 CrossFit affiliates (that I know of) and I’ve been fortunate enough to “drop-in” to 4 of them over the past week! For those traveling out of town for the holidays and planning to visit other boxes, here are some good tips and info to help you get in a couple great vacation workouts. For those that travel frequently for work, this is a great way to maintain your fitness while away from your home box.
CrossFit Oahu
Hold on…don’t go walking into the next box you come across expecting to get a workout at your leisure. Every affiliate does things a little differently and policies and procedures vary from gym to gym. Here are some simple steps to follow to ensure your next drop-in experience is a good one:
Do Your Research
The first thing you should do is look up the CrossFit affiliates in the local area and check out each of their websites. You can usually find tons of useful information including class schedule, driving directions, pictures of their facility, information on their coaches, the Workout of the Day, their drop-in policy, and contact info. By doing so, you can make an informed decision on which gym to visit.
Every gym’s policy is different. Some charge a strict fee while others offer free drop-ins. Some gyms might encourage a t-shirt purchase or trade in place of a drop-in fee. Occasionally, you might be required to sign-up online for a class or in some rare cases, drop-ins may not even be available due to space limitations or liability concerns. Just do your research and go from there…
Call or E-mail Ahead
Once you’ve decided on a gym, send them an e-mail or give them a call to let them know you plan on dropping-in. Some gyms are more responsive than others so allow as much lead time as you can. Be informative but to-the-point; how long you’ll be in town, how long you’ve been doing CrossFit, which gym you currently train at, etc. Tell them which class(es) you plan to attend and offer to pay the appropriate drop-in fee.
Be Respectful and Friendly
This goes without saying. Respect the gym’s rules, policies, and procedures. You’re on their “home turf” so be willing to adjust if necessary. Treat their equipment with care and introduce yourself to everyone in the class, just as you would at CFSB.
Be Prepared and Train Smart
Be on time. Come early if you can, fill out a release form, and ensure you are properly warmed up prior to the start of class. Some gyms warm-up as a group during class while others jump right into the workout. Adjust accordingly. Be prepared to train hard, but use common sense. At CFSB, we ensure that everyone is familiar and comfortable with the movements and the workout of the day, and we do our best to make sure everyone is scaled appropriately. Other gyms might not do the same, or might not be as quick to scale when needed. Don’t sacrifice your safety to fit-in, but don’t be an unnecessary burden on the coach either.
The coach may not know you or your abilities that well, so take it upon yourself to make the proper adjustments even if they don’t. Most importantly, have fun! Don’t worry about what other athletes in the class are doing and don’t try to “prove yourself” by going outside your limitations. The last thing we want is for you to come back injured so use your head and train smart.
Provide and Bring Feedback
Thank the coach(es) for letting you participate in the class. If you had a good experience, let them know. Or if you didn’t, show your appreciation anyway and move on. If you can, bring us feedback based on your experience. We are constantly looking for ways to get better at providing you with the best facility, equipment, and coaching possible. Take note of what you liked or didn’t like at the gym(s) you visited. Maybe you liked a certain aspect of their warm-up, or their coach gave you a really helpful cue that you’ve never heard before, or they offer some cool jazzercise class you really liked. Whatever the case, we’d like to hear about it!
Whether you’re traveling for work or just vacationing, visiting other affiliates is a great way to see how other gyms train, meet new people, and stay fit during prolonged trips. Happy box hopping and Happy Holidays from Hawaii!
Five Reverse Hypers? Really?
What gyms do you plan on visiting this holiday season? Has anyone visited a CrossFit affiliate in another country? What are your good/bad drop-in experiences? Let’s hear it!
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