What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?

My friend and former colleague used to come into my office every morning, sharing personal victories in his crossfit class. I would hear words like “snatch”, “hang cleans” and “thrusters”, followed by a cheer as he went on his day with a pep in his step. I simply had to check out what the fuss was all about.

I specifically chose CrossFit Westmount because the coaches give individual members a lot of attention during group classes. As I had a former back injury and limited mobility in my ankles and hips, it was important to me to have proper and detailed coaching on technique, in order to avoid injury and build strength safely.

What was your first impression?  How has that changed?

My first impression of CrossFit was that you already needed to be quite fit and agile to succeed in it. I was wrong. Although, I did come to the gym with a good level of fitness, I struggled with movements that included squatting let alone squatting with additional weight. I was of the opinion that I would simply never be “good” at those movements and therefore avoided them.
At CrossFit Westmount the coaches taught me how to stretch and work the proper muscles to slowly get into a proper squat safely. They provided scaling options for me during group classes until I was ready to squat without a floor wedge for my heels. This took time and effort, it did not happen overnight, but now I am squatting! This process has taught me that with proper coaching, technique and consistency, anything is possible.

What was your first highlight?

There are so many! Getting 8 strict pull-ups in a row was an early victory. However, the biggest win was my first class where I could work through all of the squatting movements without mobility issues or scaling.

What would you tell someone thinking about getting started?

If you are trying this for the first time, it’s normal to feel sore and a bit uncomfortable in the early stages, because you are doing movements you simply aren’t used to. I’ve noticed that this sometimes scares people. It takes time to adjust, which is why I recommend committing to at least 3 months.  Also, three months into the process is when I really started to notice how much stronger and agile I was becoming. Stick with it, be consistent and don’t rush your goals. For me and my goals I am playing the long game, but with lots of really cool and fun victories along the way.

What is your favorite CrossFit Westmount memory?

My favourite memory is the first CrossFit Open I participated in. I participated in the scaled portion of the competition, and was quite nervous! However, the amount of support I received from my coaches, fellow participants and gym mates was amazing. The whole experience was so positive, mainly because of the supportive community and coaching. I definitely left with a pep in my step!