Why Intensity and purpose matter!

Why Intensity and purpose matter!

Intensity is what separates us CrossFit gyms from others. It's one of the pillars we build our product on. 

The fitness market is at an all time high. We see so many opportunities to get fit, and that is amazing.

But intensity is our bread and butter here at Workshop CrossFit. Intensity and purpose is what we strive for. It's so easy to bash someone for 45 minutes on a treadmill and holding a glute bridge. Hyrox style workouts where every workout has 5km of running, 100 walballs, loads of burpees. You sweat a lot, burn some calories but where is the purpose? Are wallballs a great workout tool? Yes! Do you need to do them everyday? No! Is running something you should do? Yes! Should it be max effort everyday? No!

People mistake intensity for burning calories. The more I sweat the more intense that workout was. 

CrossFit is so much more. Sure, we have workouts that are long grindy style "hyrox" workouts. But we vary our workouts every day. We have a different purpose everyday. Somedays weightlifting, somedays cardio, somedays gymnastics. Somedays are longer, some are shorter.

You can't go hard and grindy everyday, crushing yourself everyday. Menshealth recently released an article that said to stop burnout, to not by a gym membership in any gym (and gave examples of Barrys, F45, Hyrox) and to do classpass. So you can jump in and jump out. Which is madness!

Intensity looks different everyday in a CrossFit gym. Some days its a short sprint. Other days a 20minute amrap. Sometimes its intensity to learning and working a skill, other days its about intensity through a max effort lift. 

CrossFit with its intensity and purpose allows you train sustainably and do the same program for life. Its not about flogging you for 45 mins, with the only purpose to burn calories. 

We want to improve your fitness skills: cardiovascular, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy.

We hold you to a movement standard, we hold you to a rep count standard. We put the pressure on you to proud of your effort, hit all your reps. We test and re test to show progress. We move the intensity needle up and down, long and short to test not only physical but the mental side of things too.

Last week I did a famous workout called Karen. It's 150 wallballs for time (and these are real wallballs, not fake hyrox ones). it took me 5:06 total and left me on the floor. I had doms for the week. I was battling my inner negative thoughts throughout it. I was proud of my effort when I was finished. This short workout was hit with purpose and intensity. I improved my muscular endurance, accuracy, flexibility, coordination and strength throughout this 5min workout.

Why am I saying all this? Its an example of when purpose and intensity are properly programmed, long term fitness gains are made. Sustainable fitness, that will help me build a longer and healthier life. Each of your workouts should slot into your week. Allow you move a little but everyday. Balance in your workouts and workouts that enhance your life. Improve you as a person both inside and outside the gym.

I see so many gyms and coaches just bashing their members. So many fitness classes, where the only purpose is to burn calories. With no long term thought or care put into the workouts. No lesson planning, no progressions and regressions. No movement assessments. No care or empty for their athletes movement.

Intensity over volume for me will always be the priority. Intensity isn't about burning calories, and crawling off the gym floor. Varying your intent in each workout, going long and short. Lifting heavy and moving your bodyweight, will lead to a low trajectory of fitness, over the course of your life.