CrossFit Avon

If you're checking out Crossfit Avon, chances are you've already got a good idea of what Crossfit is, but what makes Crossfit Avon special? For me it's the level of commitment and care shown to each and every member. It's a true community spirit here. Everyone is supported, encouraged and spurred on by coaches and members alike, regardless of ability or fitness levels - the last person to finish usually gets the biggest cheer. There's little room for elitism or ego here with every achievement and performance celebrated and congratulated. The programming is well thought out with structured strength and skill work carefully dovetailed with high intensity conditioning workouts. You will find that the general focus of the training moves in broad cycles, focussing on different aspects of strength and fitness at a time. General strengths and weaknesses among the member base are constantly assessed and the programme adjusted to work on those weaknesses accordingly. This approach is not random yet it is exciting and unpredictable and there is great anticipation before each class to see what's in store in the Workout Of the Day(WOD). Beginners will find a warm welcome as well thorough instruction and assessment in the fundamental movements before moving on to the main classes. Specialist classes are provided twice a week for Olympic Weightlifting as well as ad hoc sessions such as Boxfit, Strongman and Mobility. For the more advanced members there is a dedicated Competitors programme to take strength and conditioning to the next level in preparation for competitions. Before I joined I felt fit but was bored of the repetitive, predictable and impersonal classes at the local leisure centre and frustrated by the lack of free weight equipment available in the gym. Then a friend told me about Crossfit. I was intrigued, if a little intimidated, especially seeing a class in action! Nevertheless, I took the plunge and signed up at Crossfit Avon and the transformation in my fitness in the last 15 months is unbelievable and I think I actually spend less time working out now - it is just so much more effective than the alternatives. Get involved!

This is no ordinary gym with a pool and showers and coffee or any of that stuff. This is crossfit, so expect an environment more like a lockup garage. Everything is done in classes of no more than eight, supervised by teachers who train you in the proper techniques. The crossfit ethos is based on old-style exercises like situps, pressups, squats and pullups. There's also quite a bit of work with weights and kettlebells. You never know what they're going to hit you with from one day to the next as there is a huge variety of workouts, performed either against the clock or to a set number of reps. Typically the workouts provide a short sharp shock to the system rather than endless repetition. Sounds scary I know but whether you're a superfit young fire fighter or just an average person of more mature years like me you can do it as they set your weights or number of reps according to your ability. It's all great fun (really!) and the atmosphere is genuinely friendly. You'll soon notice big changes in yourself, like thinking nothing of lifting a weight heavier than you are off the floor. This morning I even climbed up a rope something I could never do at school. CrossFit Avon is a gym you'll keep coming back and back to.