Why we don’t have Open gym - Thursday, October 10th, 2024
Why we don’t have Open gym
Every so often this comes up in a conversation. It’s one that we have shared on the blog before, but we’re happy to explain again.
CrossFit facilities aren’t around for just big open spaces, and the use of equipment. CrossFit facilities are around for the coaching. We pride ourselves on our coaching.
We know you may be thinking, but tons of other CrossFit Affiliates have open gym. Yes, and we use to as well. But CrossFit, the true training methodology and intent on what Greg Glassman created, was not to have athletes in facilities doing open gym.
The magic is in the movement.
The art is in the programming.
The science is in the explanation.
The fun is in the community.
- Greg Glassman
Everything we learn in CrossFit training certifications revolve around coaching group classes. We are trained, and continue training to be the best trainers in the world.
Open gym became more of a thing towards late 2012, 2013. This was because of the CrossFit Games, and the popularity that CrossFit began to have, and athletes under the assumption that more volume was needed in order for them to achieve their goals. More volume is not the answer. You learn in classes, you push yourself harder in classes, classes are training, and the time for trying and attempting all the things you’re learning.
In 2020 after 10 years in business, and close to 8 years of having open gym, we decided to move back to being a fully coach led facility, because that really is who we are. That is where we all feel in love with CrossFit, in the classes, with the community. So we moved the salt shaker back, went back to our roots, and we don’t regret it for a second.
The thought that the only way to get better is more volume, and to have open gym, is absolutely just not true. Think about this for a second, if you came into our facility for the first time, what would you do? How would you learn how to snatch, or do a pull up? Would you watch YouTube videos than come in and just hope for the best? That honestly wouldn’t result in much success, and you probably wouldn’t love it very much.
When open gym was originally created, it was meant to give some the opportunity to come in if they missed a class time, and hit the workout of the day. But it quickly turned into athletes purchasing other programming, pulling other athletes out of classes to do workouts with them, leading to group training sessions, and resulting in injuries, etc. Ultimately tearing apart the community feel of what a CrossFit affiliate has.
The magic is in the movement.
The art is in the programming.
The science is in the explanation.
The fun is in the community.
- Greg Glassman
This quote holds true for many reasons.
We also do hold other things in our facility in off hours of classes. Fundamentals sessions, kids classes, team training, etc. But ultimately the reason why we no longer have open gym is that we believe in the CrossFit training methodology, and that coach led classes will result in the fittest versions of you. If you do want to add extra to your training, we strongly believe it should be in the form of extra outside the facility, ie) swimming, running, cycling, hiking, skiing, etc.
We thank you for your understanding. The fun of CrossFit is in the community, and the community are in the classes.
Thursday, October 10th, 2024
Oly Lifting Strength Day:
Power Clean
3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
Clean Pulls
2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
Cleans
1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
Check back each night at 8pm for the next days WOD .
Contact us: Address: 200 Mountain Rd #3, Collingwood, ON L9Y 4V5 Phone: (705) 444-0006 Follow us on Instagram @crossfit_indestri