What is Fitness?

Traits of Fitness

1. Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance – The ability of body systems to gather, process, and deliver oxygen.
2. Stamina - The ability of body systems to process, deliver, store, and utilize energy.
3. Strength - The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force.
4. Flexibility - the ability to maximize the range of motion at a given joint.
5. Power - The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time.
6. Speed - The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
7. Coordination - The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
8. Agility - The ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another
9. Balance - The ability to control the placement of the body’s center of gravity in relation to its support base.
10. Accuracy - The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.

This is fitness.

There are few training programs that target each of these areas. The CrossFit methodology is the most complete system I have seen. Period.

Does what you are doing now cover each of these traits of fitness? Anyone can go into a gym and get their sweat on. It doesn’t take a lot to work hard for 30 mins or an hour and be out of breath and drenched. But, what is that doing for you? Are you stronger than you have been? Are you able to move your limbs in their full range of motion? Do you have coordination and balance? When something happens in real life are you ready and able to tackle it?

CrossFit uses a combination of the following sports disciplines to provide a comprehensive system of fitness.

• Powerlifting, develops strength and stamina
• Gymnastics, develops coordination, balance and flexibility
• Plyometrics, develops agility, balance, accuracy, and power
• Olympic Lifting, develops strength, power, speed, coordination
• Running, develops, cardio, stamina, and speed
• Rowing, develops cardio, stamina, and coordination

These activities coupled with a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) methodology creates a complete package that can help anyone train to become more fit. This is a very different process than just getting a workout in.

The definition of CrossFit is, “Constantly Varied, Functional Movement performed at High Intensity.”

The way we program workouts at CrossFit PCR follows this methodology. We believe that developing all 10 of your traits of fitness is more important than just getting you in to get your sweat on. This means that some of our workouts are deceptively effective. Because of the HIIT aspect of what we do, a 15 minute workout can get you the same or better results than what you used to spend an hour doing. (that’s a blog for another day...lots of sports science in that topic)

I challenge you to come in and train with us for 3 months. It may take you awhile to understand how things work but after 3 months, you probably won’t want to go back to whatever you were doing before.

CrossFit PCR is located in Ellicott City, off of Rt. 40 behind Shanty Grille. For more information go to www.crossfitpcr.com, email info@crossfitpcr.com or call at (240)339-3268