The Best 60-minute Workout in Town

Woodbridge, VA—New Year’s resolutions have come and are long gone and bathing suit season is fast approaching. Locals are signing up for gym memberships at warp speed to “get right," but regular gym attendance will fade (as all fads do). Luckily, there is a local antidote. Nestled across from Freedom High School, the future home of Harvest Life Changers Church, next-door neighbor to NOVA’s Woodbridge Campus, and sharing storefront with Tropical Smoothie Café, is the illustrious ITB Crossfit gym.

Open just under 2 years by founder, Marti Velezis, this gym is not the old-fashioned show up, jump on a treadmill, stand around and look cute type of establishment. Crossfit is “constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity.” The fitness regime incorporates gymnastics, weightlifting, running, rowing, accessory work, mobility work, biking, and so much more. The best part of Crossfit is that patrons will receive their optimal workout in 60 minutes. The workouts are never the same and it is a head-to-toe experience for ALL.

According to Marti “ITB specializes in training ordinary people.” It is “not necessarily a gym for professional athletes, although we have many elite athletes. We have people at every stage of fitness. The intent is for people to feel comfortable and not intimidated. We have a good mix of athletes in our community.”

Marti says that potential members often “lurk” watching through the windows while classes are in session. Some drop in because they’ve seen athletes running outside of the gym during a workout. What’s puzzling are the reasons people use to not join like “I am not fit enough to join” or “I’d like to join, but I can’t wrap my mind around the cost.”

Marti has done a great job of easing the many fears people have when making that fateful decision. For one, “You don’t have to be a professional athlete.” A new member, Shawni McGraw, shared her progress in a recent FaceBook post. She challenges others to “Try something new, change what you are doing, and step out of your box.” She is so glad to have joined an “amazingly supportive Crossfit gym that has welcomed (her) into the family.”

Then, there’s the issue of cost. Some are taken aback when they are presented with the membership options. The reality is that a personal trainer costs upwards of $600 a month with a cap on the number of classes a client can take without the costs becoming exorbitant. At ITB, members can take an unlimited number of classes for one fee. Marti asserts, “Many don’t understand the difference between a traditional gym and a Crossfit gym.” With Crossfit, “the level of coaching provided is paramount to receiving no coaching at all or personal training for an additional cost at conventional gyms.” Crossfit really is the best deal in town. The cost of Crossfit, with its 60-minute, coach led classes is comparable to the cost of conventional gym membership with no personal coaching. Plus, at Crossfit, there are always other people to workout with.

For ANYONE seeking a great workout, a community of people who have similar goals in mind, and an awesome bargain, look no further. Crossfit is the best 60-minute workout in town.