The Wellness Column

—by Matt Spencer

You may know someone who does CrossFit, or seen the CrossFit Games on YouTube or TV – and you’ll be mesmerized by the “crazy” workouts. “Hardcore” is another word that gets thrown around when discussing CrossFit and seeing people do these workouts. The irony though, is most things you see on the internet in regard to CrossFit are actually a very small aspect of what it is, and in fact most people who do CrossFit, leave out a very important aspect of the program in their daily practice.

CrossFit was founded by a man named Greg Glassman in the early 2000’s and what initially started out as a single gym quickly grew into the spectacle it’s known as today. One of the things Greg serendipitously did that aided the growth of CrossFit was he wrote – a LOT! He published regular articles in “The CrossFit Journal” that helped provide insight into the intricacies of the whys and hows behind the thing. 

One of his most timeless pieces was “world class fitness in 100 words”: 

“Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. 

Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. 

Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. 

Regularly learn and play new sports.”

 While there is a lot going on in there, what I want to draw your attention to is the last sentence: Regularly learn and play new sports. Read that over a couple times and ask yourself: when is the last time I learned a new sport? When was the last time I became a beginner again? When was the last time I played… 

Now it’s worth mentioning right away we have no doubt seen the surge of Pickleball over the past few years, and cities and municipalities are taking notice, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into facilities due to the growing popularity of the sport – but what’s beyond that for you? 

The apprehension of learning or trying a new sport usually gives us insight into the bigger issue at hand: most would express either a fear of injury or a lack of time. Both very valid points but both have quite simple solutions. 

Ironically, we move less and are busier than ever now as a modern society. These two things put together I believe (with no medical expertise whatsoever) are huge contributors to the mental health crisis we are experiencing in people of all ages. 

Humans are designed to move. They NEED to move. There’s a difference between relaxing and lack of movement. Rest is important, but a busy body and mind without a physical release bottles up a lot of “internal pressure” that leaves one feeling uneasy, anxious or depressed.

Sport has a way of letting us disconnect for that moment. To focus on something different and clear our minds. To blow off steam. 

Competition is not a dirty word. It inspires us to do better in other aspects of our lives. It inspires our creativity and problem-solving abilities. When is the last time you felt honestly nervous? Being nervous to try something new is a healthy human emotion that is going by the wayside, as we slip deeper and deeper into comfort driven lives. 

Finally, think about monkey see, monkey do. Recreational sports among youth are on the decline. There’s an interesting stat that I can’t remember directly that states kids are specializing in a single sport at a younger age now; which causes an increase in burn out. And that’s not the topic of this article either, but if you think about that at face value, I see more and more kids turning to single sports, maybe two season sports. But if you asked your grandfather, he probably did track, basketball, baseball and football. It’s not uncommon for professional athletes to be drafted in multiple sports – you just don’t hear about it. 

But getting our young people moving is a personal responsibility that starts with each one of us. If our youths see us trying new sports, they’ll learn it’s okay for them to do the same. This can open up so many opportunities for healthy dialogue about being nervous to try new things, and this being an exciting part of life. Getting uncomfortable is the key element of personal growth. No one here needs to become a super athlete, but being busy physically is the best way to clear the mind and recharge the soul. 

Your mission: Go learn a new sport! 

Matt is a coach at CrossFit Orillia, www.crossfitorillia.ca.