CrossFit gyms provide a real sense of community, with everyone doing the same workout – the Workout of the Day – and encouraging each other to meet the physical challenge


and try things such as Olympic lifting, which is usually reserved for specialist clubs and elite athletes.” Meanwhile Shrago reveals that


CrossFit London (UK) has a wide variety of members: “When was the last time you saw a 50-year-old woman do overhead squats?” he asks. However, he admits it isn’t for everyone. “It is genuinely hard work. It requires a certain degree of mental strength.” The physiological benefi ts are


certainly evident, however. Not only are workouts tailored to ensure that participants can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass but, says Evans: “Properly structured anaerobic activity can be used to develop a very high level of aerobic fi tness.” He adds: “CrossFit aims to


best prepare participants for any physical contingency.”


KITTING IT OUT A prerequisite of setting up a club is to become affiliated, which requires the completion of the CrossFit Level 1 coaching course. Once this is done and the affiliate fee paid, you’re free to set up your gym. Tom Haynes of York Barbell UK


explains: “A lot depends on the size of the unit and how many members you intend to cater for. A small gym can be set up for around £6,000–9,000 with good quality kit. For a bigger,


The quote on the right originally came from Greg Glassman, who founded CrossFit in the US


january 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 41


more inclusive facility, you’ll need up to £15,000–20,000, which in terms of setting a gym up is actually still minimal.” In Andover, Alternative Fitness


could now exist as a traditional fi tness facility had it not been for a rethink by Millings. “I originally planned to start a traditional gym,” he says. “However, cost was a major stumbling point. With a CrossFit gym, on the other hand, your starting point is simply a pull-up bar and an Olympic lifting set.” Meanwhile, Shrago explains the set-up


at CrossFit London (UK): “We have hard fl oors – ideally concrete – with rubber mats to absorb the dropped weights. We also have high ceilings so that pull-up rigs, rope climbs and gymnastics rings can be erected.”


Evans continues: “You need


good gear as it takes a great deal of punishment. You need stuff that lasts. Rubber bumpers and a good quality Olympic bar, kettlebells and somewhere to do pull-ups are a must.” Werksan, strengthpowerspeed.co.uk


and Eleiko are among the suppliers used at CrossFit Velocity. CrossFit Leeds uses Wolverson Fitness and Jordan Fitness, while Beaverfi t has supplied Alternative Fitness and CrossFit London (UK), which also uses Absolute Performance. Meanwhile, York Barbell UK has


worked with a number of CrossFit clubs. It’s a relationship valued by Haynes.


“We’re starting out on the design of new functional kit such as Farmers


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