MEMBER FEATURE - Crystal Fang
I started Virtual CrossFit classes because it was exactly the type of at home workout class that I was looking for. I had done CrossFit on and off for years, intermixed with training at a regular gym. When quarantine started and everything shut down, I “pinned” and saved tons of at home workouts but never found the motivation to do any of them. When Jason announced that the gym was going to start offering virtual classes and that they were going to be taught by Val - well that was something I couldn’t pass up!
The biggest barrier I had was motivation. After nearly a year of not doing any regular physical activity because of a lack of self-motivation, I wasn’t sure how easy or hard it would be to get back into it. Also, in the past, physically getting myself to the gym has always been the most difficult part but now it is no longer a factor. I am a huge homebody and the fact that my commute to the gym is to head to my basement is ideal.
I was lucky enough to win the barbell and weights giveaway from the gym and having that equipment has enabled me to go back to doing my favourite lifts like cleans and squats. Since starting virtual classes, I have slowly built my home gym to add dumbbells, a treadmill and a squat rack. This allowed me to complete this year’s Open workouts in my house on my own. I would never have done this in the past.
I love so many things about the virtual classes! I love that it is live and interactive and I get all the benefits of a coached class while in my house. It’s been great to connect with people that I used to see at the gym. Even though we are all physically apart, the community aspect of classes is still there.
Another bonus is that I never have to worry about finding childcare and the fact that my daughter is seeing me exercise regularly is helping me set a good example for her. She benefits from these classes as well, sometimes working out with me or having dance battles with Val!
Though virtual classes, I have even learned to not dread burpees so much. I mean, they’re still terrible in large quantities but I try really hard now not to complain about them. :P
One mantra that Val has instilled in me is not having to go “all out” for every workout and to listen to how my body is feeling. I never feel guilty about using a lighter weight or not pushing myself to the max for every workout out because the fact that I am choosing to move my body over sitting on the couch is a win in itself.
-Crystal Fang
Crystal is 38 and I lives in Saskatoon with her 8 year old daughter. She works in the Citizenship business line for the Government of Canada. In her spare time she likes drinking coffee, watching movies and eating chips. Her favourite workouts are HIIT style and anything involving back squats.