CrossFit – The good, bad and ugly

One of most popular get fit regimes world-wide is currently CrossFit, a physical exercise that incorporates elements from high-intensity interval training, olympic weightlifting, gymnastics and plyometrics, among others.

While the method has proved popular, opinions in the fitness world are divided over whether it is helpful or harmful.

Some of the strongest voices against CrossFit argue that it is badly executed, focusing on speed rather than form.

This includes an American blog post by Erin Simmons on her fitness blog, erin simmons fitness, on April 17, which described how CrossFit trainers gave participants only five minutes of instruction and encouraged them to blunder their way through as many reps as possible at top speed with terrible form. People were yelled at to go faster, take shortcuts and lift heavier.

The blog received wide interest across numerous news sites and social media.

We spoke to local CrossFit expert Nicole Seymour to hear the other side of the story.

Seymour owns Iron Angel Gym in Ballito, is a former body builder and recently earned the title of second fittest woman in Africa at The Reebok CrossFit Africa Regionals in Johannesburg.

She said, as with any exercise, effective CrossFit training depends on the knowledge and passion of the trainers.

“We are a lot more relaxed and professional, focusing on changing lives rather than making athletes. The people choose their level and we encourage them to be realistic with their weight and speed. We focus on form and technique. It is not about how quick they can do an exercise but how they can do it properly. We are here to push not to force you,” said Seymour.

She believes the problem also lies in people pushing themselves beyond their limits to be on par with others if they are not given proper guidance.

The Lockeroom personal trainer Dylan Moran believes balance between CrossFit and regular training is key.

“CrossFit is more about performance, staying fit and healthy, raising your heart rate and competing against yourself, whereas isolation training is about performing strict controlled movement on isolated muscles for aesthetic reasons. I do not agree with all the methods of CrossFit, as momentum is used to create a kind of short cut in the movements to allow the person to perform as many reps as possible – which in essence is cheating.”