By Katherine Gittman
CP Reporter
In March 2017, CrossFit RYS (Reclaim Your Strength) opened is doors in Ladysmith and is currently the only location and serves as Caroline’s premier CrossFit Affiliate. CrossFit serves as a strength and conditioning program where customers are trained to take on different fitness tasks that will focus on ten different areas. The ten different areas include testing the cardiovascular/respiratory system, endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy, shares owner and head coach, Carl Lewis. With the ten different domains, CrossFit training does not serve as a specialized fitness program but as a way to build physical capability.
When customers step into the CrossFit classes, they are first asked about their goals and the trainers and coaches then continue to work with them to help them achieve their goals. The workouts they design are based on the goal of the customer. All the classes that are offered are group classes with the most popular classes being the morning, evening and Saturday classes.
When asked about how the CrossFit RYS was established in Ladysmith, Lewis shares, “Seventy percent of the population in the world is dying from chronic disease. At one point of my life, so was I. After doing CrossFit for a while, I noticed the indicators of bad health (i.e. high cholesterol, high blood pressure) started to go in the opposite direction. From that point on, I wanted to help others experience the same thing that I’ve experienced.”
At CrossFit, people take on many different tasks such as flipping tractor tires, lifting atlas stones, performing farmer carriers, carrying yokes, cleaning and pressing logs and lifting and carrying kegs and sandbags; these movements are also considered “strongman movements.” The purpose of doing these types of movements is to improve an individual’s strength where they do movements that are similar to other tasks in everyday life.
“CrossFit was developed to enhance an individual’s competency at all physical tasks. Our athletes are trained to perform successfully at multiple, diverse and randomized physical challenges. This fitness is demanded of military and police personnel, firefighters and many sports requiring total or complete physical prowess. CrossFit has proven effective in these arenas,” shares Lewis. As customers work at a basic level and then work their way to take on the more intense tasks as they build their strength and endurance.
When asked what makes the CrossFit stand out, Lewis shares that it is the sense of community. He shares, “our mission is to create and maintain a community where people can come, have fun, and “reclaim” their health and fitness by performing constantly varied , functional movement at a high intensity.”
“The community is the awesome people that make CrossFit RYS their home. I don’t give it any justice trying to describe them. During and after a workout, I love to just watch them cheer each other on, push each other. The most inspiring part of my job is changing people’s lives. I’m so grateful that I am allowed to be a part of achieving their goals.” Lewis shares.
CrossFit RYS is open from 5a.m. to 8p.m. from Monday through Friday, 7a.m. to 12p.m. on Saturday. For more information check out www.CrossFitRYS.com.
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