Congratulations! You just joined a training facility that is dedicated to helping you achieve your goals in a fun, challenging group class environment. The first step is often the hardest, and as a member, you’re already made that step.
Now that you’re a member of the gym, your next challenge is to begin training with us and integrate into the community. You’ll find that there are new movements, challenging workouts, many new faces, and a gym environment unlike any other. It can take some getting used to, but we’re here to make this process as easy as possible.
The biggest concern for many is the very act of coming to the gym on their first day of group classes. Read on to find out what that’s like!
Gear Up
The first concern is, what to wear? CrossFit has a fashion of it’s own, which honestly, we could care less about. We’re most worried about basic functionality, for which you need very little to accomplish. Typical gym shorts/pants/shirt will get you started; whatever allows you to move freely and makes you comfortable.
For your shoes, something fairly minimal is best. Limited padding and cushion will make sure you have a stable base for your feet when doing weightlifting movements. If all you have is running shoes from the 90’s with a 3 inch foam heel, don’t worry about it. It’ll work just fine at first, and we would be happy to make suggestions for you at the gym.
Show Up
If you’re starting with group classes, you’ve already signed a waiver, and signed up for membership. With that out of the way, arrive at the gym about 10-15 minutes before class, especially when you’re newer. This will give you time to get settled in, familiarize yourself with the facility, and meet the instructor and other members before starting class.
Drop your stuff off, either in the small cubbies near the entrance, or in the locker room. There often aren’t enough lockers available, so don’t be surprised to see members leaving their gym bags out in the open. We have a very honest crew!
Get changed (we have changing rooms), fill up your water bottle if you have one, then head to the main monitors. We have 2 large screens in our main training area, and there you should sign in, and take a few moments to check out the workout of the day. It’s OK if it doesn’t all make sense to you, but looking over the names of the exercises will help build familiarity.
Make sure to check out our Youtube channel, Movement RVA to see instructional videos on many of the exercises we do on a regular basis, and take a look over our terms and abbreviations cheat sheets posted around the gym.
Depending on the time of day, the Instructor may be running another class, taking care of office work, or training themselves until about 5-10 minutes before class. You’ll quickly become familiar with our Instructors, but make sure to introduce yourself to the Instructor if they don’t get an opportunity to first. Explain any concerns you have, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Next week, we’ll talk about the structure of our group classes, and how to start seeing progress as quickly as possible. Keep an eye out for part 2!