Caroldyne Harmon, age 80, does a Push Press with a 15 lb bar at the original CrossFit Atlanta "Shed of Pain." (Caroldyne was on the crossfit.com website, November 15, 2005
Many people take one glance at the posted workouts, or take a look at a video of elite CrossFit athletes and are intimidated. Don't be. The posted workouts are meant to be challenging to the fittest of the fit. For many of us, doing a Workout of the Day as prescribed is an aspirational goal.
A bedrock principle of CrossFit is that all the workouts we do and all the movements we use can be modified to suit anyone willing to put forth the effort, regardless of age or previous physical condition. Take a look at this video on how a diverse group, which includes a woman over 60 years old, all do the same workout scaled to each individual's abilities, Scaled Workout [mov][wmv]. This is what we mean when we say we scale load and intensity.
Much of our coaching expertise centers around teaching people to move correctly, and guiding them through exercise progressions suited to their abilities. The modifications we make preserve the exercise stimulus from the Workout of the Day. Can't do a pushup? No problem, we have a substitute movement. Can't do a pullup? No problem, we have a substitute movement. Can't squat? We can fix it.
A bedrock principle of CrossFit is that all the workouts we do and all the movements we use can be modified to suit anyone willing to put forth the effort, regardless of age or previous physical condition. Take a look at this video on how a diverse group, which includes a woman over 60 years old, all do the same workout scaled to each individual's abilities, Scaled Workout [mov][wmv]. This is what we mean when we say we scale load and intensity.
Much of our coaching expertise centers around teaching people to move correctly, and guiding them through exercise progressions suited to their abilities. The modifications we make preserve the exercise stimulus from the Workout of the Day. Can't do a pushup? No problem, we have a substitute movement. Can't do a pullup? No problem, we have a substitute movement. Can't squat? We can fix it.
If women over 50 with little or no fitness or athletic training can do CrossFit, then so can you. Still dubious about it being too hard? Read the Mary Conover Story, "A CrossFit Grandma"
