I was first introduced to CrossFit in the summer of 2017 when I attended a charity event hosted by Dr Hazel Wallace (The Food Medic). It was a fun event. I loved the energy and the variety of exercises.
A few weeks later, I went for a free trial at my then local CrossFit gym, CrossFit Guildford.
It was the evening class. I had arrived early, just as the previous class was finishing. It was loud and overwhelming. The music was blaring, and the barbells were being dropped heavily on the floor. I was out of my comfort zone and considered going back home!
However, my fears were in vain. I had a great time. Suzanne and Henry took me through some basic (but tough… hello wall-balls!) CrossFit exercises while explaining how the gym works. I left feeling motivated and wanted to sign up right away.
Once I got going, I was hooked. I started by going twice a week, increasing to three and sometimes four times. I was getting stronger, learning new skills, and gaining confidence both physically and emotionally. I was also making new friends. There is such a wonderful community spirit at a CrossFit gym.
After only a few months, I noticed that my increased strength benefited my yoga practice. The coaches had also commented on my flexibility being an asset for CrossFit. The idea of collaborating yoga and CrossFit began to spark my interest.
When I was asked to create a 10-week yoga course as a part of my diploma, I knew exactly what to do: Yoga for those who enjoy CrossFit. I designed the lesson plans around strength and flexibility with a weekly focus on a muscle or group of muscles. My idea was to appeal to those who do CrossFit but wouldn’t go to a yoga studio. I wanted to share the benefits of yoga with people interested in fitness by improving their performance with yoga. There was always a focus on the importance of the breath and using the breath with movement.
The coaches, and my husband were my guinea pigs. Each Monday night, we would practice yoga together at CrossFit Guildford. I am so thankful for this opportunity.
Once I completed the 10-week course, Suzanne and Henry asked me if I would want to continue teaching yoga at the gym. I was delighted to accept. It was my first ever yoga teaching job so I was incredibly nervous. Once I taught my first class, I soon relaxed into it, and it was a pleasure to watch our community embrace yoga. I was able to teach weekly for over 7 months.
We then found ourselves living through a global pandemic and I was pregnant. My classes stopped.
After having my baby boy and emerging from the various lockdowns, I was pleased to be back at the gym. I had kept up with the home workouts, but it wasn’t the same. I didn’t reintroduce my yoga class after this time. Then last summer, we moved away from Surrey. It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to CrossFit Guildford. It is so much more than a gym.
Since moving to Kent, I have found a new CrossFit gym, NWK Maidstone. I am loving it and am starting to be part of a CrossFit community again.
I continue to practice both CrossFit and yoga regularly together. I believe there are many benefits to exploring different sports and exercises while practising yoga.
Yoga gives us much more than just asana. Lifelong practices and ancient wisdom that has been passed from teacher to student for thousands of years. Teaching yoga is a privilege and something I am very grateful for.