INTENSITY
I love intensity, how about you? I just have to go for it in a class yet safety is always first. A recent survey in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that 73.5 percent of sport devotees hurt themselves while training at CrossFit, yes you read it right, at CrossFit. It seems most of the ailments occurred in the spine and shoulder area. CrossFit workouts pride themselves in progression of intensity while targeting all your primary muscles, which means using complex compound movements that involve the whole body (many times with weights). OK I get it…but what we all want is to look amazing, feel great 24/7, and have unbelievable muscular balance and coordination. To stay physically healthy, cross train weekly. Replace one of those intense workouts with a stability boosting Yoga, Pilates or TRX Pilates session.
Ones desired fitness outcome should focus on FREQUENCY, INTENSITY, TIME and TYPE of activity (FITT), not simply the factor of intensity. Achieving the right mix of FITT factors is critical for all individuals, regardless of their fitness levels, if physical change is to take place. To produce the desired change one must seek to overload the heart muscle, skeletal muscle, range of motion (ROM), and the ligaments and tendons. To achieve this result the trainer can choose from a variety of methods selecting intensity and overload for both health and fitness benefits.
SAFETY
Coach Conner believes “It is seriously dangerous when group fitness professionals presuppose that one size fits all.” Even when a majority of participants show up at class with a “result-driven mindset,” Conner will always try to match the people to the movement. She will remind you not to let the focus on intensity and sweat supersede safety. This program has the capacity to progress and regress any complicated movement to guarantee a successful experience. Conner has said, “Work-out smart,” which means working out in good form. Research has shown skilled technique actually contributes a higher degree of intensity. Coach Conner will help students learn to concentrate on the quality of their movements over the preoccupation of “kill me with intensity.”