The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper


Vol. 17 No. 7 - November 30, 2016

reel time

CrossFit: a fitness lifestyle

Reel time

PAT COPELAND | SUN

Shay Coleman uses barbells. At right, an earthquake bar is
used for balance and stabilizing muscles.

 

 

ANNA MARIA – “If you change your fitness, you change your life,” said Shay Coleman, the Center’s fitness director and CrossFit head coach. “I want people who are truly ready to change their fitness lifestyle.”

Coleman, who trained under Steve Cirbus, a national CrossFit games coach, and Jessica Pananian, a national CrossFit games competitor, and received his CrossFit Level I and II and U.S. weightlifting certification, moved to the area three and a half years ago.

“I started a garage gym training family and friends,” he recalled. “It was all by word of mouth, and then it grew into coaching at the Center a year ago.”

He began coaching CrossFit, and one class became three as participants increased. The one-hour classes are five days a week and combine weight lifting, gymnastics, strength training and cardio vascular work in each class.

“CrossFit is constantly varied, functional fitness at a relatively high intensity,” he explained. “Everyone has the same daily program, but it’s modified to your ability and it’s progressive. Every day is different.

“Fitness is 80 percent mental, and the mental aspect of CrossFit is what people find most rewarding. The workout is hard, and people are surprised that they can do it. The challenge is the reward.”

Progressing toward a goal

He said the difference between CrossFit and exercise is that CrossFit is results driven training and progressing toward a future goal, while exercise is doing something to feel good that day.

“People in my classes don’t know each other outside of this class, and they have different lives, but in here they have this bond,” he pointed out. “It’s a community of support and encouragement to reach your goals.”

He said there is a maximum of 12 people per class for effective coaching and ages range from 30 to 60, but anyone over 18 years old can attend. The fee is $75 per month for members and $125 for non-members, and there is no limit to the number of classes a person can take.

“I offer a free trial for people who want to try CrossFit,” Coleman said. “First there are two introductory classes that they must sign up for, and then they get a free week of CrossFit.”

As fitness director, Coleman also is working on new programs for the future. A strength class began after the Thanksgiving holiday and a fitness nutrition class will begin in January. New classes such as men’s and women’s kick boxing and CrossFit endurance will be added in the spring.

“I’m trying to craft a well-rounded program,” he concluded. “You can get it all – strength, cardio, nutrition – in one stop.”


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