Why We On-ramp Everyone New to CrossFit

Is this you?

You're new and stoked to get started. Never picked up a barbell or stepped into a CrossFit gym. But you want to hit that first class hard. You're going to crush it.

Or maybe...

You were a member of a CrossFit Affiliate ten years ago. Haven't touched a weight since. But you know what you're doing, you know what a "WOD" is, and you've attended plenty of CrossFit classes before.

I can relate to both avatars. I dive in, skip the learning, and get my hands dirty immediately. And I'm also the guy who draws on past experiences. But whether you are brand new and have never done a medicine ball clean or you have been out of a CrossFit gym for a while, our coaches are going to guide you through the CrossFit Vertex On-ramp Program. Consider this. You spent six months learning how to drive a car. It's a big hunk of steel with rubber tires. Why not take a few days to correctly learn how to throw around a barbell?

1) Education

You should never stop learning. Your job, relationships, and even fitness - they all benefit from a "constantly learning" attitude. A growth mindset. During the On-ramp, you'll learn and perform CrossFit's foundational movements (squat, press, and deadlift). You'll pick up a barbell. You'll test out each cardio machine during a workout. You'll learn movement cues, new phrases, and the flow of our class structure. And I'm betting you'll learn something about yourself as well.

2) Safety

Contrary to popular belief, "safety" is not a four-letter word within the walls of a CrossFit gym. At CrossFit Vertex, safety is paramount. It's instilled in every coach and it's part of our core values. We teach Mechanics. Then Consistency. Then Intensity. During the On-ramp, you learn to move as your body was designed to move. How do my knees track on a squat? Is it bad if my back rounds on a deadlift? Your coach is watching intently. Using verbal and tactile cues, they correct poor movement, help you to engage stabilizer muscles, and ensure proper body positioning.

3) Coaching

We are a coaching organization first. We coach every member, every class. No exceptions. We correct your form. We break down complex movements into smaller chunks. We drill those smaller movement chunks over and over again. If you don't know a movement, you're educated and coached through it. And throughout the workout, you're receiving additional movement cues to improve movement efficiency and safety. During the On-ramp Program, you attend several one-on-one sessions where you work directly with a coach. A session contains a warm-up, movement instruction, a workout, and lasts about an hour.

4) Accountability

This one is pretty simple. You hold yourself accountable to those you trust and respect. As coaches, we want to build genuine relationships with our athletes. This ensures we can provide feedback, positive or negative. Working one-on-one with a coach is a wonderful way to foster an accountable, truthful, and genuine relationship. And after establishing a relationship with a coach, you'll have a friend who can introduce you to the rest of the CrossFit Vertex community.

5) Learn About You

Lastly, we want to get to know you! Aside from building a rapport, we need to understand what your health and fitness goals are, how your body moves, what classes you'll attend, and past injuries or tweaks. Maybe your trying CrossFit to get stronger? Perhaps you want to lose 20 pounds? The On-ramp provides a forum for health and fitness conversation. It's also a platform where your coach can assess your movement patterns and overall fitness level. Those details are relayed back to our full coaching staff so they are prepared to coach you in group classes!

So, whether you're just trying out CrossFit for the first time or you're a crafty CrossFit veteran who's been off for a while, we'll coach you through our On-ramp Program. This program is the best way to ensure your success as a member of CrossFit Vertex.

I'm Coach Joe Marcavage and I've been practicing and coaching CrossFit for over ten years.

Let's meet up for a quick discussion to figure out how CrossFit Vertex can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.

Book a free intro with Coach Joe.

Joe Marcavage

Owner, CrossFit Vertex