Gymnastics Certification

Albany CrossFit will be hosting a gymnastics certification the weekend of December 6th and 7th.  Having just come back from a gymnastics cert ourselves we highly recommend it, but don't take our word, here is what Lisbeth of CF Watertown has to say.

Ever wonder what the Gymnastics Certification is like? Let me tell you a little something . . .

It's fun. It's difficult. It's worthwhile.

I went to Jeff Tucker's CrossFit Gymnastics Cert this past weekend and I can honestly say that I hated it. I hated it in the way that I hate anything that I'm not good at, that makes me feel weak or inferior, or that moves me out of my comfort zone. The gymnastics cert did all of that, and more. And I'm glad I went. Let me explain.

Give me a barbell and I'm happy. I can do that. Or a bike. I'll even settle for running. But gymnastics? Whoa, brother, that's something that I'd just rather skim over. Prior to this weekend, I could do enough half-assed moves to survive the WODs, but that was all. It wasn't fair to myself or to the members of my affiliate. This is CrossFit after all: Weights, MetCon, and Gymnastics. A good affiliate really should learn to utilize (and appreciate) all of the fundamental categories.

As trainers, we get used to pushing people out of their comfort zones. That's part of our job. But, in order to do that job effectively, somewhere along the line, we need have somebody else push us out of our comfort zones. That's where the specialty certs can be very useful. And the Level 2 cert.

So I went to the Gymnastics Cert (butterflies and all in my stomach) and faced my own insecurities as a CrossFitter, as a trainer, and as a person.

And I survived. In fact, by the end of the weekend, I almost started to like handstand push-ups. Almost.

Jeff Tucker and his crew were phenomenal coaches. (Special thanks to Gillian Mounsey for guiding me through so much, and never making me feel like a failure, even when I was failing at something.)

Whether you were the best in the room or the one providing the most "teaching moments", Tuck had it nailed: everybody could improve, everybody could learn some gymnastics movements, everybody could walk away with some usable skills, including proper spotting techniques and an understanding of what the movement should look and feel like, even if you're not very graceful with the movement yourself. (Hey, why are you looking at me?) And if you were already comfortable and/or competent with gymnastics? Well, then it was even more fun, as the coaches worked with you to perfect your technique.

Tuck closed the cert with a small speech on the importance of service in our lives, in our communities, and in CrossFit. And he's right. Service is important. And his gymnastics certification seminar is a service which is pretty damn good. You might want to check it out. I'm fairly certain that you'll be happy you did. I am. (Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off in search of my comfort zone. Ah, there it is — over by the bumper plates!)

(By Lisbeth Darsh/CFHQ and CrossFit Watertown)

For more information and to register for the gymnastics cert at Albany CrossFit – click here.

Check out this great video on one of our favorite comedians and athletes Lenora!  Always a pleasure and riot to have in class!

Lenora from Albany CrossFit on Vimeo.