Coach Heidi discovers her new secret power:-)
For the past few Monday's I have been exploring the myth that lifting weights makes women bulky. I have referenced Leigh Peel's research into this very issue and today I want to explore one of her findings in more depth. Of the 2000 women she interviewed, she founds that 66% would not lift weights even if they knew that lifting them would not make them bulky. SERIOUSLY?!? More than half would choose to not become stronger. This breaks my heart and charges me up to continue to help women overcome the ridiculous pressure to be skinny and powerless. All too often women are portrayed as weaker, softer, "less than." CrossFit has changed the perspective of strength and capability for many of us. Almost every woman I know, at one point in her life, wanted to be smaller. WHY? Smaller thighs can't carry a backpack uphill, smaller arms can't carry the groceries, smaller butts can't help us balance on slippery river rocks. Yet, all of us wanted to be smaller before we started CrossFit. Now, we all just want to be able to run, jump, climb, throw, push and pull hard and fast. The fitness we get from CrossFit makes us more capable. We can rely on our body to do whatever we ask of it. Load the kayak, canoe or skis on top of the car? No problem, shoulder presses and jerks make us able to do that. Carry a backpack with a rope, climbing gear, food and water uphill for several miles? No problem, squats and sled drags have trained us for that. Carry our kids at the county fair? No worries, sandbag carries enable us to do that. Strength training for women has broader implications than just strong legs and lovely shoulders. Being strong makes us harder to kill. Being strong makes us more useful. Being useful makes us relevant. I have yet to coach a woman who feels diminished after she back squats her body weight or deadlifts 200 pounds. I have yet to see a woman who doesn't walk out of the gym with head high and shoulders back after she learns to climb the rope. I suspect that most of the women in our gym have discovered other mental and emotional strength once she has discovered her physical strength. My mission is to help people find their power. I am especially passionate about this for girls and women. When we find our physical power we find our voice. When we find our voice, we can change the world. Who knew a fitness program would have such an impact on womens' lives? How has CrossFit impacted your life? Please share in the comments.
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