IT'S the latest fitness craze encouraging people to push their bodies to the extreme - with some men and women posting pictures of their bleeding and battered bodies as badges of honour on social-networking sites. Typically consisting of a hardcore 30-minute training session, the new "shock till you drop" CrossFit regime is all about using a combination of resistance, sprints, ropes, tyres, weights and rings.
And while CrossFit may seem too intense for people other than gym junkies and elite athletes, participation levels are on the rise, with almost 8000 people registered to compete for the Open Games this year.
World CrossFit Games competitor Chad Mackay, ranked second in Australia, said both men and women were giving the sport a go because of its focus on complete fitness.
"Working out is no longer about pumping up the mirror muscles," he said. "There's 10 domains of fitness that we work on coordination, balance, flexibility, endurance, stamina, strength, power, speed, agility and accuracy and we aim to eliminate any weaknesses.
"We want to be well rounded in all of those domains, not just really good at bench pressing or doing bicep curls."
Mackay, who will be running an open class at his CrossFit Active gym in Artarmon next Sunday, said it is often misinterpreted as only for elite athletes or fitness addicts.
"Anyone from age 15 to 95 can take part in CrossFit. Instead of jumping on a box, we might get you to jump across a line and back again. Instead of being made to do a pull up, we might get you on the rings doing a supported ring row. The sport is really scalable for any kind of ability. Everyone sees the hardcore stuff on the internet and they get a worried but there is something for everybody."
For Harriet Roberts, 21, more pain means more gain.
"I used to be a gymnast and competitive swimmer," she said. "I love competing and I heard about how much CrossFit hurt and how horrible it was but that is what competing is about, pushing yourself as hard as you can. When I stopped doing sport and stopped competing I needed something. I tried other sports but nothing hurt like this. Now it's like my drug."
She, along with friend Courtney Fitzharris, said the sport was also about breaking down the stereotypes that girls need to be skinny.
"Strong is the new skinny," Ms Roberts said. "I would rather be strong than skinny."
Trainer Luke Starr said there was also the community aspect which was attracting more people to the sport every year. "We train together as a group rather than just walking into a gym and plugging in your headphones and doing your own thing," he said.
Read more: No Cookies | thetelegraph.com.au
And while CrossFit may seem too intense for people other than gym junkies and elite athletes, participation levels are on the rise, with almost 8000 people registered to compete for the Open Games this year.
World CrossFit Games competitor Chad Mackay, ranked second in Australia, said both men and women were giving the sport a go because of its focus on complete fitness.
"Working out is no longer about pumping up the mirror muscles," he said. "There's 10 domains of fitness that we work on coordination, balance, flexibility, endurance, stamina, strength, power, speed, agility and accuracy and we aim to eliminate any weaknesses.
"We want to be well rounded in all of those domains, not just really good at bench pressing or doing bicep curls."
Mackay, who will be running an open class at his CrossFit Active gym in Artarmon next Sunday, said it is often misinterpreted as only for elite athletes or fitness addicts.
"Anyone from age 15 to 95 can take part in CrossFit. Instead of jumping on a box, we might get you to jump across a line and back again. Instead of being made to do a pull up, we might get you on the rings doing a supported ring row. The sport is really scalable for any kind of ability. Everyone sees the hardcore stuff on the internet and they get a worried but there is something for everybody."
For Harriet Roberts, 21, more pain means more gain.
"I used to be a gymnast and competitive swimmer," she said. "I love competing and I heard about how much CrossFit hurt and how horrible it was but that is what competing is about, pushing yourself as hard as you can. When I stopped doing sport and stopped competing I needed something. I tried other sports but nothing hurt like this. Now it's like my drug."
She, along with friend Courtney Fitzharris, said the sport was also about breaking down the stereotypes that girls need to be skinny.
"Strong is the new skinny," Ms Roberts said. "I would rather be strong than skinny."
Trainer Luke Starr said there was also the community aspect which was attracting more people to the sport every year. "We train together as a group rather than just walking into a gym and plugging in your headphones and doing your own thing," he said.
Read more: No Cookies | thetelegraph.com.au
