Stories From Catalyst – July 2011

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Y'know, this 'living better' stuff is easier than it sounds.

Fitness and wellness are simple to achieve. They're not easy – there's some vigilance required at first – but the things that challenge you, at first, become second nature pretty quickly. 

You have to move in a challenging way. Walking, shopping, gardening….they don't work. You won't drop any weight doing these things. You won't become healthier. They're good things, without a doubt; but they're not exercise. 

You have to eat food. REAL food. If grandma didn't eat it, you probably shouldn't either. If a food product has a list of ingredients nowadays, it was probably created by a marketer. Every crunch, every snap!crackle!pop!, every tiny bubble…it's part of the sales process, not the health process. 

You have to like it enough to keep doing it. You need a community of people striving together, supporting and cheering. You need fun. You need to go outside. You need to be happy when it's over. You need to feel so good that you'll WANT to show up tomorrow.

At Catalyst, we succeed when you do. We grow because we show our Tribe how to do these things well. These are their stories.

Relay for Life 2011: the Catalyst Green Army shines again, with over $2200 raised for Cancer research!
June was Chantal's third time through OnRamp, but she didn't care. She's been getting stronger each month; becoming more proficient in the moves; becoming a leader for the 'new kids' in the group. We love having her in there, because she represents what CrossFit and Catalyst are all about: friendliness. Trying hard. Showing up. Practising. That's Chantal. And hey, it's half price your second time (or third, or fourth.) OnRamp is our "Get ready for CrossFit!" boot camp / classroom. There's ALWAYS more to learn, and we celebrate those who appreciate a good Coach (even our Personal Trainers have Personal Trainers!)

It strikes me that an adult who can embrace the 'practice' mentality is usually a great role model for their kids. "I can get better" is a huge lesson to teach a teenager, a ten-year-old, or even a toddler. Kids and Teens in Catalyst Kids are praised for their hard work over the outcome of their attempts. When they're learning gymnastics, weightlifting, running, calisthenics, and obstacle courses, a lot of repetition is necessary, and the quality of the student always shows through. Want to feel pride in your teenager? Watch him do a clean and jerk or a handstand properly. Watch them high-five a younger kid after a tough workout. Watch her help the Coach put the bars away when she's exhausted. It's not just somersaults we're teaching here with Coach Mitch, whether in Rumble/Tumble (ages 4-7), Jiu-Jitsu (ages 7 and up,) or Catalyst Kids (ages 8-17.)

We teach the Practice Paradigm in Ignite! to encourage exploring, play, and constant progression in mental AND physical fitness. In July, our Ignite! NeuroMotive Coaches start travelling across the continent to deliver their message on cognitive enrichment through exercise. Movement is necessary for the learning process. We're helping other gyms, schools, and therapists use physical activity IN THE CLASSROOM to help kids learn. Want to see real miracles? Watch Ignite! at work with folks who have head injuries, brain impediments, or even ADHD, autism, Asperger's….it's amazing. We post a daily brain-enhancing workout, with exercises and cognitive challenges, at IgniteGym.com. 

A terrific role model for lifelong practice and learning is Brent Fryia. He's been a gymnast, a Nationals-level wrestler, an MMA fighter – home and abroad – and now he's become a business owner! Brent will open Steel City MMA within the new Catalyst Fitness gym on September 1. His schedule for Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and MMA is online already, though: click here to read! Brent's fighting at King Of The Cage July 16th – get your tickets online here!
Cam at our Midnight 5k Fundraiser.

The REAL testament to how much your life can change when you keep things simple? Catalyst Games 2011. Our theme this year: "Fin' It or Win It!" While several within the Tribe will train hard for months with their eye on the top prize in our annual Championship, others will…..train hard for months to see if they can FINISH. This is fitness that celebrates what we're about: teaching people to celebrate little wins. Participating. Trying stuff that seems impossible. Pushing hard, and accepting the need for more practice…..and celebrating. We're pretty good at that, too.
For the first time, we'll have a Team division at the Catalyst Games. See the Games site for details.

Your Coaches, too, are committed to continual self-betterment and practice. Mel Rose just did her CrossFit Level 1 Cert in Toronto last month; this month, it was Mitch. Now both are scheduled to do the CrossFit Kids Certification in August. Mel, Cam, and Parnzy all attended the Ignite! NeuroMotive Coach Certification mid-June, and you'll see them all take a role in the explosive growth of our brain training program.

It's all about personal growth. You can live a better, happier life if you feel better; your environment reflects what you're doing on the INSIDE. Personal Training is still – and always will be – the most popular thing we do at Catalyst, and we think we do it better than anyone. Click the link, book a free chat, and we'll tell you more. 

 

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We love seeing our Tribe come in every day to train. We love the conversations; the insights; the epiphanies; and even the temporary setbacks. We love watching you practice. We want to KNOW when you're here. With that in mind, some are becoming a bit lazy about swiping their card when they enter the Park. Since this will be absolutely mandatory on September 1 – when you'll no longer have access WITHOUT a swipe card – why not practice the habit now? Beep it up!

-Chris
  

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Catalyst Fitness Inc. | 498 Queen Street East | Upstairs | Sault Ste. Marie | Ontario | P6A1Z8 | Canada