Wednesday nights, starting September 16, we'll be running a new program for youth aged 12-15. Teens will learn to lift weights, sprint, run, do basic gymnastics movements, and put them all together in a variety of fun ways.
Interest in Youth Fitness has never been higher, and it's never been such a touchy subject.
On one hand, there are still opponents to the concept of kids "lifting weights." On the other hand, kids of all ages are jumping, running, tumbling, falling… all activities requiring them to bear their own weight – plus inertia and gravity – at high speed. Do the math: a 12-year-old jumping off a 3-foot snowbank absorbs more than double their bodyweight at impact. If you're a 135lbs 12-year-old, that's the same as back squatting 297lbs safely!
While repetitive high-impact exercise can cause joint dominance issue, these are very different than acute stress injuries. The best way to avoid these kinds of problems? Build a well-balanced, strong, flexible kid. Wayne Gretzky didn't skate in the summer; he was a baseball pitcher. Most high-level athletes started out doing several sports at once. We routinely ask high-level athletes which sports they participated in as kids; the answers are usually gymnastics (tumbling,) martial arts, or dance.
The best way to produce a good athlete: give them lots of variety at a young age. The best way to keep a person fit for life? Introduce them to fun exercise at a young age involving a wide variety. These form the backbone of our Catalyst Kids program.
Kids who know how to exercise properly from a young age are far less likely to suffer any athletic injury when they're older. They're less likely to do dumb stuff in a school weight room, or spend all their time obsessing about their "six-pack" when they're in a gym. Got a daughter? Start thinking about ways to avoid an eating disorder. They're becoming more popular, not less. Isn't it better to promote a lifestyle where fitness is based on achievement instead of aesthetic? We think so.
Teen (Age 12-15) CrossFit Group – Wednesdays at 7pm
Starts September 16! $60 for 6 weeks!