Dancing with the Barbell

Before I get to the topic of today's post, just a quick reminder that we are operating on a slightly reduced schedule next week as many of you (and us) are off on Spring Break. When you sign up for classes on FDHQ, you will see the modified class times as well. Classes will run Monday-Friday at 6 AM, 8:30 AM, Noon, and 6 PM for next week only. Yoga class and Olympic Lifting are on for next week. Most importantly, DON'T MISS FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS this Friday at 5 PM.

Ok, now on to Coach Lane's words on Olympic Lifting. Many of you may not know that Lane offers an Olympic Lifting Class every Tuesday at 1 PM. It is free for those of you with unlimited memberships or you can use your punch card. We have not had great attendance at this class as of yet and my guess is that many of you don't understand the benefits. I asked Lane to write a blog post about Oly Hour and as usual, he did not disappoint. Read on:

"Imagine you are back in middle school.  It’s Friday night and the spring dance is popping off in the cafeteria!  You and your friends are hanging out in the corner, doing your best to look cool.  Suddenly, your favorite song comes on.  A dance circle begins to form smack dab in the middle of the floor.  Your crush comes up to you and drags you to center stage.  The tempo, bass and rhythm is flowing through your body as you casually shuffle next to your crush.  Out of nowhere, a friend of yours pushes you into the dance circle.  It’s your time to shine and show your moves.  You hesitate for a slight moment and erupt into a dancing frenzy.  Within seconds, you can see that your dance moves aren’t impressing anyone.  Your arms awkwardly move side-to-side and your hips are frozen in place.  Reality sets in, you can’t dance.  Your crush walks away to find a much more rhythmically talented suitor.  

So why would I allude to a hypothetical moment involving dancing, adolescence and heartbreak?  Many people may not realize it but they are that “awkward” dancer in the middle of the gym when they are performing a clean & jerk or snatch.  The same people should also know that new life experiences and learning is never limited to adolescence.  Most importantly, avoiding heartbreak in the gym by injuring yourself is unequivocally important.  Olympic weightlifting is very similar to dancing in which some people are naturally good at it and there are those who just aren’t gifted at lifting a barbell.  However, both types of people share something in common.  Undoubtedly, both types of athletes can ALWAYS benefit from learning and understanding the movements and always striving to improve upon them by attending Olympic Lifting Hour at CrossFit Catacombs.

During this hour, I strive to make you more efficient, powerful and smarter.  Lucky you, I also throw a couple of jokes into the mix.  It truly is a fun hour to learn how to move better around the barbell.  Time and time again, I see people in classes struggling to lift a weight over their head that they are completely capable of lifting MULTIPLE times over their head during a WOD.  The sight of people not achieving their complete potential is both disheartening and encouraging.  Disheartening because they can lift in upwards of more than 50 pounds on their current PRs (Personal Records).  Encouraging because I know that they have so much potential to become a faster, stronger and more efficient athlete.  So give me that chance to let you achieve your potential and accomplish all of those “impossible” goals running through your mind.  

So why would I allude to a hypothetical moment involving dancing, adolescence and heartbreak?  Many people may not realize it but they are that “awkward” dancer in the middle of the gym when they are performing a clean & jerk or snatch.  The same people should also know that new life experiences and learning is never limited to adolescence.  Most importantly, avoiding heartbreak in the gym by injuring yourself is unequivocally important.  Olympic weightlifting is very similar to dancing in which some people are naturally good at it and there are those who just aren’t gifted at lifting a barbell.  However, both types of people share something in common.  Undoubtedly, both types of athletes can ALWAYS benefit from learning and understanding the movements and always striving to improve upon them by attending Olympic Lifting Hour at CrossFit Catacombs.

During this hour, I strive to make you more efficient, powerful and smarter.  Lucky you, I also throw a couple of jokes into the mix.  It truly is a fun hour to learn how to move better around the barbell.  Time and time again, I see people in classes struggling to lift a weight over their head that they are completely capable of lifting MULTIPLE times over their head during a WOD.  The sight of people not achieving their complete potential is both disheartening and encouraging.  Disheartening because they can lift in upwards of more than 50 pounds on their current PRs (Personal Records).  Encouraging because I know that they have so much potential to become a faster, stronger and more efficient athlete.  So give me that chance to let you achieve your potential and accomplish all of those “impossible” goals running through your mind."