By Shaina Hayutin, Coach at CrossFit Newtown
The days leading up to the 4th of July reminded us what discomfort feels like. Caught in the middle of a heat advisory, we lost power at the gym. No lights, no sound system, no AC, a water cooler that was only kind of working, and heat. How did we respond?
Coach Molly initially, quite literally froze when the power went out, and then proceeded to say “welp, let’s keep working out!” Coach Jake happened to be attending the class and immediately turned on music from his phone to keep the vibes alive and well. And then, Coach Carrie instantly sprung into problem solving mode. Between the three of them, 5:30pm class continued, 6:30pm athletes were contacted to be forewarned of the circumstances, and the status of said power outage was being addressed and communicated in quite a timely fashion. What a wonderful way to set the tone. And what a wonderful reminder of one of the key principles of CrossFit: be prepared for the unknown and unknowable.
The next morning, Coach Morgan arrived eager to utilize her bluetooth speaker and lead a room full of athletes who decided to show up to Zone despite the power outage. And I had quite a blast myself coaching the following CrossFit classes in the heat. It made me feel nostalgic and quite proud of the folks who chose to get some fitness in despite the uncomfortable circumstances. I needed that reminder.
We all know the cliche: growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Not to say that working out in 100+ degree weather is something you should do on a regular basis. It can actually be quite dangerous if you’re not properly hydrated. Not to mention if you consumed any kind of alcohol the day before or are lacking in the sleep department. I would not advise. However, doing things you don’t want to do sometimes is good for you and sets a solid example for those around you.
The gyms I got to be a part of in Arkansas, and honestly most CrossFit boxes at least in America, do not have a temperature controlled environment. They are usually well equipped with lights, sound systems, Big Ass fans, and such, but usually they do not use AC. At CrossFit Newtown [CFN], we are truly spoiled. We have an organized, air conditioned space that is full of equipment that is not only high quality, but is serviced on a regular basis and taken care of.
Here at CFN, we have a community culture that cleans up after themselves daily wiping down equipment. Regularly, I see athletes get on their hands and knees to clean up the pile of sweat or chalk that they left on the floor. Call me old school, but taking care of what you have in order for it to last a lifetime is quite neat [pun intended]. I commend our culture for this and I thank Matt for setting this tone. As much as I love a gritty old school box, I also love when things are put back where they belong and when I don’t have to sit in a puddle of someone else’s buttsweat on a rower seat…although that has certainly created some weirdly close friendships of mine in the past. I digress…
My point remains: I am grateful for the atmosphere we get to enjoy on a regular basis. Simultaneously, I am grateful for the days I get to be outside and enjoy a healthy dose of vitamin D. Being in environments that test your patience and fortitude fosters growth. There’s got to be a balance. [stay tuned for Sunday Funday this Fall that will test both of these aforementioned skills… wink wink]. There’s got to be a way to get out of your comfort zone on a regular basis that isn’t detrimental to our health.
Society has created a civilization that is fueled by comfort. Air conditioning in our cars and homes, chairs and sofas to sit on everywhere we go, handheld robot pocket devices that provide the instantaneous ability to have food delivered or a ride at our door in minutes. We don’t have to move our bodies or do anything requiring labor if we don’t want to. Click of a button, Amazon, technology, etc. Our patience is as thin as ever and our ability to do anything remotely inconvenient feels like a massive chore. This makes me sad and feel as though our future may be bleak.
Part of what drew me to CrossFit in the first place was that it was a common place for nonconformists. Folks who weren’t afraid to do hard things and steer away from the norm. And our norm is changing at rapid speeds these days. Personally, I want to throw my phone in a river half the time. Sell my belongings and go work on a farm. Humans were meant to touch the earth, build things with their hands, and commune with other humans face to face daily.
All that to say, we should not only be okay with getting uncomfortable sometimes, but we should actively pursue discomfort on a regular basis. It can be as simple as trying to leave your phone in your car instead of using it as a social clutch. Perhaps it’s signing up for a fitness race to show yourself what you’re capable of. Maybe it’s learning a new hobby that you don’t think you’ll be inherently good at. Whatever it is, I believe we need to actively pursue those uncomfortable endeavors.
That’s what this heatwave reminded me of, and that’s the point of embracing the suck.
Shaina Hayutin is a CrossFit Coach and Content writer at CrossFit Newtown in Newtown, PA. With a Degree in Journalism, a Level 2 CrossFit Coach, a Healthy Steps Nutrition Coach, and over a decade of experience in the fitness industry, she emphasizes the critical role that community plays in achieving optimal fitness results while maintaining long-term health and wellness.