Living a healthy lifestyle might be difficult for some. Whether it’s work or taking care of the kids, the excuses for not going to the gym spring eternal. This, of course, is a serious problem, especially when you consider that we live in a country where the obesity rate is one of the highest in Europe.

We seem to have forgotten that exercise is a vital practice for us to keep healthy – it’s not just about looking good for summer, but also about feeling good. Crossfit is a great way to get your body fit and healthy. Its popularity is on the rise in Malta, but what exactly is it? Trainer and owner of Crossfit 356 Kyle Micallef explains the term which may be ambiguous for some non-gym savvy people.

“Crossfit is a strength and conditioning programme, defined as ‘constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity’.

“What this means is that the movements in the sessions are all multiple joint movements which have a direct relation to activities we do within our general lifestyle. To put it simply, a squat is just like sitting in a chair and standing, while a deadlift is exactly like picking up something from the floor. We teach people how to perform these common movements safely to maximise their effects during workouts,” explains Micallef.

Micallef, who has been involved in Crossfit for over four years, has been teaching it for just as much. It all started when he was still studying in the UK. “I was working in a normal gym and a friend of mine asked me to try a Crossfit workout and since then it’s all I’ve been doing,” says Kris, clearly devout to the intense workout regimen.

Kyle’s been doing Crossfit for quite some time now. He started abroad and then decided to bring it with him to Malta, but how did we react to this kind of intense workout?

“At first it was a bit slow to pick up but once people started attending and saw results, the word quickly spread and friends of friends were being referred. Since then, it’s been growing and more people are looking for this kind of training. Feedback has been very positive.” People, he says, are getting results quicker than they expected. They’re getting fitter, stronger and, more importantly, healthier. And, of course, there’s nothing better than seeing someone happy because they’re healthier and living a better life.

Crossfit is a strength and conditioning programme.

The movements in the sessions are all multiple joint movements which have a direct relation to activities we do within our general lifestyle

On to the more crucial issue, who can actually do Crossfit and what benefits does the person reap? Do you need to be an Olympic level athlete? The short answer is no.

“The programme is not just for the super fit or elite athlete. Any workout can be adapted to the needs and abilities of the individual.”

And you don’t even need to be young for this sort of intensive training. Participants in Kris’s classes hail from different generations, with some being as young as 17, while others are 67 years old. “This programme is adaptable to meet anyone’s needs, even if they’ve been sedentary for years. Movements can be made easier in the beginning and built up slowly as the individual develops.”

During a Crossfit session you are under constant supervision from a trainer, who is there with you to make sure that you are moving properly and efficiently. This contrasts greatly with gyms where people are left to their own devices, many of whom have no clue what they’re doing with the gym equipment. Tools like the gym equipment can help you a lot, but it is imperative that we know how to use them and what we are using them for. With Crossfit you are guided by your trainer, who knows exactly what you need.

The regime also offers a high element of diversity; exercises aren’t the same day in, day out and this keeps the fun factor alive. Exercises have to necessarily change, especially considering Crossfit’s multidisciplinary approach to fitness.

“People who train Crossfit practice all kinds of movements, from bodyweight and gymnastics to cardiovascular movements like running and rowing as well as Olympic movements such as the snatch and the clean. We aim to be proficient in all 10 general fitness skills as defined by Crossfit: strength, power, speed, stamina, accuracy, balance, endurance, flexibility, coordination and agility.”

However, as expected from an intense exercise programme, it is not without its fair share of challenges. People have to step outside of their comfort zone. “There’s always a movement or type of workout which you’re not particularly fond of due to the nature of the programme,” says Kris. However, this shouldn’t discourage anyone from continuing and pushing their boundaries.

“These are the same things that help you progress and get better. Pushing the limits of what you once thought was impossible suddenly becomes the norm. Setting small achievable targets is the way to stay motivated and constantly see yourself develop. These targets could be a simple as getting your first pull up and push up.”

Kris also urges those willing to try Crossfit out not to get discouraged by videos they see on YouTube.

“The people in those videos doing crazy things are the top 0.02 per cent of all the people who train using this programme. Also, make sure that the trainer you use is certified. A lot of people are riding the wave and telling their clients they do ‘Crossfit’. Best way to check this out is through www.crossfit.com, where you will find all the information you need about licensed Crossfit gyms,” he concludes.

www.crossfit356.com