Why We’re Different

(from similar facilities in the local area)

COACHING vs. CHEER-LEADING

(Technical Consistency vs. Enthusiastic Intensity)

When instructing our clients, we concentrate on the technical aspects more than any other concept.  Far too often “trainers” are motivating (read: cheer-leading) for a better performance rather than insuring technical capability.  Though motivation is a factor to success, rarely does a person need actual encouragement to “try harder”, but more likely than not, they need guidance on how to “be smarter”.  The “try harder” mantra leads to injury and a nonchalant attitude by unprofessional trainers of “well…everyone will get wrecked now and then.” Even worse, we have witnessed purposeful, over-the-top, programming by trainers with inferiority complexes, purposely trying to wreck a client or potential client.  They tell the individual how awesome they are because they pushed themselves to the point of unreasonable exhaustion or injury.  In turn, this gives the client an emotional “buy-in” and a feeling of acceptance.  It is a pathetic marketing tactic. If you see it… walk away.

The problem with the “try harder” method is: It works…until it doesn’t.  The “novice effect” is a powerful expression of human adaptation.  The unfit individual improves rapidly across all physical parameters by simply becoming active again.  Basically, riding a bicycle regularly for a few days, will make their bench press increase in poundage.  Facilities can use “cheer-leading” and emotional acceptance to their advantage to cover up their laziness and lack of competence. Before long, the client is a walking skin bag of injuries and has been convinced that it is their fault that they are not making progress.  Those whose genetics or previous training are good enough to survive the incompetency long enough, are then held up as shining examples of the “awesomeness” of the facility or programming.  The driving force is the emotional “buy-in” of the training.  The individual becomes addicted to the “high” of intensity and the “emotion” of being cheered on.  Exercising hard for acceptance is now all the individual can think and talk about.  The irony of this situation is the sycophantic adoration that the individual has for the facility and/or it’s trainers is basically ruining their physical bodies in the long run.

At Praxis Athletics/CrossFit Prescott we believe in a “Crock-Pot” approach.  It takes time and repetition to get permanent change.  Changes such as increases in bone density and matrix, connective tissue thickness and resiliency, intra-abdominal/thoracic pressurization, joint stability/mobility, neurological mapping, etc. take time.  ”Trying harder” is a loser’s gambit. What is really important in training is to remember that consistency trumps intensity, every time. Intensity must be born from consistency. You cannot force it, you have to lay and wait for it, patiently, instinctively, and calmly.

DEVELOPMENT vs. EXPLOITATION

(Long-term Progress vs. Short-Term Advantage)

Praxis Athletics/CrossFit Prescott focuses on developing, not exploiting, the client. The way we engage in our training, particularly our CrossFit programming, is with sound Strength and Conditioning focus, not “fitness” focus. We develop people to become more “athletic”, not to become good at “exercising”.  Exercise(s) are a means to an end, not the focus.

This is an important distinction that asks the question “Why?”.  “Why are we doing this?” is always supported by its justified and practical relevance towards the achievement of a desired adaptation and commensurate increase in performance. “What happened and why?” are constantly evaluated to sharpen our results.  Exercise selection, timing, and dosing are all outlined and understood.  There are consequences to actions.  Some we want, some we don’t.  We know the short term and long term goals, as well as the immediate and deep reasoning for everything that we ask you to do.

As well, what we ask you to do, is tailored to YOU.  Your current levels of strength, conditioning, and ability are taken into account, along with your build, muscle fiber type, and limitations to create deliberate programming for YOU.

DELIBERATE vs. RANDOM

(Applying ‘Reason’ vs. Applying ‘Hope’)

We relentlessly strive to develop carry-over from one activity to another.  Our fitness is built ‘in’ not built ‘on’, therefore, everything we do has a purpose and is complementing another attribute of development. It is important to us to allow the processes of the body take place over time so that we can secure fitness, not just attain it. It is important for you that we approach this task with a serious and sober mindset.

Shamefully, CrossFit’s “constantly varied” component gives green and poor trainers another means to be lazy, or to hide their incompetence. “Random is fun”, is the claim along with some conjecture that doing random things is a mystical gateway to fitness.  Fun, until the inevitable injury happens. Then what? How much fun was forking over that MRI deductible?

Well here is the truth: Did you see word “varied” substituted with “random”?

Let’s have a peek at the definition of those two words:

Random: proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern

Varied: Incorporating a number of different types or elements; showing variation or variety

Do you see the difference?  Is there a valid reason to put your health and fitness into the hands of a person who just thought up a “random” workout or training session?  Have you ever improved, in a long term fashion, with random methods with anything?

No.

Believe it or not, were actually told to our faces by an owner of a similar facility that after she talks to the clients for a few minutes at the start of her classes, she then slips away to the bathroom to create the workout.  UNACCEPTABLE. This kind behavior is absolutely lazy on a personal level, irresponsible on a professional level, and unconscienable an ethical level. There was no sense of development, just exploitation. As you would expect, her reputation as a trainer is largely a joke as it shows her money couldn’t buy skill, talent, or even a conscience. If the leader of the facility thinks like this….imagine what the staff tries to get away with.

Praxis Athletics/Crossfit Prescott prides itself on understanding the effects of training in the immediate, short, and long terms. You have improved all your life through practice of a few things that progressed into “variants” of those things and/or gave you effective capacities to bridge from one activity to another. Why would you resort to this concept to elevate your fitness to a high level? Until you can walk well, then attempts at running will end with a fall on your face.   Why are you doing a swinging/kipping pull-up, subjecting yourself to much more joint and connective tissue strain, when you have not developed enough muscle strength and connective tissue resiliency to accomplish one without swinging?  ”Wow, that was ‘fun’!… until I felt that ‘pop!’ in my shoulder … now someone get me a bag of ice??”.

US JOINING YOU  VS.  YOU JOINING ‘IT’

(We’re Here For You vs. You’re There For Them)

Praxis Athletics/Crossfit Prescott is proud to join you on your journey. That last sentence was deliberate. To be clear, when you join some facilities, that is exactly what happens. You join them…for their ends. Not exactly money well spent. When you train with us…we join you. We view it as an honor that you would choose us for this critical part of your life.

It is our opinion that far too often in this concept called “CrossFit”, affiliate gyms are focused on their own successes, their outward image to the greater CrossFit community, and embracing an overly competitive culture. Unfortunately, the client becomes a financing vehicle to those ends, instead of the necessary focus that they have commited themselves to through finances, time, and effort. The client’s commitment is then exploited to allow the facility to “comp” training and crucial trainer attention to those who have the right “look”.(Unfortunately, these people are being exploited as well, but in a different way) Basically, the client is there to make the facility look better. The place behaves like a popularity contest, with unprofessional behavior such as…

• a staff that is only interested in the average client, when that client is not current on payment or didn’t renew their contract.
• trainers looking for inappropriate relationships with clients
• egocentric men with their shirts off, pea-cocking themselves
• superficial women dressed in revealing clothing, vying for male attention and spreading gossip

Expect the quality of the programming, owner/trainer/staff attitudes, and your training experience to be indicative of this mindset. Expect to be stressed about the type and quality of the upcoming workout and the experience of the person who will be instructing. Expect to worry about not ‘if’ you will get injured, but ‘when’ you will get injured. Expect the shine to wear off as you begin notice that you are there to feed their bloated leviathan.

At Praxis Athletics/Crossfit Prescott, we are proud of the environment we have nourished. Basic manners and courtesies are the norm, and correct attire is expected. We are a friendly, casual, and family environment. Ladies know they are walking into a safe/comfortable place to get fit without all the pomp and preening. Gentlemen know they can focus on training with expert coaches. Older clients can be sure that our coaching staff understands their unique needs and situations. Children are exposed to Owners/Coaches who make every attempt to be good role-models. We have fostered an environment where everyone knows they will be able to focus on learning and improving.