How I started CrossFit in a new city

Many of you know that I moved across the country in 2021 for my first gig as a Travel Physical Therapist. I knew I wanted to continue to be surrounded by a fitness community, so on my first day of work I went to a local CrossFit affiliate for my first workout in California. This is the process I took to jump right in.

First, I contacted the owner via social media a few days before.

This process was very casual. I searched “CrossFit gyms near me” and found one close to work. I did a quick once over on their website for basic info like address and pricing then hopped over the Instagram to contact them. By doing this I knew a few things. I knew where they were located as some Instagram profiles lack this info. I had a general sense of what the gym was going to look like and if I thought I could fit in. And I had a reference name to use when I showed up.

In my Instagram conversation with the owner I was able to ask a few basic follow up questions. What were the current protocols for COVID? I was new to the area, and California in general and was still unsure about how it would all work. Again, this was before my first day of work so I didn’t have any of the current information from my job about state restrictions. Was it easiest for me to sign up through links on the website or come in a few minutes prior and handle it in person?

Our conversation lead to a few other items that are typically covered when trying to sign up. Did I have CrossFit experience? Because my personal instagram at the time was mostly Physical Therapy related help videos the owner realized I could be knowledgeable about CrossFit. I mentioned that I had participated in similar class structures but not from a CrossFit affiliate. Most gyms will ask simply to offer you the best class experience. If you’ve never been to a CrossFit class it can be overwhelming. To combat this learning curve and ensure safety, most gyms will hold onboarding type classes. And in this case I was able to skip over those and jump right into a class day one. I was also given a healthcare discount. So it never hurts to ask if the gym you are trying out has college, healthcare, law enforcement, or family discounts.

Second, I showed up 15-30 minutes before the class start time.

I did this mostly by accident but it gave me valuable time to change, double check with the owner, and meet a few new people. I didn’t want to change into my workout clothes at work so I chose to change at the gym. Most gyms will have bathrooms or somewhere to change, but be advised if you show up 5 minutes before the workout the previous class may be in the bathroom washing their hands, freshening up, or what not and thus occupying the space you intended to use to change. Showing up 15 minutes prior will give you plenty of time to use that space all to yourself.

I had completed all the online paperwork for waivers and releases but I was unsure how to check into the class formally. Being early on day one gave me enough time to chat with the gym owner and get squared away with a keychain scan card. I double checked that all of my information was correct and that my card was on file for membership. I had all my eggs in this gym’s basket. If you are trying a gym out for the first time you might get a free class or even be offered the option for a “Drop-in”. This is the term for paying for one class at a time. Typically more expensive if you intend on participating in classes throughout the month but definitely an affordable option to check out a new gym in your area with no commitment.

Third, I quietly participated in the group class environment.

I’m very outgoing and often quite loud during CrossFit classes. But when trying out a gym for the first time I tend to be on my best behavior. I might crack a joke once or twice but here’s the thing - just as much as you are trying out the gym for the first time to see if they are a good fit; the gym is evaluating you to make sure you don’t need any further coaching or cues on “fitting in” to their culture. While you’ll be able to tell if this gym is right for you straight away, it’s often hard to gauge the gym’s culture with one visit. Maybe the class is being coached by someone less experienced on that day. Maybe a few of the regulars are out of town. Or maybe both you and the coach had bad days prior to coming in. By my efforts to take the class and quietly enjoy it without being overly critical gave me a good starting point. The coach that day actually did not coach quite that often. And the spot I worked out in was far away from all of the regulars. If I had been overly goofy and overly critical on my evaluation of the gym I might not have come back. But I gave it another shot, had a fabulous coach the next class in, and was able to joke around with one of the fittest guys in the gym.

Lastly, I bought a T-shirt before I left.

Every good CrossFit gym has more than good coaches, they have good members. And there’s nothing better to start conversation as a “newbie” than by wearing one of the gym’s t-shirts to a workout. You’ll get instant recognition with members because you went the extra step to literally buy into the community. Buying merch before you leave is also a nice gesture to say I appreciate what you are doing here. It says I want to support that even if this will be the last time I can workout here for a while - I particularly like doing this when visiting gyms out of town.

If you want to try out a CrossFit Affiliate in your area try these steps. With the new year you might even run across a gym doing “Bring-a-Friend Week” which can make this process even easier. Special thanks to my friends in Merced for welcoming me into the CrossFit community.

-Dr. Matt