Cultfit

I have heard Crossfit described as a cult in different articles online and even by friends and members of my own family (LYDIA/VICTORIA/MEL/MICHELLE....DAD).

cult
–noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

Although a tough WOD can become very close to a spiritual experience (with flashing lights and moments of ecstasy included), the religious-worship aspect of the above definition really doesn’t work. There are no specific rites or ceremonies involved with Crossfit other than posting our results on the CFDC blog...and chalking up before pull-ups.

I see Crossfit (at least the brand of Crossfit that I have become familiar with at CFDC) closer to the type of experience that you have when you are on a team. While there is a healthy sense of competitive rivalry amongst the team members, there is also a lot of encouragement and support that is exchanged, particularly after a victory, whether shared or individual.

And just like any closely-knit team, there is a certain aspect of conformity, “group think” and maybe even a little hero worship at CFDC. I have a whole drawer full of CFDC t-shirts -- my favorite is the “WWCD” (What Would a Caveman Do?) -- the uniform. Many of us tend to eat at the same restaurants and shop at the same markets (the bonds of “Paleo”). I may even look up to some people based solely on their Fran time and their OHS technique.

But again, even though these influences may extend outside of the box and into our every-day lives, the Cult charge still seems a little hyperbolic.

That being said…I have resisted adorning my vehicle with the CFDC decal…and do not wear my G-Shock very often…these are conscientious efforts to resist the complete conversion. I guess you could say that while I’ve tasted the Kool Aid, I am not drunk with it yet.