Congleton CrossFit gym to celebrate eighth birthday
A Congleton CrossFit gym is about to celebrate their eighth birthday.
CrossFit Fierce Spirit, located on Thomas Street a few doors before Beartown Brewery, want you to get fit with them this January.
The two faces behind the business are Andrew Ridge and Victoria Willis.
They stand out from other gyms with their unique exercise method, and partnership with a local wellness charity.
Ex-serviceman and business founder Andrew explained what CrossFit is all about:
"I was in the Army, Royal Engineers when I first came across CrossFit," he recalled.
"I had just got back from Afghanistan and I naively thought I was quite fit.
"I was commando-trained, so when somebody asked me if I wanted to try it out I thought it would be easy. I thought it was just on a Crosstrainer if I'm honest.
"After my first CrossFit workout, it left me on the floor gasping for my breath. That encouraged me to want to get good at this, and I fell in love with the methodology of it being an all-round fitness model.
"When I was trained in the army, the focus was on being fit to run, and running with weight on your back. Whereas CrossFit covers all disciplines of fitness.
"I started a military affiliate CrossFit site. But then when I moved back to the area - I'm from Kidsgrove originally - I decided to open one in Congleton.
"We're about to turn eight next month. We'll celebrate with a big pizza and beer event, have a big social event. And that's the other reason why I fell in love with CrossFit, which is the whole community aspect of it as well.
"I've had so many years of being on a gym and feeling isolated. At most gyms you're on your own and the culture is to speak to nobody, but we're not like that here. We encourage conversation, and want you to be in a friendly space where you feel nobody is judging you.
"The way our classes are run, there is a lot of strength and technique elements but time to talk with one another as well. We've created a relaxing coffee area with a sofa and stools to make people want to chat and stay after the class, and maybe even recuperate before going in [for another class] again.
"We have seven classes a day, seven days a week. There's a little less classes at weekends, but we're just brought in fob access so Unlimited members can use the gym when there's no coach around.
"Just before COVID we moved from Spragg Street to our current site on Thomas Street. We gave out our kit to our members over lockdown and did Zoom classes, crossing our fingers that they'd come back when we reopened and they did. We're really grateful for our loyal membership, the community has been behind us all the way.
"CrossFit in general is getting a bit more of a societal backing which is great for us. It is still a young brand and it came from America so it has taken time to get going over here. People are getting bored with corporate gyms, and want to find other ways to get fit.
"Our members learn something new here every day, and mix every day as well. It is hard to strike a conversation at a regular gym, but there is no problem here. We've had relationships blossom out of this place, with friendships of people from all walks of life."
The gym provides work for ten coaches in total. In recent years, Andrew has taken more of a backseat in the business and handed the ropes to Victoria Willis.
She is the director for the Congleton mental health charity Bridging the Gap, which is next door to the gym.
This has allowed the gym to promote both a symbiotic relationship between the two organisations, and promoting the benefits of exercise on mental health.
"I have been a member of the gym since 2016," said Victoria.
"I used to be a vet nurse. I loved it but it was so stressful for me that I began to stop going to the gym.
"I began to have no work life balance and began to have an anxiety breakdown.
"I took time off work and Andy let me have a free gym membership to see if it would make me feel better.
"I came to realise that some jobs are not worth what they do to you.
"So I decided to take an enormous pay cut to come and start working at the gym.
"I then bought the business from Andy, which allowed him to take the step back he wanted to take from the business and focus on coaching."
CrossFit is a fitness brand which was set up in California in the year 2000. There are over 12,000 CrossFit gyms in the world.
Congleton's only CrossFit gym started out at a similar time to the ones in Macclesfield and Buxton.
They've now amassed over 2300 followers on Facebook, and hold classes for all ages, including children.
"I think we stand out for our facilities, community and coaching skills", added Victoria.
"In a class, for every 12 people there is one coach. This is so you can get one-to-one feedback.
"If you go to a normal conventional gym, how on earth are you supposed to know what to do if you are not a PT.
"So by keeping class sizes small, we can offer quick feedback on your form so you don't get hurt, and recommended weights.
"Our classes are great as you can switch off, be told what to do, forget about your day at work and feel great afterwards.
"The dirty secret of corporate gyms is that they don't want you to work out. They want you to get on a contract, stop going, and as a result stop wearing out their kit.
"But we're not like that, we don't have a contract. I personally message to people who haven't been in a while to check if they are doing okay.
"It is not a very good business model, but we want people to be fitter and healthier."
Andy added: "We have a small membership, where we know everybody's name, and everyone can get the support they need.
"We help people on so many levels. We help them athletically, mentally, and emotionally. And that starts from that spark of wanting to be fitter, wanting to be better than you were yesterday, and that doesn't have to be just through physical fitness."
Congleton Nub News concluded our chat with CrossFit Fierce Spirit by asking them why their job is the best in the world.
Victoria proudly proclaimed: "It is because every time I have a girl or woman change their mindset and goals from wanting to be smaller and thinner to wanting to be bigger and stronger I feel like I'm changing the whole damn world. The narrative is shifting, little by little and I'm so proud to be a part of it.
"This is more than a job for us, this is a purpose."
Crossfit Fierce Spirit is located at 5B Thomas St, Congleton CW12 1QU.
Follow them on Facebook, and browse their memberships on their website.
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