revised observation 1

Observation Assignment Her Site Location: Crossfit Northlake

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Description of the Location: Crossfit Northlake located 8721 Sidney Circle, Suite 500, Charlotte NC. The opening time ranges depending on the day as it can start as early as 6am to 8am. The closing times all end the same due to the last class being at 7 pm. So as you walk in thru the front door there is an area to the right for kids to play, a room where crossfitters can leave their children as they work out. Of course there is someone there keeping a watchful eye on them. Immediately in front of the entrance there is somewhat of a hall where you can find two large whiteboards posted on each side of the hall. This is where crossfitters can post their PR (personal records) for each lift. You also see the hero/heroin workouts dedicated to fallen soldiers, law enforcers, or as simply stated heros. On the other board you have news of events that are coming up. As you pass through the hall you are in an open area where the magic begins. The open are is filled with jump boxes, weights, rings, and the Echo series squat/pull up racks. Within this open are there is an office where Jason the owner works in, filling paperwork or viewing statements. There also bathrooms located by the sides.

Figured World: A figured world is a large social environment complete with its own conventions of appropriate behavior, manners, and community-specific discourse (i.e. ways of communicating/jargon).

So what is Crossfit? Crossfit is a fitness program founded by Greg Glassman in 2000. It is a strength and conditioning program that involves a group of people ranging from the law enforcers, military men and women and down to your everyday men and women. In the crossfit environment, they expect a level of maturity, respect, and motivation. The gym not only invites you to be physically ready but to join a family who cares and pushes each other to be better ourselves each and every day. Throughout the gym, not one person is silent and alone. The cries of crossfitters pushing their body and the loud screams from coaches to keep the weights moving to finish the Wod (workout of the day). The coaches help motivate and drive a person to push their limitations at a safe pace. The music blasts as they go thru rounds of reps sometimes seemingly to push someone harder then they have ever accomplished. Unlike most gyms, where the environment is silent and everyone seems to avoid eye contact, crossfit you could possible be motivated by people younger then you, driving you to pass expectations. The gym is like a sports field where you compete against or applaud those who attempt, and as it all ends, give one another high fives for the great accomplishment. There is no set rule but more of common sense environment. As you join you not only join a gym but a family. You gain a sense of trust and you familiarize yourself with each person. Everyone communicates with passion and encouragement, as no one plays the role of a dictator. Everyone is equal and no one tries to make someone smaller then they are. Its almost a sense of being home, having people around to show you whats right from wrong and to tell you that you are better then what society believes you to be.

Actors: Actors are people who play significant roles within a figured world; another way to think about actors is as an archetypal role, which fulfills a specific purpose. Though these are not all the actors, which played significant roles within the figured world of the office, I have chosen these people because they are major players in


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setting the stage for this observation. Throughout the observation, I may refer to other actors in the actual notes.

· Jason Bright: Owner and coach at Crossfit Northlake. He is overall in charge of everything goes on in the gym. His purpose within this figured world is to operate and run the gym smoothly with little to no injuries. Of course participants will be sore and out of breath but that comes with the benefits of staying in top shape. He has great leadership skills with a powerful voice to back it up.

· Amy: Amy is Jasons' wife. She is the endurance coach and her program runs every Monday and Wednesdays. She has a great attitude and loves the workouts. She also has a great sense of humor and always has a smile no matter what the situation.

· Coach Hendel: “Coach A” is the owner of Crossfit Charlotte. He is the head trainer for level 1 trainer certificate course, who hasv25 years of strength and condition experience. He is a 1983 graduate of NC State University, walk-on All-American for the Wolfpack and has played professionally for Jacksonville receiving All-Pro honors and special teams leading tackler/short yardage goal line specialist for the Miami Dolphins

· Jill: She is the intro to crossfit trainer for Crossfit Charlotte who shows you the ins and outs of the gym. She describes the WOD (workout of the day) and proper forms to reduce injury. She takes you through a workout with no weights so that you wont get injured.

Artifacts: These are physical items and emotions/feelings, which are culturally or socially significant to specific characters within the office or to the group as a whole.

· Echo Series Squat/Pull-up rigs: This set up is beneficial in the Crossfit world as you can have multiple participants work on their techniques. This equipment is used for squats, pull ups, ring dips, and used for various stretches. It targets the whole body as you can do multiple activities.

· Jump Box: The equipment is used to improve endurance and their lower body workouts. Used in multiple situations, such as to help an athlete reach the pull up bars or to even rest. The jump box targets the persons legs as you have to complete a work out jumping on the box for a certain amount of time.

· Personal Records paper: This paper is a recording of all the crossfitters records on each workout, such as their front squats, dead lift, thrusters, and so forth. It is used to keep the participants aware of their previous recording to push their limit.

· Computers: The computers in the gym are a significant part of the gym. It provides the participants/athletes to sign in and record their data from the work outs. It also provides people to buy products from the gym such as work out gear.


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· Workout Equipment: Throughout the gym you have various workout gear. It is a major part to the gym. This includes the 45/35 pound bars, jump ropes, pcp pipes for stretches, abmat for abdominal workouts, climbing ropes, and various others.

· Whiteboard/Chalkboard: The board is used for various activities. It shows are the workouts that are dedicated to fallen military men and women, and also shows the WOD. It is a place where people can also record their workout times.

Discourse Communities: These are groups, which share common interests and ways of communicating within the figured world of the office.

· Crossfit Members: The members come from the young to the old. From students to workers. The members come from different backgrounds. They all come together to workout and stay motivated with their physical wellbeing.

· Coaches: The Coaches are the motivators who come together to help out those in need. They show you the proper form and techniques. They motivate you when you feel like you can't do the workout any longer. They forge you into a healthy fighting machine.

Literacy Practices: Simply put, literacy practices are ways of communicating both written and spoken, verbal and nonverbal (such as body language). These can include basic every day practices such as writing emails, texting, etc. or more complex tasks such as manners and politeness.

· Coaches assistance: Throughout the workouts, the coaches show you the proper technique to reduce injury. They teach you the ways to produce better results.

· Crossfit terminology: In the crossfit world they use words such as WOD to shorten workout of the day, or wall to wall to describe a certain workout. Many of its workouts are shorten and some kept the same.

Observation One (Crossfit Charlotte)

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Time:8:50AM-10:00AM

Description of the Location: Crossfit Charlotte is located at 9535 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270. Like Crossfit Northlake they are opened at various times and closed the same throughout the week. As you walk in through the front door, your in an open area, more or less a kids area where the participants can leave their kids as they work out. Like crossfit northlake, there will be dedicated members watching your kids as you work out. As you begin to exit this room, there is a hallway in front of you leading to the bathrooms and a door to your left. The door to you left takes you to a large open area where the magic begins. There is a table to your left where people can sign in to classes and where


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they can purchase crossfit clothing. As you walk deeper in the gym, you see the pull-up/squat rigs to your left and two white boards to your right. Here the participants and and coaches come together and train. Towards the end of the gym you find rowers and and bicycles for the participants who can not participate in the runs or anything rough on rough on the legs.

The Observation

0850-0900: Arrive at the gym and you meet Jill the coach for the intro to crossfit. She begins by explaining what they do and how the gym works. At this time I see the previous class warming up with a light run and stretches to warm up the body and loosen the muscles.

0900-0930: Coach Jill shows you around the gym and describes what each equipment does. You also get a chance to see another class doing the daily workout. As they are continuing the work out you can hear the coaches motivate the crossfitters saying that its all mental and continue pushing through. Each member sweating and driving their bodies to the max as they continue going through each rep.

0930-1000: During this time you get to work out with the participants. As there is not time limit, you work out as best as you can, with proper form and technique. As it comes to an end everyone comes together and applauds you and the newcomers for coming in and experiencing their community.

Observation Two (Crossfit Northlake)

Monday, February 3, 2014

Time: 5:00PM-6:00PM

The Observation:

5:00PM-Crossfitters start arriving as the warm ups begin. They run 500m, air squats, and lunges to prepare the heart and muscles for intensive training.

5:10PM-After warm ups Coach Jason gets everyone in to stretch before the workouts begin. Participants stretch and warm up the muscles to reduce injury and get the muscle group ready.

5:15PM-Jason reads out the daily WOD (work out the day). Once that is done, people go and get the equipment set up.

5:20PM-As the WOD begins, you can hear the coaches pushing and driving the crossfitters to better themselves and to motivate to finish. The bars cling to the chest as they try and attempt for a new personal record for front squats.

5:45PM- The 6 o'clock class begins to arrive and stretch as they watch the earlier class


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finish the work outs with kips, overhead lunges and double unders.

6:00PM- The earlier class ends its training with the participants lying down trying to relax their muscles and slow their breathing. So the 14 new crossfitters begin their warm ups and its the same routine as the 5PM class.

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Observation Three (Crossfit Northlake)

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Time: 6:00PM-7:00PM

6:00PM-As crossfitters begin entering the coaches give a brief on what the workout for the day is. Once the brief is over, they immediately begin warm ups with a 200m run, high knees, and inch worms to get the legs ready.

6:15PM-As the warm ups and stretching come to an end to participants begin with the first workout, personal records for dead lifting. They start by warming up the muscle groups involved and shortly after begin by adding weights.

6:30PM-Once the dead lift is done they take 5 minutes to recover and coaches go around making sure people have written down their max dead lifts.

6:35PM-At this time the next work out begins. AMRAP. They do whats called a ladder. They start with three front squats to 3 box jumps. Once they completed that stage they immediately add 6 more reps and this continues for 7 minutes straight.

6:42PM- Once the amrap is completed, eveyone takes a walk to relieve and relax the muscles. Ending with a stretch.

The Interview with Coach Amy and Coach Jason

What goes on a daily basis in this gym?

Coach Amy: “We pick things up and put them down” :) We have at least 7-8 crossfit classes running everyday. Also have endurance, yoga, CF kids, and personal training.

Coach Jason: we do the same thing for every class all day long. We post the WOD of the day at 5am in the morning the each coach take the class through the WOD. At 12:30 each day the coaches workout between classes

How is Crossfit Northlake different from other gyms?

We have a lot more diversity and a really amazing community. People from all backgrounds, ages, and fitness levels coming together to become fitter, healthier, and


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stronger.

we voices on the person so that we can drive results.

How was crossfit formed?

Formed from Greg Glassman in 2003

Greg glaasman the owner of Crossfit wanted to start something that everyone can do from home with the correct drive

How is crossfit different from P90X and Insanity?

The community aspect. P90X and Insanity are fantastic programs but are missing the accountability of working alongside others.

crossfit places a focus on community which is what sets up a part from anything else. We really care about each member.

Explain how crossfit address the plateau that people often hit when working out for a long period of time?

It constantly varied and functional which helps people not hit the plateau. As crossfitters we are never hitting the same program/routine on a daily basis.

we use HIT (high intensity training) to constantly vary high intensity functional movement

Do coaches have to keep pursuing other certifications?

Yes! Always important to further your education as newer knowledge and information comes out

no they don't. We ask them to at Northlake

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revised observation 1

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