What is …

CrossFit?

CrossFit?

CONSTANTLY VARIED, FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENTS, PERFORMED AT RELATIVE INTENSITY

Yup, that’s the short of it. CrossFit is a health and wellness methodology designed to build broad, general and inclusive fitness that makes its practitioners ready and able to tackle all things life throws at them.

CrossFit varies workouts by mixing movements, reps, weight, time domain and intensity in as many combinations as imaginable. It integrates different degrees and elements of running, rowing, biking, gymnastics, weightlifting, and body-weight movements so you won’t get bored!

Variety also ensures your entire body benefits from improved metabolic conditioning, more strength and leaner muscle tone and definition.

CrossFit workouts are based on foundational movements which do not require machines or complex equipment. We lift things off the floor (like picking up a grocery bag). We squat (like sitting in a chair). We run (well, like running). We press things overhead (like putting a suitcase in an overhead bin). These are examples of functional movements we use in everyday life.

In other words, functional movements are safe and natural!

Increasing heart rate for short intervals is a proven method for getting fit, but intensity is often misconceived as moving with reckless abandon. At Daybreak, intensity is relative to each and every member and how they feel that day. We espouse technique, form and consistency FIRST. Then and only then will we introduce intensity.

Safety is our number one priority and the experience of our staff ensures you’re in good hands.

ONE-HOUR GROUP CLASSES POWERED BY COMMUNITY

The people in your class become friends, motivators and the foundation of an inclusive community that lifts each other up.

It can’t be stressed enough: the community aspect of CrossFit is what makes it one of the most effective fitness programs on the planet.

SUSTAINABLE & BALANCED FITNESS HABITS

Gyms like Daybreak help members build a sustainable, balanced fitness routine that creates life-altering health and wellness improvements.

We’re here to help you get fit, stay fit, and make fitness a part of your everyday life.

BUT… EVERY CROSSFIT GYM IS DIFFERENT

CrossFit is a methodology. Since it’s not a franchise, nor is it a business model, each and every CrossFit affiliate (a.k.a. gym) can implement CrossFit in their own unique way.

Some gyms want to train world-class athletes… some gyms are all about wearing bootie shorts… but that’s just not us. Daybreak chooses to cater to our suburban clients by emphasizing safety, by focusing on quality and integrity of movement, and by creating a supportive community. Here’s how Daybreak does CrossFit:

The best way to understand CrossFit is to try it!

And to get you started, we offer a FREE WEEK TRIAL so you can see for yourself… you CAN do CrossFit. No contracts. No gimmicks. Just hard work. And results.

I WANNA START!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes! Movements and daily programming cater to all athletic levels. Whether you’ve never done a workout or are an elite athlete, the workout of the day can be scaled to your physical and psychological tolerances. If you have no experience with exercise, it’s almost better starting fresh with Daybreak. Our coaches will teach you good form and technique that will give you a broad athletic base and provide less risk for injury than you would typically see if you attempted these movements on your own.

And if you’re a little nervous about your first visit, you’re not alone. We have a free trial and smaller intro classes to get you going in a more intimate environment. Or if you want to experience our typical classes and the energy it brings, we can accommodate that, too. Head over to our GETTING STARTED page to learn more and to register for your free trial.

Yes! We will develop the 10 general components of fitness; cardiovascular/muscular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, speed, power, coordination, accuracy, agility and balance, providing a broader athletic base for you as an athlete. The mental adaptations from our program carry over to the competition field by being able to push when fatigued and break mental barriers.

Plus, fueling your body (nutrition) for optimal performance is the foundation of our fitness and performance philosophies. Our daily workouts are suitable for runners, triathletes, gymnasts, rowers, wrestlers, etc. And if you want a little extra customization, we offer specialized programs that can hone in on your very specific sporting goals.

This is important. Please read carefully. Our program is designed to be infinitely scalable. A good coach will teach you the mechanics of the movements, make sure you can execute them consistently with good form and technique, then and ONLY then should the coach suggest you use a heavier weight or go faster or go longer. Mechanics, consistency THEN intensity, is Daybreak’s philosophy. Your safety is our number one priority.

Injuries occur when coaches don’t enforce mechanics and consistency and allow athletes to advance too quickly. Do your research! What are your coach’s credentials in functional fitness programs like CrossFit? How long have they been coaching with their certifications? Have they advanced their certifications? Daybreak is co-owned and coached by Mel Ockerby… one of the few Level 3 Functional Fitness coaches in New England. Ask your current or prospective gym what level of certifications they’ve achieved..

Additionally, the movements in our program are used in everyday life. We deadlift (pick objects off the ground), squat (sit down and stand up), press (put things above our head), etc. When we lose the capacity to perform these movements we lose the capacity to live independently. We’ll make the decision easy for you… if you’re in a rush to get to the nursing home, then don’t worry about functional fitness..

Typically, we recommend a 3 days on, 1 day off, 2 days on, 1 day off cycle over the course of a week, but we know many of our members’ hectic schedules won’t permit a consistent routine. We will work with you to devise a personalized schedule that complements your busy life and delivers the results you want while allowing for sufficient rest and recovery.

We find most members start feeling and seeing a difference within 30-60 days of consistent attendance and proper nutrition. While you’ll likely experience a small amount of soreness over the first few weeks, we make sure to ramp you into the full routine gradually and at a pace that you can sustain.

After a 3-4 weeks, the soreness will subside and your body will begin to change. You’ll have more energy, you’re likely to lean out and you’ll simply feel better. After 6-8 weeks, we have seen weight reductions of up to 10-15 pounds, but it’s not always about weight. Lean muscle mass replaces soft fatty tissue and our members have dropped 2-4 dress or pant sizes without shedding a pound.

Our program makes you feel good by making you strong and capable… and THAT is how we like to measure success. But we’re not gonna lie… you’re going to like the way you look in a bathing suit, too.

WOD stands for workout of the day. It is a versatile word we use as a noun and a verb. For example, “Today’s WOD is Fran?!? I need to sit down”. Or, “We are going to WOD at the 5:30 pm class. I hear the WOD is Fran.”

The term “box” to refers to a CrossFit or functional fitness gym. The gyms are often large, box-shaped facilities so the term just stuck from the beginning. However, Daybreak is not your typical box. We’ve paid attention to detail by providing upscale locker rooms, showers and bathrooms. We provide complimentary protective tape, wraps and even have a touchless, filtered, water bottle filling station. We know it’s the little things that go a long way for our members. And above all, we pride ourselves on the cleanliness of our box with a minimum of 3 professional cleanings per week.

This is the biggest fear for women considering CrossFit. The short answer: NO, you WILL NOT get bulky.

The long answer: In order to gain excessive muscle mass you have lift heavy weights, and you have to lift them often. Don’t be fooled by the athletes you may have seen on TV or the web. These are elite athletes who require heavy weight training to compete at the Games level. At Daybreak, we will build strength by focusing on moderate to heavier weights once a week on average… and remember, we modify our workouts to YOUR goals.

At the end of the day, our program is designed to help you burn fat and increase lean muscle mass. This often gives ladies the lean physique for which they’re looking. Your clothes will fit better, you’ll look capable and, best of all, you’ll feel strong!

Oh, and to the dudes, you’ll get out of it what you put in. You want to lean out… we can build a program for you. You want to put on muscle mass… that’s possible, too. That’s the beauty of when highly-qualified coaches get their hands on a vastly scalable functional fitness program.

Classes are 1-hour long. Typically the first 15-20 minutes are dedicated to a warm up, skill review and development and scaling options which are personalized to each and every athlete according to their ability, experience, and any pre-existing injuries or conditions that may limit movement during a given exercise. The next 30-35 minutes are dedicated to the WOD or workout of the day. The remaining time consists of a cool down, another skill session or a discussion on post-workout nutrition, fitness, endurance training, etc.

If your child is 12 or over, they can likely participate! We have Daybreak Teens for our young adults who want to acquire sound fitness habits or a broader athletic base as a complement to sport-specific training. If your child is 18 or over, they can participate in the adult classes. Visit our DAYBREAK TEENS page for more information on our youth program.

If you have younger children who can be left unsupervised, they are welcome to relax and watch you workout at Daybreak. Children are not allowed in the workout area at any time for their safety and the safety of our members. We have a dedicated lounge area (with complimentary WiFi) where they can hang out and watch mom or dad.

There is also a per-hour Day Care available next door in the Longfellow plaza. This is not affiliated with us but some parents have used them to help manage their little ones while they workout.

Yes! Nutrition is the foundation of a successful fitness regime. Athletes who just exercise usually do not see the full benefit of exercise until their nutrition is dialed in. When the proper nutrition regime is executed, that’s when we see the greatest results in body composition, athletic performance, and just general well-being. For a full description of nutrition counseling services, please visit our programs page HERE.

The dust on your car dashboard is actually chalk. You start timing everything. You use the words “3-2-1-Go” in normal conversations. You tell your friends to try Daybreak when you can barely walk. You no longer giggle when using the terms “snatch”, “jerk” and “burpee”. You examine every structure on your kids’ playground to see if you could do a butterfly pull-up on them. Your workout clothes have to be retired from the, um, smell. You choose your vacation destination or work hotel based on its proximity to another functional fitness affiliate. You know the exact floor plan of your local Lululemon. Your F5/refresh button is faded form clicking it too many times to see if your box posted the WOD yet.