Twin City CrossFit at The Plex
The champagne bottles have popped, the balls were dropped, and now New Year's resolutions are in full swing. At The Sportsplex by Healthcare Express (The Plex), resolution season looks a little different this year, and the team at The Plex has found themselves supporting their members' goals and making a few resolutions of their own!
The Sportsplex by Healthcare Express, a staple in Texarkana for over a decade, is now under new management and leadership. Lori Carmony accepted her new role with the Plex as director in December and has an energetic new take on client service, gym programs, and a family focus.
"We are building a stellar leadership team here at the Plex and have made a commitment to providing the most exceptional services in the area first and foremost!" said Lori Carmony, director of the Sportsplex. "Our members have been really excited about the changes we've implemented so far and are excited about the direction we are heading this year."
The Sportsplex by Healthcare Express has always been a state-of-the-art sports and fitness facility that offers a wide range of services and amenities to help individuals of all ages and fitness levels achieve their health and wellness goals. The facility features a sparkling clean, spacious gym for cardio and strength training, an indoor turf field, group fitness classes (from yoga and Pilates to HIIT and Body Pump), as well as personal training and nutrition counseling services. Lux amenities like the heated outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, and towel service are also enjoyed by members of The Plex.
One big change to the Plex service line-up this year is the introduction of Twin City CrossFit. The CrossFit program focuses on building strength, endurance, and overall fitness through a combination of functional movements and high-intensity interval training.
"Twin City CrossFit has been growing at a rapid pace. We have so much new equipment added to the XLR8/CrossFit gym area now, and members are pumped to have access to our regular gym floor AND our all-new CrossFit gym area on the opposite end of the campus!" said Joseph Iiams of The Sportsplex. "We have so many people coming in for consultations to find out what CrossFit really is and if it's a good fit for their needs."
So, what is CrossFit? The answer to this broad question varies based on the gym you go to or what athlete you ask. CrossFit's website says it is "constantly varied movements that are executed at high intensity." However, CrossFit is so much more. It includes weightlifting, calisthenics, gymnastics, and endurance training. Twin City CrossFit has programs for every skill level. The program utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to improve mobility, build functionality, and give members a community of support and a sense of competition.
Mobility and functionality are some of the biggest assets we need to live a happy long life. 13.7% of U.S. adults have a mobility disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Lack of mobility will slowly get worse as the population ages. This leads to disabilities in older adults, whether it is knee problems, back problems, arthritis, or even obesity. According to the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), approximately 57 million Americans live with a disability.
"We have programming with mobility as a primary focus. It is a proven fact that CrossFit can help you improve mobility and even help with recovery from a disability. CrossFit workouts and help us live a long and happy life," said Lead Twin City CrossFit Coach Siera Nelson.
The CrossFit community is a tight-knit group of individuals who share a passion for fitness and wellness. These individuals come from all walks of life but are united by a common goal of improving their health and fitness through challenging and diverse workouts. The community is built on a foundation of support, encouragement, and camaraderie, with members cheering each other on during tough workouts and celebrating each other's successes. The CrossFit community is more than just a group of people working out together; it is a family supporting each other inside and outside the gym. This strong sense of community is one of the many reasons why people continue to be drawn to CrossFit. It provides an inclusive and encouraging environment where individuals can push themselves to be their best selves while being surrounded by like-minded individuals.
A study by NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that although almost 3 out of 4 adults played sports when they were younger (75%), only 1 out of 4 (25%) continue to play sports as adults. Why do adults stop participating in sports? Is it a lack of competitive drive? Once you become an athlete, that competitive drive never leaves you. However, as we age, our opportunity for competition becomes slimmer.
CrossFit opens an entirely new door for those adults that want to continue to compete. CrossFit was originally created by Greg Glassman, a former Gymnast, who did not want people to associate CrossFit with professional athletes. Glassman believed the average person sitting home on the couch would see these "freaks of nature" and be scared to death to go anywhere near a CrossFit gym. He wanted to help people rather than try and create a sport. CrossFit has evolved into a sport in which people of all ages participate. CrossFit helps identify the fittest people in the world in all age categories. On February 16th, 2023, we are holding the CrossFit Open. The Open is a worldwide event that involves four stages that lead up to CrossFit games. Every athlete can participate in The Open.
The Sportsplex invites you to drop in and take a tour of the facility and the new Twin City CrossFit Gym. Resolutions or not, you are sure to love what they have going on at The Plex.
