Why We Do On-Ramp

What is an On-Ramp Program?

On-Ramp is the course that teaches the fundamental movements of CrossFit, plus other movements that are frequently used during WODs (Workout of the Day). On-Ramp also teaches the language of CrossFit, the meanings of all the acronyms, what is a benchmark workout, and the significance of the Hero WODs. 

Our on-ramp program lasts four weeks and consist of 2 sessions per week. We start our program at the beginning of the month, and those new to CrossFit can join during the start-up period.

Lower Risk of Injury

The more people are educated about their bodies and how to do movements correctly, the lower my gym’s injury rate will be. Throwing a new person into a class without knowing the exercises can cause problems for everyone. 

Introduction to the Social Environment

Humans are pack animals by nature. CrossFit gyms create a bit of a pack mentality. This is not a bad thing. It creates strong bonds between you and those you workout with. However, this scenario can be intimidating to those who are new to the atmosphere, no matter how welcoming we are. It is not because of the people, but more because they sense, “This is not my house and I do not know the rules.”

On-Ramp puts everyone new together and gives them a coach as a guide. This is when we introduce the rules of our box and how things operate. This is when the newcomers get an idea of the social atmosphere that is developed at the box and how they fit into it. Since CrossFit is run in a community setting, these are things new athletes will become comfortable with as on-ramp progresses.

Teaching Modifications

You may hear us talking about modifications to some of our athletes.Each body is different and our On-Ramp program will help our coaches get to know every new person coming in and their associated physical issues if any. On-Ramp helps coaches learn about each person individually and how we can support their needs.  

We see clients who may have had shoulder or back issues and have been given a release to work out again. On-Ramp gives us the opportunity to provide someone in that situation the attention they need. Do you know with osteoporosis that thinks they shouldn’t CrossFit? Or any number of other chronic or temporary conditions?

Exercise can be a form of medicine for many upeople, but it’s important for our coaches to know how to modify for all athletes to reach their goals.

Emphases on Nutrition  

Have you ever heard the saying you can’t out exercise a bad diet? I believe this is true, but many new to exercise do not know much about nutrition. On-Ramp includes an introduction to healthy eating. Our coaches can answer any questions you have about dietary needs and will help each athlete create a nutrition plan that will transform their lifestyle.

Conclusion

Our On-Ramp program is one of the most important products our gym offers. It builds the foundation for each member of our gym. Our On-Ramp is updated every few months based on how our new athletes are progressing and what is missing from their experience. 

The benefits discussed above are just a few that you will gain from joining our on-ramp program. I cannot stress enough the importance of having a program like this to ensure the safety of our clients and any future CrossFitters!