Welcome Chris Szymanski!
Chris will be joining us in mid-October, taking on a full time coaching role. Chris has years of experience coaching in Long Island, as well as competing in CrossFit events and Olympic weightlifting.
We’re excited to have him joining the team!
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Since I can remember, sports have always been a part of my routine. When I planned to play high school soccer at the varsity level I knew I needed to develop my strength. Therefore, I joined a local gym that summer and, sure enough, I saw improvements so I decided to keep with it; little did I know I was about to be hooked on fitness.
Fast forward to 2010. Soccer came and went but I kept at my training in the gym. I was locked in the classic chest-day, back-day etc… cycle and was content. All it took was an appendectomy to put me out for a month of training to get me thinking I am in need of something new. My brother suggested a training program he followed online that was new to me so, on a whim, I gave it a shot. And just like that, I began CrossFit.
The online regiment was an affiliate based in Dubai which catered to the globo gym athlete. The pro was I could basically do this anywhere. The con was the workouts were limited to resource so they often lacked the higher skill barbell movements and most gymnastics. Years passed and it was evident I became obsessed, but had plateaued. I wanted to get better and I knew, I needed a coach. So, in 2014, I joined my first affiliate and have not looked back since.
I began coaching in late 2015 and have never felt more satisfied than seeing members grow in my class. I do my best to instruct but, what I find even more important, is to encourage. Cues can be excellent and helpful but, ultimately, are subjective. However, I believe energy through persistent motivation is objective and, to be the best coach I know how to be, I bring a full dose of both. Seeing members recognize that it is their own ability that gets them that extra rep and it is their own self that pushes her or him beyond a point they thought was their limit is what makes coaching special for me. I continue to pass my enthusiasm and knowledge along to all those who are willing and interested to find the same fitness I started searching for when I began and hope you get hooked like I did.
~Coach Chris
