Wednesday, June 18, 2008

LifeBridge Health & Fitness Opens Baltimore's First CrossFit Affiliate

LifeBridge Health & Fitness in Pikesville launches CrossFit Baltimore, the first CrossFit affiliate in the Baltimore area. CrossFit is a high-intensity workout regime that accomplishes both strength and conditioning in as little as twenty minutes. The program was first developed for law enforcement and the military, but it has now been redesigned for anyone interested in physical fitness. Crossfit has over 300 affiliates nationwide.

CrossFit utilizes many traditional exercises such as squats, push-ups, and pull-ups in a completely scalable exercise routine. Scalable exercises are those that can be adjusted to accommodate each individual’s level of physical fitness or strength. CrossFit exercises are accomplished with the use of many low-tech exercise devices. Participants use hanging ropes, kettlebells, and even tires to accomplish all of their strength and conditioning activities.

The intense nature of a CrossFit workout is demonstrated by the names of the training routines such as Fight Gone Bad. Since CrossFit is completely scalable, members of all fitness levels are able to participate in the same workouts as elite athletes.

“As Baltimore’s only official CrossFit affiliate LifeBridge Health & Fitness can guarantee that its programs meet all of the CrossFit standards,” said Shelley Stein, interim director of LifeBridge Health & Fitness. “In addition, LifeBridge Health & Fitness can offer CrossFit members the added benefit of utilizing a full-service health club which many other CrossFit affiliates around the country do not necessarily offer.”

Recently, Baltimore Magazine named LifeBridge Health & Fitness one of the best health clubs in Baltimore.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness is a member of LifeBridge Health, a regional health care organization, which includes Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Jewish Convalescent & Nursing Home, and related subsidiaries and affiliates.