We are nearly half way through October and the Teens have been busy focusing on Pull Up progressions this month. By following a programme which includes inverted rows, banded pull downs, holds and farmer carries, to name a few, they have developing back and shoulder strength, grip strength and core strength in our sessions.

The pull up is a perfectly functional movement, an essential part of athletic training and a gateway exercise to other highly developmental gymnastics movements. Perfect for growing teenagers.
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Loads more progress to be made over the next few weeks, we'll keep you updated!

​Learning new things, whether that's a new skill or something at school, is important for building self-esteem, confidence and supporting overall development in kids (and adults too!).

On Saturday we had some fun trying some skills we hadn't tried before and after loads of practice, we had loads of success!

CrossFit provides variance, keeping sessions interesting and fun, while continually learning.
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While our Kids classes will make your kids stronger and fitter, we aim to create opportunities for them to grow, learn and develop to prepare them for whatever life throws at them.

This one is for parents of young kids! 

The vestibular system is located in your inner ear and is activated with movements of the head.

It's very important to help our children develop their vestibular systems from a young age as a well developed system is crucial for:

• Good balance
• Muscle tone
• Postural Control
• Hand eye co-ordination
• Bilateral co-ordination
• Language development
• Visual tracking
• Self regulation

Activities such as running, rolling, climbing, jumping, swinging, swimming, riding a bike or spinning around are excellent ways to stimulate the vestibular system. Encouraging our kids to play, fall over, roll about etc are simple, yet very effective ways to help them develop.

This is why our CrossFit kids classes incorporate all sorts of fun games which focus on their overall development.​

Meet Hunter!
Every Saturday our gym is filled with energetic, fun-loving and eager kids and so, we are going to put the spotlight on them over the next while.
First up we have Hunter Keatley!

Hunter joined one of our Summer Camps when he was 4 years old, then joined our Saturday classes straight after, and like his mammy, it's rare that Hunter ever misses a session!

Hunters favourite thing to do at CrossFit is Rope Climbs (he can climb the whole way to the top ) and his least favourite are Burpees but he still does them without complaint!
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Keep up the good work Hunter!

Meet Saorla!
Saorla is one of our Senior group who will be moving into our Teens classes in a few weeks. She will be going into Year 8 which she's really looking forward to!

Saorla plays Gaelic Football for Kickhams Creggan and has found that CrossFit has helped her in her position as half forward to get through tackles.
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She also loves coming to CrossFit as she had made loads of friends and enjoys the training.
Saorla comes to class with a smile and leaves with a bigger smile, a brilliant girl and athlete!

If only everyone looked at exercise through the eyes of a 3/4 year old, we would all be very fit people!

Yesterday completed a massive 4 months of our coaching program with Tiny Tots. And what a 4 months it was!
These kids, from the word go, have been a ball of energy and enthusiasm, and an absolute joy to coach.
I hope that they have made positive early memories of health and fitness, and make exercise a staple in their everyday life as they continue to grow.

They have definitely made a lasting impression on me!
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Well done Tiny Tots!!

It's coming up to that dreaded time of year for many of our Teens - exam season.

As much as it is tempting to bury your head in the books and not lift it again until the end of June, this can be less beneficial than you would think.

The positive impact of exercise on health can be particularly beneficial for teens around this time. With the potential of improving concentration, enhancing mood, increasing energy thus increasing productivity, it goes without saying that encouraging your kids to remain active will be a good way to manage the demands of exam times

We can help with that. Our Teens classes are on every Tuesday and Thursday at 4.30pm.

​Kids love copying adults.
To quote Sean at our Junior Kids class 'my daddy is a strong man because he trains every day, but I'm going to be stronger' (sorry Darren ).

Your everyday actions, whether they say it or not, are noted by any kids or young people in your life. This isn't a guilt trip, but more to remind you how much influence you have on the actions of the next generation.

If you make exercise a part of your everyday life, the chances of your child doing so are higher, as numerous research studies have demonstrated.
​Which increases the chances of your child leading a healthy lifestyle - along with all the other benefits of exercise... Sounds like a win-win for everyone