Frequently Asked Questions

About Getting Started with CrossFit

This all looks fantastic, but I've never looked at a barbell before, let alone picked one up.

Don’t worry! We will teach you everything you need to learn. Just work your way through our beginners programmeand we will prepare you.

Do I have to complete the beginner's sessions in order? Can I start with session 4, for example?

Absolutely! You can complete the first five beginners sessions in any order that you choose.

Sessions 6 & 7 (the olympic lifts) are different, as they combine and build on skills that you will cover in sessions 1, 2 & 3. As a result completion of the first three sessions is a prerequisite for attendance on the final two.

Don’t worry, though. Because of the prerequisite, there are always a few spare places on sessions 6 & 7, so when the time comes you should be able to book straight on.

I'm pretty fit from having done yoga/pilates/running/weight training in the past. Can I just skip Beginners?

In order to progress to the Foundations and main CrossFit classes clients must have demonstrated excellent skill and technique in all of the core movements that we use in CrossFit. These are listed on the Beginners programme page, here. The Beginners programme is primarily about new skills acquisition in a safe and supportive environment and has little to do with your base level of fitness.

If you are confident that you have performed all of these movements before in your training, then please contact a coach to set up an Athlete Assessment session.

Note: if you don’t recognise the names of the movements, you probably haven’t done them before.

I'm coming along to my first session, what should I bring with me?

We would recommend comfortable gym/training clothes (shorts and t-shirt) and perhaps something warm to wrap yourself up in after the session. You will definitely need a water bottle of some sort to replenish your fluid during and after the workout. We would also recommend some flat or thin soled training shoe, rather than normal running shoes (if you have some).

I know I need to do the beginners classes, but they are all booked up. I need to be Crossfit ready now! What can I do?

Don’t panic! If it’s really important that you get crossfitting straight away and our beginners classes are full, you can always do the classes on a 1-2-1 basis with one of our trainers. In fact, there is a special introductory package of £125 for 3 lessons. There are lots of slots available with the advantage being that you can go through faster if you learn quickly. You may be able to access a beginners class, then use the personal training system to pick off the sessions you have not done.

Some other Crossfit gyms offer a free workout. Is there a free taster session at Crossfit London?

We don’t offer free sessions because we have limited space in our classes which we prioritise for our paying clients.

If you are interested in trying us out, then buy a single session pass and book in to one of our Beginners sessions. Crossfit London has a world-wide reputation for very high quality coaching and we think you’ll be very pleased.

We have thriving membership of City professionals (and students, and teachers, and surveyors, and policemen and women…) who simply booked onto a beginners class, loved it, and have not looked back since. A single place on our beginners class is £13, for which you get 50 minutes of quality coaching in a sales-free environment, a 10 minute workout, and great training tips. You get to hang out with other nice people too!

What’s not to like?

Note: we put no sales pressure on our clients at all; if you don’t like CrossFit (or us!) you won’t get the hard sell.

You can change your membership packon a month by month basis, and you can easily switch from a monthly membership to individual sessions, all on a secure internet site so you can choose the best deal for you.

I'd really like to learn the CrossFit skill set, but I'm not sure if I want to do full-on intensive workouts.

That’s fine! We are delighted to share our skill set, and we will teach you how to lift in our beginners classes. Just go to the beginners page, work your way through those skill sessions, after that its up to you if you want to train with us or at our gym. You are physically “fit” you can run through all the skills in a single day in our i-course.

Can I watch a session to see what it's like?

We tend not allow “strangers” in the gym while classes are running: we have found that is gets to be very distracting for both out coaches and our clients. If you are really serious about starting at Crossfit London and you absolutely have to chat to someone first, you can book and pay for an initial consultation.

About Getting Started with Adult Gymnastics

I know it says this is adult gymnastics, but, I am/my child is (8 - 17 years old). Can we come along?

Nope. This is an adult gymnastics class, sorry. Check out the East London Gymnastics centre for children’s classes.

I know it says this is adult gymnastics, but I am (18 - 60+ years old). Can I come along?

Yes!

What days do you run adult gymnastics classes?

Sundays.

Do you run gymnastics classes on any other days, other than Sunday?

Nope.

What time are the classes on Sunday?

Beginners: 1230 & 1330

Intermediate: 1130

How much do the sessions cost?

This sort of depends what “pack” you buy, but a single one off session is £13.

You can get deals and discounts for buying sessions in bulk, but we suggest that you do a single session first, make sure you enjoy it and then go from there. The full fees breakdown is on the website, here.

I've never done gymnastics before. Which session should I attend?

Beginners.

I've never done gymnastics before, but am very physically talented. Which session should I attend?

Beginners.

I'm a dancer/martial artist/yogi/Pilates expert/crossfitter. Can I skip on to the intermediate class?

Nope. Start with Beginners.

I've never done gymnastics before, but just want to learn how to do a cool backflip. Which session should I attend?

Book a Beginners class. On the day mention your goal to Amelia, and follow her advice.

How do I go about booking my first session?

Head to the Getting Started page and follow the instructions! It’s really easy!

Do you offer personal training in gymnastics?

At the moment we have one personal training slot open at 1440 on Sunday. However, we strongly suggest you attend a Beginners class first, chat to the coach and follow their guidance. Personal training starts at £55 for an hour, then goes down according to the package you buy.

About CrossFit London facilities

Most of the Crossfit affiliates only have one loo and no showers! What are your facilities?

We have invested in your comfort! We have two showers with hot water in separate private cubicles and three toilets. We have lockable lockers with a 20p return system and “shoe lockers”. The lockers are in plain sight so no-one can sneak around them. There is a cold water drinking tap.

Here is a quick (badly made) video guide to the facility:

Do you have a place I can lock up my bicycle at the gym?

We have space inside the gym to store bikes securely for the duration of your session.

I'll be travelling by car/motorbike to the gym. Where can I park?

This is London: there is no parking, except resident places with murderous fines if you park without permission. Run, walk use the tubes, the overground, the bus, or the Boris bikes.

About visiting CrossFit London

I'm a visiting CrossFitter from (another affiliate). Can I train at your gym?

We gladly welcome travelling CrossFitters from all around the world!

The simplest thing is to point you towards our ‘Getting Started’page. It explains how to access our online booking/payment system, and what to bring along to your first session at our gym. Our ‘policy’ – such as we have one – is that all athletes must book in (and pay for) for their session(s) ahead of time.

Do you accept t-shirt swaps for a class fee?

Nope.

I'd like to come to your gym, but I want to follow my own programming. Is that cool?

Unfortunately, the way that we are currently set up does not support people coming to the gym and training on their own. In between a busy Personal Training schedule and our Classes, there is very limited scope for the gym to be used by individuals training alone. Our primary concerns are for the safety of the individual, but we also need to consider the security of the building. There is however a Strength drop in session for our members on Sunday morning where our members can catch up with any strength they may have missed during the week.

About bookings, payments, the system, etc.

What is your Cancellation Policy?

You can cancel your class up to 8 hours before it begins and not lose the session fee. After that time, the system charges you for the session. Even so we expect you to cancel your booking if you know that you cannot use it (yes, even if you are to get charged!) to allow someone else to grab the place. This time period is 24 hours for events and PT sessions.

Do you offer free sessions? Can I rock up and pay on the day?

No and no. There are no free sessions and you must book and pay for your session in advance. We don’t accept casual drop-ins or spectators in the facility.

I don't have Internet access or a credit/debit card. What can you do to help?

Nothing. Our facility is exclusively designed for credit/debit card holding Internet users.

Perhaps a friend can help you out?

I'd like to buy one of your awesome t-shirts. How can I do this?

You can buy a CrossFit London t-shirt via our online booking system and then collect the item from the gym. Sorry, we don’t send t-shirts out by post.

Just bring your printed receipt in to the gym with you to exchange for your goods. This goes for fish oil and other products as well.

I've heard you stock great fish oil. How can I buy some?

You need to order in advance from the website, then collect at the gym.

I have somehow managed to forget my login and/or password for your spiffy scheduling system. Little help, please?!

Contact Steven. He is a forgiving type. Also he can probably help.

I love the look and design of the various excellent ebooks that CrossFit London publish. How can I be that good?

Ask Kate. She’s awesome.

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