Putting yourself back in their shoes - Thursday, March 12th, 2026
Putting yourself back in their shoes
Every now and then it’s worth taking a moment to rewind the clock. Think back to the very first time you walked into a CrossFit class.
For a lot of us, it wasn’t the most comfortable moment. You might have sat in your car for a minute before coming in. You might have walked through the door wondering if anyone would talk to you. You might have looked around the room thinking everyone already knew each other, already knew what they were doing, already belonged.
You probably wondered things like:
Will I fit in?
Will I stand out?
Am I going to be the worst one here?
Starting something new can feel intimidating. Especially something like CrossFit, where people are lifting barbells, moving quickly, and speaking a language that at first sounds completely foreign.
Now fast forward. For many of you reading this, that feeling is long gone. You know the flow of class. You know almost all the people in your class. You know where the equipment is, how the workouts work, and you walk through the doors like it’s second nature.
That’s a great thing.
It means you’ve found your place.
But every so often it’s important to pause and put yourself back in the shoes of the person who just walked through those doors for the very first time. We have such an incredible community here. It’s one of the things we’re most proud of. But like any community that grows strong over time, it can also become comfortable. People fall into routines, certain class groups become tight knit, which leads to conversations that happen with the same people before and after class. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s part of the connections you make. It’s human. But sometimes when we become comfortable, we don’t always notice how the room might feel through the eyes of someone brand new.
A new person walking in might see groups of people already deep in conversation. They might see small circles of athletes chatting before class begins. They might notice people gathered in familiar spots around the gym. None of this is intentional, and no one is doing anything wrong. But for someone new, it can still feel a little uncertain.
They might quietly wonder where they should sit or stand.
They might hesitate to join a conversation that feels closed off.
They might simply hope that someone notices them.
Because somewhere in the room there may be someone who is exactly where you once were. Someone who is nervous, who is trying something new to better their life, who is quietly hoping they’ve found a place where they might belong too. And often, the smallest moments can make the biggest difference.
A simple hello.
A quick introduction.
Making space in the group at the whiteboard.
Inviting someone into a conversation.
These things may seem small, but they can completely change someone’s experience walking into the gym for the first time.
And if you’re the one who is new. This really is a special community, full of people who remember exactly what it felt like to walk through the door for the first time. Don’t be afraid to step into the conversation, grab a seat beside the group, or introduce yourself. Chances are the person next to you once felt the exact same way.
CrossFit has always been about more than workouts. It’s about community.
It’s about showing up for each other, creating a place where people feel supported as they do hard things.
So every now and then, take a second to put yourself back in those shoes. Remember what it felt like to be the new person walking through the door. And then consider being the reason someone feels like they belong here too.
Thursday, March 12th, 2026
Focus:
Front Squat
6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
WOD:
3 min AMRAP x 5 sets x/ 2 min rest between
3 Box Jumps 30/24
10 V-Ups
ME Cals
* score total Cals
Check back each night at 8pm for the next days WOD .
Contact us: Address: 200 Mountain Rd #3, Collingwood, ON L9Y 4V5 Phone: (705) 444-0006 Follow us on Instagram @crossfit_indestri