Third in a series about fitness facilities in Bloomington.
by CARMEN SIERING
CrossFit has been around since 2000, so it’s almost 20 years old, and still, people are confused as to what it means to “do CrossFit.” Greg Glassman, founder of the CrossFit movement, set up his company as a small-box alternative to big-box franchise gyms (which is why many people call CrossFit facilities “boxes”). It’s not a franchise. Owners are affiliated with the larger organization but run their gyms the way they see fit. The only stipulation is that affiliated owners must be CrossFit certificate holders. Here, we look at the four CrossFit gyms in Bloomington. For more information on CrossFit, visit crossfit.com.
CrossFit Bloomington
1850 S. Walnut
crossfitbloomington.com
CrossFit Bloomington has been open since 2009. Autymn Stafford is its second owner. She says anyone who wants to increase their quality of life should visit her gym.
“We’re more than just exercise,” she says. “We work on things like coordination, speed, balance, endurance, strength—a total of 10 fitness domains. We’re helping people prevent injury outside of the gym. We’re fighting disease—but we’re doing it disguised as exercise and a sport.”
Unique to CrossFit Bloomington: Stafford says her personal journey makes her gym unique. “I used to be overweight, so I can really relate to some of our clients,” she says. “Having three kids, I truly believe in what I do. I want to be around to see my grandkids, and to run around and play with them.”
Hoosier CrossFit
340 S. Walker St.
hoosierathleticclub.com
Owners Shaun and Jenna Tieman opened Hoosier CrossFit in October 2010. Shaun’s been doing CrossFit since late 2006. “I’m kind of the OG [Old Guy] of CrossFit,” the 35-year-old says with a laugh. Even so, Jenna explains that no one is too old for CrossFit. She gives an example of their Longevity Class for those 50 and older.
“If people can sit in a chair and stand up, or if they can garden, then they can do CrossFit,” she says. “We’re not trying to challenge them as athletes, we’re trying to challenge them as grandparents.”
Unique to Hoosier CrossFit: Jenna says the emphasis on quality sets their gym apart. “When you walk into your first class, do you feel safe? Do you feel like people are friendly? Do you feel the coach is knowledgeable?” she asks. She says rules, like signing in for class, are part of that. “That’s to make sure the classes are capped appropriately,” she says. “We want to stick to the plan, we want people to see results, and we want our members to become great athletes.”
CrossFit Full House
3655 S. Sare Road
crossfitfullhouse.com
Andrea Warner opened CrossFit Full House in October 2017. She says one of the first things she asks new members is “What’s your why?”
“My why is that I want to be a better role model for my daughter,” Warner says. “So we ask, ‘Does what you’re doing help your why?’ It’s a good injury-prevention tool. Is what you’re doing for your ego or will it actually help you get to what you are trying to do?”
Safe movement is the foundation of everything, Warner says. “We want to help people stand up correctly, to pick things up correctly,” she says. “Every deadlift should be how you pick your child up off the ground. Every move in here should emulate what you are doing out there.”
Unique to CrossFit Full House: “We are totally family oriented,” Warner says. “We have a kids’ class, we have a teen class. We cover all aspects of your life. We have ages 6 to 70, and they all focus on different skills.”
CrossFit 1927
3915 W. Roll Ave.
crossfit1927.net
Andy Weddle’s CrossFit 1927, which opened in April, is the newest box in town. Weddle started doing CrossFit in 2011 and became a trainer in 2013. He had a vision for his gym before he set it up.
“We wanted a top-notch facility,” he says. “One of our advantages is that everything is paid for. That lets us keep our prices low and everyone can afford to come here.” He’s so dedicated to that idea that he offers a free class every Saturday morning.
Open just a few months, Weddle already has more than 140 members. “The clients are the reason the gym is growing,” he says. “They’re excited and they’re telling their friends and their friends are joining. We have a community here—people are celebrating other people’s achievements. It’s a very positive thing.”
Unique to CrossFit 1927: Making CrossFit accessible to as many people as possible is important to Weddle. “This is my hometown,” he says. “I want to give people a safe place to come and train at a price that is not going to break them.”
